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Southwest Airlines ditches decades-old open seating after years of holding out
Kaltbaum Capital Management President Gary Kaltbaum analyzes Nvidia and Southwest Airlines on ‘Varney & Co.’
Southwest Airlines has announced a major change coming to its current seating system.
The Texas-based airline previously had a “pick any seat” policy, allowing customers to purchase tickets in different boarding groups by selecting where they wanted to sit upon boarding the plane.
On July 29, Southwest will be assigning seats to customers booking flights beginning on Jan. 27, 2026 — making it the last airline to drop open seating.
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Tony Roach, Southwest executive vice president of customer and brand, said in a press release that customers want “greater control over their travel experience.”
“Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers — including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats — and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin,” said Roach.
Southwest Airlines has announced a shift from open seating to assigned seats starting on July 29 for flights booked from 2026. (Scott Eisen/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
He added, “This is an important step in our evolution, and we’re excited to pair these enhancements with our legendary customer service.”
A Senate investigation report last year reviewed data from five airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.
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It found they collectively earned $12.4 billion in revenue from seat fees between 2018 and 2023.
The airlines recently implemented a substantial change by ending their well-known “bags fly free policy” in May.
“Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers — including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats — and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin.” (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ majority-staff report, “The Sky’s the Limit: The Rise of Junk Fees in American Travel,” also found the airlines made $1.2 billion from checked bag fees.
Flight passengers had mixed reactions to Spirit’s news on social media, sharing their thoughts on the policy change.
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“Outstanding. That mad scramble for seats was always aggravating,” said one man on X.
Another user wrote, “No more free checked [bags], no more free changes. Suddenly it’s no different from any other airline.”
Southwest ended its policy of “bags fly free” in May. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The ability to avoid babies and pets was the only reason I flew them. No more,” said one user.
A person posted on X, “This is a good move for faster boarding at the airline and more fair for A-listers.”
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FOX Business reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.
The momentum from Ryan Hampton’s commitment on Sunday morning didn’t slow down for Mark Pope!
Later that day, 4-star 2027 point guard Jaxson Davis announced on Instagram that he had received an offer from Kentucky. The 6-foot-1 guard out of Warren Township in Gurnee, Illinois, is ranked No. 42 overall in the 2027 recruiting cycle by 247 Sports and is considered the top prospect in the state of Illinois.
Davis isn’t just some name on a list. He took home his second consecutive Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year award after a standout junior season, and he’s backed it up on the EYBL circuit this spring with MeanStreets, averaging 14.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting nearly 39 percent from three. Some of that production came with Kentucky coaches in the building.
The offer list is crowded: Missouri, Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and more are all involved, so this one will take time. But one detail worth noting: Among the players Davis says he models his game after is former Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey.
With Hampton already on board, the Cats are building something in the 2027 class, perhaps the best class Pope has had in Lexington.
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 7 drawing
7-8-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 7 drawing
2-2-5-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from June 7 drawing
5-1-4-4-7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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