Southwest's new boarding process off to bumpy start
Some travelers are finding they don't have storage above their seats when they get on the plane because early boarders are taking up the overhead bins.
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Some travelers are finding they don't have storage above their seats when they get on the plane because early boarders are taking up the overhead bins.
Southwest Airlines says its making adjustments to its boarding process two weeks after the discount carrier switched to assigned seating. Officials with the airline told CBS News that one of the main issues the airline is troubleshooting is overhead bin space.
For the first time, Southwest passengers will have assigned seats -- a major change for the airline's longtime customers. The new policy also meant changing the cabin layout of every plane in the Southwest fleet to add new extra legroom and preferred seating sections.
Under a 2023 settlement reached by the Biden administration, Southwest agreed to a $140 million civil penalty after the company canceled thousands of flights during a winter storm in 2022.
While Southwest is ditching open seating, it's adding bigger overhead bins, extra legroom in some seats and more as it adjusts to the premium travel demand.
Southwest Airlines, long known for its open boarding policy, is rolling out assigned seating for the first time. The change marks a major shift as the carrier caters to growing demand for premium travel options, allowing passengers to pay for seat upgrades starting next year.
It's been nearly a quarter century since 9/11, when terrorists hijacked commercial jetliners and turned them into weapons of mass destruction. Now, after years of delays, planes are adding a new layer of security. Kris Van Cleave got a preview.
Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don't fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making.
New body camera footage shows the moments a former Southwest pilot is questioned about his sobriety by police after TSA agents claimed he smelled of alcohol. David Allsop was given a sobriety test on the jet bridge and subsequently arrested for a DUI ahead of a flight he was supposed to pilot from Savannah to Chicago.
Passengers are reacting to the aggressive maneuver that a Southwest pilot had to make to avoid a collision with another jet as just minutes after the plane took off from the Hollywood Burbank Airport in California.
Southwest is providing details about its new assigned seating and boarding policy. Here's what to know.
Southwest Airlines launched a multi-million dollar initiative after extreme summer heat led to beverage cans bursting on flights.
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In the era of #MeToo and an increased awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace, is dating or marrying your officemates still a thing? Yes, says CBS News correspondent Tony Dokoupil (who met his wife on the job). He finds that some companies even boast of their amorous workers. Take Southwest Airlines (stock ticker acronym: LUV), where the expression "Love is in the air" takes on new meaning for staffers and flight attendants who are couples.
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In 1989, Steve Kroft profiled Herb Kelleher, the co-founder of Southwest Airlines, and his innovative no-frills approach to the airline business
Southwest Airlines, which previously had a free checked bag policy, says it will start charging $35 for each first checked bag.
As the busy summer travel season gets underway, so does Southwest's new checked bag policy. On all new bookings, the first checked bag will cost $35 and the second will be $45. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave has more.
A Southwest flight returned to its gate at El Paso International Airport on Wednesday after a passenger's phone appeared to ignite during the departure taxi.
Passengers flying Southwest, which has abandoned open seating, will soon have several fare options when booking a flight. Here's what to know.
A Southwest Airlines flight almost took off from a taxiway, rather than a runway, at Orlando International Airport in Florida before an air traffic controller stopped the plane, officials said.
Southwest Airlines is set to begin charging customers for checked bags, the last major airline to tack on baggage fees for most passengers. Hannah Towey, associate editor for Conde Nast Traveler, joined CBS News to discuss the change.
Southwest Airlines is changing its "bags fly free" policy in hopes of attracting customers to sign up for the Southwest-branded credit card. CBS News' Janet Shamlian reports.
On May 28, Southwest Airlines will start charging most of its customers for checked bags for the first time in its history. Flyers who are part of the company's A-List Preferred program and those selecting Business Select tickets will be exempt. Previously, the airline allowed passengers to have two free checked bags regardless of ticket status.
Southwest Airlines is ending its free checked bags policy for many passengers. Some experts think customer loyalty could suffer.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. will confront "anything that shouldn't be happening, whether it's in public or back-channeled."
Video of last year's fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez obtained by CBS News appears to contradict claims that Martinez was shot by an ICE agent because he "accelerated" and "intentionally ran over" another agent.
A lawyer for an American man held in a notorious Iranian prison says he can only hope U.S. and Israeli forces "exercise extreme caution," as concern about U.S. prisoners mounts.
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The People's Celebration, allowed former presidents, family members, and more to honor the icon of the Civil Rights Movement.
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President Trump predicted the destruction not just of college sports but the entire U.S. collegiate system unless the industry is fixed quickly.
Video of last year's fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez obtained by CBS News appears to contradict claims that Martinez was shot by an ICE agent because he "accelerated" and "intentionally ran over" another agent.
Venezuela's new administration is cutting deals, but there's a big reward available for a key figure.
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The Justice Department on Friday asked a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling that invalidated President Trump's executive orders targeting four major law firms.
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President Trump predicted the destruction not just of college sports but the entire U.S. collegiate system unless the industry is fixed quickly.
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HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants the popular coffee chains to prove their surgery drinks are safe for teens and suggested the Trump administration could place limits on your cup of coffee.
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USALESS.COM is recalling its Rhino Choco VIP 10X product due to the undeclared presence of Tadalafil, which is the active ingredient in Cialis.
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Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia's government is in "dialogue" with Iranian leadership representatives.
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
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Becky Lloyd, a neighbor and friend of Kouri Richins, who is accused of fatally poisoning her husband in 2022, testified at her trial on Thursday about conversations they had about Richins' marriage. Lloyd said Richins' told her, "In many ways it would be better if he [Richins' husband], if he were dead" in a serious tone. Richins denies killing her husband and has pleaded not guilty to charges.
Ihor Komarov, 28, was identified from DNA samples taken from the dismembered body and compared to those of his mother, police said.
Authorities have arrested a suspect in the killing of three women in Utah, identifying him as Ivan Miller. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans reports.
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NASA has announced a major overhaul of its Artemis moon program amid ongoing safety concerns. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more details.
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Video of the March 2025 fatal shooting of American citizen Ruben Ray Martinez obtained by CBS News appears to contradict claims by federal officials that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot Martinez because he "accelerated" and "intentionally ran over" another agent with his car. The footage shows that Martinez's car, a blue Ford Fusion, was stationary or going at a very low rate of speed when he was fatally shot, and the brake lights appear to be on. CBS News reached out to representatives for the Department of Homeland Security seeking comment on the footage and is awaiting a response.
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