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Paddle Your Own Kanoo • Mateusz Maszczynski

Southwest flight attendants slam boarding-policy rollout, intensifying labor tensions

Southwest flight attendants have criticized management’s handling of recent boarding-policy changes, citing inconsistent gate enforcement and poor communication that are creating operational friction. The public complaints add momentum to growing labor tensions as frontline crews push back on how new procedures are being implemented.

2026-03-01T07:27:19.829477-08:00

Skift

Southwest bans recording-capable smart glasses and wearables for employees

2026-02-27T13:51:00.985017-08:00

Aviation Week

Southwest to outfit 300+ 737s with Starlink Wi‑Fi — first aircraft this summer, fleetwide by year‑end

2026-02-11T13:55:26.233024-08:00

Washington Post

Southwest's first day of assigned seating sparks boarding and overhead-bin clashes

2026-01-28T08:09:27.965216-08:00

News Timeline

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Southwest flight attendants slam boarding-policy rollout, intensifying labor tensions Southwest flight attendants have criticized management’s handling of recent boarding-policy changes, citing inconsistent gate enforcement and poor communication that are creating operational friction. The public complaints add momentum to growing labor tensions as frontline crews push back on how new procedures are being implemented.

2026-03-01T07:27:19.829477-08:00

Southwest flight attendants slam boarding-policy rollout, intensifying labor tensions

Skift

Southwest bans recording-capable smart glasses and wearables for employees Southwest Airlines has implemented a policy prohibiting employees from wearing smart glasses or other wearable technology capable of audio or video recording while on duty. The restriction covers on‑work use of any device with recording functions and applies to operational and customer‑facing staff.

2026-02-27T13:51:00.985017-08:00

Southwest bans recording-capable smart glasses and wearables for employees

CNBC

TD Cowen sees ~30% upside for Southwest as passenger demand strengthens TD Cowen projects roughly 30% upside for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines' stock from current levels, reflecting a bullish analyst view. The call attributes the opportunity to strengthening passenger demand, positioning Southwest as a potential outperformer among carriers in the near-term equity market.

2026-02-27T05:50:52.297453-08:00

TD Cowen sees ~30% upside for Southwest as passenger demand strengthens

Skift

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Delta, United and Southwest disclose AI use across operations and customer service Delta, United and Southwest are publicly disclosing how they deploy artificial intelligence across operations and customer service, detailing use cases from operational optimisation to passenger-facing support as the technology becomes more widespread in the industry. The disclosures increase transparency around AI-driven decision-making.

2026-02-18T08:01:22.795052-08:00

Delta, United and Southwest disclose AI use across operations and customer service

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Southwest revises boarding process again to tackle overhead-bin shortages and passenger friction Southwest Airlines has again adjusted its boarding process to ease persistent overhead-bin shortages and passenger frustration following its switch to assigned seating. The tweak aims to reduce gate disputes and improve bin access as the carrier completes cabin reconfigurations and rolls out new ancillary products.

2026-02-17T08:34:13.787586-08:00

Southwest revises boarding process again to tackle overhead-bin shortages and passenger friction

CNBC

UBS upgrades Southwest to Buy, pins upside on seating and bag-fee revenue UBS upgraded Southwest Airlines to Buy from Neutral, citing significant untapped earnings power from seating and checked-bag fees that remain under‑monetized. The bank says monetizing those ancillary revenue streams could provide meaningful upside to the carrier's revenue and margins. UBS's call re‑rates investor expectations for Southwest's profit trajectory.

2026-02-17T03:54:45.362789-08:00

UBS upgrades Southwest to Buy, pins upside on seating and bag-fee revenue

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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Southwest moves flight-attendant reserved overhead bins to rear; crew warn of theft, access and efficiency problems Southwest has relocated flight attendants’ reserved overhead-bin space from the forward cabin to the rear of aircraft to reduce boarding chaos after its switch to assigned seating. Crew say the move raises theft risks, complicates access and undermines operational efficiency.

2026-02-13T19:33:30.328874-08:00

Southwest moves flight-attendant reserved overhead bins to rear; crew warn of theft, access and efficiency problems

Aviation Week

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Southwest to outfit 300+ 737s with Starlink Wi‑Fi — first aircraft this summer, fleetwide by year‑end Southwest Airlines will retrofit more than 300 aircraft with SpaceX Starlink satellite Wi‑Fi, beginning with a first installation this summer and completing the rollout by year‑end 2026. The carrier says the service will be free to passengers as part of its ongoing onboard-experience upgrades.

2026-02-11T13:55:26.233024-08:00

Southwest to outfit 300+ 737s with Starlink Wi‑Fi — first aircraft this summer, fleetwide by year‑end

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Southwest Airlines News

Southwest flight attendants slam boarding-policy rollout, intensifying labor tensions

Southwest bans recording-capable smart glasses and wearables for employees

Southwest to outfit 300+ 737s with Starlink Wi‑Fi — first aircraft this summer, fleetwide by year‑end

Southwest's first day of assigned seating sparks boarding and overhead-bin clashes

News Timeline