When you’re booking a last-minute flight home to see your friends or grabbing a cheap flight for a solo weekend getaway, you might start with one of these two airlines: Southwest and Spirit Airlines. Both U.S.-based carriers are well-known – and have been beloved by many for decades – for their no-frills service; customers who are traveling light and just want to get from Point A to Point B are willing to sacrifice assigned seating or free checked bags to save money they would rather put toward a better stay on the other side of the flight.
But, as both airlines announced in the middle of 2024, change is in the air for both airlines. At the end of July, Southwest and Spirit both announced big changes to their pricing model and seating layout, signaling a monumental shift for cost-conscious travelers. Whether you’re a Southwest Airlines frequent flier or prefer Spirit Airlines for your low-cost travel needs, here’s what you need to know as these changes go into effect.
Southwest Airlines: Open seating will be a thing of the past
For over 50 years, Southwest’s seating model has been unlike any other carrier’s. Unlike other airlines where passengers are assigned a seat when they book or during check-in, Southwest is known for its open seating policy.
Travelers would be assigned a boarding number (for example, A1-60, B1-60 or C1-60) based on how quickly they checked into the flight 24 hours before. Once at the airport, passengers are boarded in order of the assigned numbers and are free to select any open seat on the plane. Basically, the faster you check in, the sooner you’ll be able to get on the plane, and the better your odds are of getting a seat you want.
Their free-for-all seating structure is something many people love about the airline, but others have said it creates a longer boarding process and unnecessary confusion which is why Southwest is changing their policy for the first time.
In a July announcement, Southwest Airlines executives said the company will be offering premium seating options and ditching its first-come, first-served seating model in favor of more traditional assigned seating categories, including options for more legroom, fast WiFi for streaming, and free carry-on bags included.
“Moving to assigned seating and offering premium legroom options will be a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the Company,” said Bob Jordan, President, CEO, & Vice Chairman of the Board, in a company press release. “Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice— at the right time—for our Customers, our People, and our Shareholders.
While there’s no indicator when the seating changes will go into effect, only that it likely won’t be before 2025, the carrier plans to preview new product designs, cabin layouts, and timing estimates, in late September 2024 during the company’s Investor Day.
In the same release, Southwest also announced the addition of the airline’s first overnight red-eye flights. Starting Valentine’s Day 2025, customers will be able to fly overnight and nonstop to and from five markets:
- Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando
- Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville
- Phoenix to Baltimore
Spirit Airlines: Fewer fees, more options
Spirit Airlines is known for its affordable fares and robust flight options – mainly keeping prices low by having add-ons like carry-on luggage and seat selection available for a fee. But this year, the budget airline is also making notable changes and is rolling them out in a tiered way.
In May 2024, the carrier announced that it would no longer charge travelers for ticket changes or cancellations. Prior to that change, Spirit used to charge customers between $69 and $119 to change or cancel a ticket, depending on how close to departure the change was made. At the same time, the carrier began teasing a new approach to its bag policy by offering new bundled packages at varying price points that include perks such as checked bags.
A few months later, on the heels of Southwest Airlines’ announcement, Spirit told customers and the press that its well-known bare-bones service would be transformed, and the carrier would now offer new fare options including premium seats, snacks, carry-on luggage options, and WiFi for streaming in-flight entertainment. The four options allow travelers to pick the options that best suit them, their needs, and their priorities:
- Go, the airline’s base fare option, gives travelers the option to purchase extras – checked bags, seat selection, snacks – after booking a ticket.
- Go Savvy lets passengers choose between one carry-on bag or one checked-bag, and offers seat selection during booking.
- Go Comfy guarantees travelers that no one will be sitting in the middle seat of their (more spacious) row, a carry-on and a checked bag, priority boarding, and a free snack and non-alcoholic beverage.
- Go Big, Spirit’s most luxurious option, includes a large seat near the front of the plane with extra legroom and no middle seat passenger, snacks and non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages, a carry-on and a checked bag, priority check in and boarding, and high-speed WiFi for in-flight streaming access.
But don’t let overweight bags, extra bags, or mounting baggage fees be the deciding factor when choosing your flight ticket. Luggage Forward provides baggage shipping options that make traveling hassle-free, from arranged pickups to ensuring that your luggage arrives to your destination on time.
Spirit is also redesigning its boarding process, offering priority boarding to two of five groups and general boarding for the last three. In a release, Spirit’s president and CEO said the changes are a result of customer feedback.
“We’re unveiling a new era in Spirit’s history and taking low-fare travel to new heights with enhanced options that are unlike anything we’ve offered before,” said Ted Christie. “We listened to our Guests and are excited to deliver what they want: choices for an elevated experience that are affordable and provide unparalleled value.”
As you evaluate your options for soaring to new heights in 2025 and beyond, these new developments offer many travelers expanded options for baggage, seating, extras, and more. No matter your destination, now Southwest and Spirit both offer many more opportunities to customize your adventure to your liking – and isn’t that what travel is all about?
