SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: The End of an Era?

• Airline: Southwest Airlines
• Class: Economy
• Route: San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Aircraft: Boeing 737-8Max

I’m officially back in the United States! After years of visa struggles, I’ve finally kicked off my 2-week USA Aviation Tour. The goal? To hold America’s biggest budget carriers accountable. We’re starting with the most popular of them all: Southwest Airlines, the “Ryanair of America.” But this wasn’t just any flight. I caught Southwest in the final days of a 50-year tradition that is about to disappear forever.

My journey began at San Francisco International (SFO). Before even boarding, I noticed a few “thoughtful” touches. First, a water refilling station right after security, perfect since you can’t bring liquids through. I also stumbled upon a fascinating exhibit on the history of the telephone; it’s insane to see how far tech has come in 100 years.

For the past five decades, Southwest has been famous (or infamous) for its “open seating” policy. No assigned seats—you just pick whatever is open when you board. However, on January 27, 2026, this policy officially ends.

I made sure to book “Priority Boarding” to see if it was worth the extra cash. Being one of the first on the plane allowed me to snag a great seat, but for some reason, the crew thought I was a bit “dodgy” because I walked all the way to the back to ensure I had an empty middle seat!.

Southwest operates the world’s largest Boeing 737 fleet—810 aircraft and counting. Onboard the 737 Max, I was immediately impressed by something simple but rare on budget airlines: adjustable headrests. Seriously, airlines, don’t be cheap—these make a massive difference for a nap.

The service model is also unique. Instead of the standard trolley service, the crew walks through the aisle taking individual drink orders before returning with a large tray. It feels much more personal for a low-cost carrier.

One thing I have to give Southwest major credit for is their attitude toward filming. While some airlines might try to detain you or throw you off the plane for holding a camera, the Southwest crew was incredibly welcoming. They even asked if I was a content creator and encouragedthe review. That is the kind of transparency we need in aviation.

After landing in LA and catching some stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hollywood sign, I headed to the legendary In-N-Out Burger at LAX. There, I met up with a familiar “stalker”—fellow aviation YouTuber Noel Philips!.

We talked about AVCON, a massive aviation event coming to Atlanta on April 4th at the Delta Flight Museum. If you want to meet us and other creators like Jeb Brooks, you can grab your tickets here.

Southwest is a solid, friendly, and reliable way to fly domestic in the US. While it’s sad to seethe unique “open seating” feature go, they still offer free snacks, drinks, and a great crew.

Let’s see if Frontier and Spirit can keep up next week.

Planning your own US tour?

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I stayed at the Marriott Los Angeles LAX – Use my link to book your stay here!

This is it guys, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip!