Southwest Airlines sets a date for seat assignment launch, lays out new boarding order
1. Southwest Airlines introduces assigned seating from January 27, ending open seating policy. 2. New policies aim to generate $800 million in earnings this year. 3. Extra charges for checked bags and new fare types introduced in business model overhaul. 4. Reconfiguration of planes for extra-legroom seating is underway, affecting 25% of fleet. 5. New boarding groups prioritize loyal customers and influence seating availability.