Within less than a year, Southwest has hit the self-destruct reset button with some monumental changes.
Free bags for all are long gone. Basic economy is here. More legroom for everyone is out, and extra legroom seats (for a fee) are in. And it's controversial in favored – again, for a fee.
The beloved airline that Herb Kelleher built is no more, which begs the question: What's it like? We put it to the test.
The verdict? Southwest is … totally fine, unremarkable, and virtually indistinguishable from every other airline in the country. It could be worse, but it's still sad.
That was my takeaway after flying Southwest for the first time since its makeover, flying from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) through Denver (DEN) to Montrose (MTJ). In this video, I cover:
- Checking In
- Boarding
- The In-Flight Experience
- First Impressions
- Review
- A Hot Take To Fix Things
- And Finally: Would I Fly Southwest Again?
Other Helpful Resources
Get up to speed on all things Southwest, including:
- The Times are A-Changin' at Southwest: What Happens When?
- Limited-Time Offers: Earn a Southwest Companion Pass & Up to 40K Points!
- Still the Best Deal in Travel: How to Earn (& Use) the Southwest Companion Pass
- Southwest Swears Its Customers Aren't Fleeing After Ditching Free Bags
- Southwest Taps Starlink for Free In-Flight Wi-Fi, Rolling Out Later This Year
