Southwest’s First Day of Assigned Seating Sparks Boarding Chaos and Packed Bins

Gary Leff details his experience on Southwest’s launch of assigned seating on a day of winter storms, noting chaotic boarding as passengers line up by group even with assigned seats, long lines to store carry-ons in oversized bins, and flight attendants attempting to manage the congestion. He critiques Southwest’s move from free checked bags and perks to paid seating and bag fees, arguing the new process mirrors other airlines and worsens the in-flight experience, with ongoing questions about execution and future improvements.