I just happen to be flying on @SouthwestAir today on their first day of assigned seating. They have figured out a system to generate additional funds. They auto assigned me middle seats on both flights. I ask the agent can I get a non middle seat? She says yes but there is a fee. I'm obviously not paying extra for something I always got free on the old system. Southwest had a niche in the market. Free checked bags, and flexible seating. They ditched both of those concepts and now are like any other airline, but with even higher seat and luggage fees than the competition. I would short Southwest stock if I knew how to do that. No one here at the airport likes the "new system".

@AllenKessler @SouthwestAir It almost seems like malicious compliance, like someone in the chain of command said "you want to break the system, here, hold my beer!" There is no way that the totality of the changes could be created by person(s) who wanted to save the company.