Please sign this other petition instead of or in addition to this one!

Want to show everyone you support open seating on Southwest Airlines?  Get a shirt!  Or not...Southwest's attorney contacted Etsy claiming trademark violation even though the use of the "SWA heart" is commentary fair use of the logo.

As a fervent traveler and a regular passenger of Southwest Airlines, I am deeply invested in the unique open seating model that sets this airline apart. This model has not only been scientifically proven to be the most efficient practical way to board an aircraft, it also possesses personal significance as it gives passengers, especially those with status, immense flexibility in choosing their seating partners and getting their preferred seats, even when booking or changing flights at the last minute. 

However, Southwest Airlines' new proposition of implementing an assigned seating policy and charging additional costs for extra legroom seating threatens this efficiency and flexibility. This proposed change effectively removes what makes Southwest Airlines stand out in the realm of U.S. air travel. While not everyone loves open seating, Southwest is the only U.S. airline to implement it; for those who prefer it there is no other option and those who dislike it have at least half a dozen options to choose from.

These proposed changes unfairly penalize passengers flying on the lowest-cost fares and also remove incentives for loyal passengers- those with A-List or A-List Preferred status- to remain loyal to the airline.

Additionally, while the details have not yet been announced, one can logically deduce that the changes required to implement the announced extra legroom seats will require reducing the total seating capacity of their planes and/or reducing the legroom of the "regular" seats.  Presently, Southwest has legroom that is equal to or greater than that available in the standard economy seating of 737s flown by American and United.

Moreover, on the topic of boarding it's essential to note that, as per a study conducted by Dr. Jason Steffen, an astrophysicist at the Fermilab Center for Particle Astrophysics (source: The Journal of Air Transport Management, January 2008), the open seating model is incontrovertibly more competent than blocked and back-to-front boarding. The model even outperformed assigned seating models given real-world constraints.

Let us stand united in urging Southwest Airlines to reconsider and ultimately reject the proposed change in their seating policy. Let us strive for an air travel experience that doesn't compromise on efficiency or customer satisfaction. Sign this petition today to keep Southwest Airlines' unique open seating policy in place.