Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines plans to implement assigned seating and paid seat-selection options beginning January 2026.

Major U.S. airlines commonly use mobile apps, company websites, and push alerts to notify customers about flight changes and operational disruptions.

Major U.S. airlines commonly provide fee waivers or flexible options that allow customers to change flights or receive refunds without extra fees when flights are canceled or significantly disrupted.

Some major U.S. airlines automatically rebook travelers after cancellations and allow travelers who do not wish to travel on the new itinerary to request refunds.

The four largest U.S. passenger airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines — collectively operate more than 15,000 flights per day.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is an independent labor union representing aircraft maintenance technicians and related employees in the United States and had about 4,400 members representing technicians at Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Horizon Air, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines as of 2025.

In 2024, Southwest Airlines introduced checked-baggage fees of $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag, with some exceptions for loyalty members and certain fare types.

Southwest Airlines' extra-legroom seats on new Boeing 737 aircraft provide about three inches of additional legroom compared with standard seats.