最新报道:Southwest Airlines announced it will begin charging for assigned seats starting in 2026, ending its decades-long open seating policy. The airline said customers can still choose free open seating but will pay $15-$30 extra for preferred seats like exit rows or front cabin. Southwest expects the change to generate $500 million annually in new revenue as it modernizes operations. The move follows similar policies at other major US carriers and comes after years of customer requests for assigned seating options. Southwest will implement the new system gradually across its 800-plane fleet over 18 months.