Clockwise from top left: Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk, Hospitio founder Brad Beakley and Folo by Travel Weekly host Rebecca Tobin.
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This week we're talking again about Southwest Airlines, which shocked some of its loyal customers about two weeks ago by getting rid of its long-advertised "bags fly free" perk. But that's just one in a series of changes Southwest is making that make it seem, well, less like Southwest and more like traditional legacy airlines: Adding extra-legroom seats, eliminating open seating and updating its loyalty strategy.
In this episode, host Rebecca Tobin, airlines editor Robert Silk and Hospitio founder Brad Beakley break down some of the changes and ask -- why? How will flyers benefit? What else does Southwest need to do to compete with the Big Three? And what will it take for Southwest to retain the "love?"
This episode was recorded March 21 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands
Related links
Southwest CEO: No competitive advantage from free checked bags
Southwest quietly reduces reward points for lowest fares
Frontier taunts Southwest with free-checked-bags promotion
The Dallas Observer op/ed on Southwest
Is Southwest's planned ascent too slow for key investor?
Brad Beakley's consultancy firm Hospitio