Southwest was notorious for its customer-friendly policies, offering two free checked bags per passenger, some of the most cost-effective fares of any airline, and a democratic open-seating policy that allowed travelers to choose any seat they wanted at no additional cost.
Southwest has made some changes over the past few months as the airline looks to boost its profits, presumably prioritizing profits over customer experience. As a result, the airline has scrapped its “baggage-free fly” model in favor of an assigned seat model, where passengers must pay to select their seats.
The changes have not been smooth sailing for airlines, leading to a chaotic boarding process. Now, as Southwest grapples with these issues, the airline is reportedly considering a lamentable solution: charging customers new fees.
‘Chaotic’ boarding process
Southwest Airlines officially implemented the designated seat model on January 27 this year, abandoning its long-standing open seat policy. Although airlines had months to prepare for the change, things didn’t go smoothly. Southwest Airlines has struggled with a lack of overhead bin space and passengers filling the front overhead bin space prematurely.
Due to Southwest Airlines’ new boarding policy, passengers in the front row may not board first, so some passengers sitting in the front row only discovered that the overhead bins above their seats were occupied after boarding.
As a result, these passengers must walk to the back of the plane, put their carry-on luggage into the overhead bin space, and then fight their way through the aisle to get back to their seats, creating what Gary Leff of View From the Wing calls “more chaos than on other airlines.”
“So people would stop at their seats, see that there was no luggage space available, and then have to go back on the plane to stow their luggage before walking down the aisle back to their seats. This was far more chaotic than on other airlines,” Leff wrote.
Southwest Airlines’ decision in May to start charging for checked bags has exacerbated the situation. After this change, travelers naturally began carrying more carry-on bags on Southwest flights, and the airline immediately began having problems handling the surge in carry-on bags, especially since its planes were not designed with enough overhead bin space.
While Southwest has been taking steps to address these issues, recent changes to its boarding process have had little impact on the problems caused.
Southwest Airlines is trying to fix the problem
So far, Southwest has been largely unable to resolve this “chaotic” boarding process, and every solution it’s tried seems to upset some people.
At first, Southwest largely blamed flight attendants for these self-inflicted problems, moving Southwest flight attendants’ bags to the back of the plane and telling flight attendants to start boarding earlier.
Apparently, the proposals met with staunch opposition from the official TWU 556 union representing the airline’s flight attendants, which understandably accused Southwest’s management of being “out of touch” and telling them to “read the room.”
Now, it looks like Southwest is going to make customers pay: literally.
Charging customers new fees?
Southwest has tried to fix this entirely self-inflicted problem, but so far has been unsuccessful. After trying to put the burden on flight attendants, Southwest Airlines now appears to be asking passengers to empty their wallets.
This week, Dallas’ WFAA reported that Southwest Airlines will charge new fees to passengers who reserve overhead bins for flights in advance.
“Tonight, Southwest Airlines said it has a solution to the problem of insufficient overhead bin space on planes, but you might not like it,” a WFAA anchor reported Thursday.
“Many passengers have been complaining about a lack of space since the Dallas-based airline switched to assigned seating,” the report continues. “The airline just sent an email saying it will offer passengers the opportunity to reserve a bin for an additional fee.”
Yes, airlines that less than a year ago allowed all passengers to check bags for free are now charging a fee to make sure your carry-on makes it into the cabin.
WFAA reports that the airline is working to expand its overhead bins to accommodate more luggage, but it’s certainly not an overnight fix and it will take months to equip most of its planes with these oversized bins.
This article was originally published by Men’s Journal on March 7, 2026, and first appeared in the Travel section. Click here to add Men’s Diary as your go-to source.