They don’t do it at the ticket counter like United did (before security). Our plane was a 777 so seating was 3-4-3, and the center section’s overhead bins only held ONE wheeled carry on, and then a soft sided bag like a backpack, so not even half the passengers could have one.
But ONE cookie for a 4 hour flight?
Typically on SW, you can ask for cookies or pretzels (more). I suppose depends on the flight attendant but they always give more (pretzels, not an oreo guy).
They introduced pistachios - but that’s just for those that pay for more legroom (or i suppose get bumped up).
There’s no question they are winning now but I do feel like the soul of the company will be extinguished. By then. the activist inventory will have long taken their profits.
As for the luggage, they could not do it at the counter - because you would have to pay $35 so if they offered a free bag, they’d defeat their policy. So even if you know you want to “check” it, you have to pack for carryon to get past security (lotions, etc).
Do they no longer have those mixed snack bags with pretzels and other things? (I haven’t flown for a while because of medical stuff, so I don’t know what they have right now…) My daughter loved the southwest snacks so much that I would always ask for as many as they would give me, and take them home for my daughter.
SW had several snack choices. I did see the woman on the other side of the plane get something extra, and after reading here I think it was the pastichios! I was in the same row so should have gotten those too.
I’m saying United offered to check the carry on for free as I checked in for my flight. I did have a checked bag (free with my credit card) but would have had to check in at the counter anyway as it was an international flight and I had to show my passport. My friend had to check in at the counter too and had carry on only, so she could have had a free checked bag.
By the time we’ve lugged our carry ons thru security and to the gate, I don’t want their free gate checked bag. I want the freebee up front!
Been gone a few years - i hated those 
Now they have pretzels - some island hawaiian brand - but i suppose like Dots - with the flavor. And on longer flights oreos.
And pistachio bags for those spending for legroom.
PS - I just looked it up - the Pretzels are Maui Monk
I LOVE the Maui Monk! And the sugared grahams for something sweet.
ETA: I bought some of the Maui Monk when I saw it in the store. Turns out a little goes a long way. I couldn’t finish that bag.
oh yeah - they have the grahams on some flights. Others Oreos although they seem to come with the pretzels so maybe they are short term.
I think Costco had them. I know they have Dots. I’m not sure if they are the same flavor (dots). I wish they’d get me some Sourdough Nuggets from Snyders of Hanover.
Results of Southwest changes:
https://simpleflying.com/southwest-new-assigned-seating-system-create-problems-didnt-anticipate/
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/mjqwuuzr6eab/
Interesting - SWA is reported as being #1 US airline according to WSJ.
That ranking is based on 2025. Southwest did not start using pre-assigned seats until early 2026. Hence, some of the metrics used in that ranking relating to on-time arrivals, long delays, etc. were not affected by the boarding slowdown caused by having pre-assigned seats.
And will require plus size passengers to purchase 2 seats. Southwest Airlines' upcoming policy for plus-sized passengers questioned - CBS News
The ‘required to buy 2 seats’ has been in the news since Jan. In fact, it was always the rule but if the flight wasn’t full the person could get reimbursed for the second seat. And that’s what the rule is now except it seems to be harder to get reimbursed.
I think SW let it slide a lot if the flight wasn’t full. Because now people are assigned seats, oversized passengers will not be assigned a seat with an empty seat next to it while in the past most people would have opted for a middle seat next to someone who wasn’t really large.
SW is getting a lot of bad press for the changes and I noticed nothing different on the plane except the multiple boarding groups now. Before the flight? Several changes such as the no free checked bag, no change of flights on the same day without status or credit card, etc.
I’m about to cancel my SW credit card so maybe my opinion will change.
Not sure how, if they now assign seats at time of purchase (except for the Basic fare seats, assigned at check-in), if someone has to select a middle seat, they can avoid someone having a middle seat next to someone who “should” have purchased two seats.
I had the absolute worst flight ever on a SWA flight. I do not fly them anymore.
That’s what I’m saying. In the past, if the flight wasn’t full, other passengers would just pick other seats. If the large person boarded first with ‘needs assistance boarding’ or another reason, they’d pick a seat and no one would sit next to them. Now, they have to pre-purchase (which they were supposed to do in the past and then ask for a refund) to get 2 seats together.
I sat in a row with a large person on a SW flight. She was in the window seat when I got on and I took the aisle. I think she had a sign or something that she had purchased the middle seat too. She was very nice but very very nervous as that was her first flight ever! Honestly, there is no way she could have gotten out of that seat in an emergency. I don’t know where else she could have sat as the bulkhead seats have solid dividers in them (tray table storage) and the exit aisle are out for obvious reasons.
There has been a movement for a long time that oversized people should get a second seat for free. Well, I’m larger (I do fit in seats with no problem) so I’ll take a free second seat. I’m sure tall people would like a second seat for free for the extra leg room. Pregnant women? Sure. People with infants or toddlers? Give them a row!
It is a disability, but airlines don’t give everyone with a disability a second seat, or an upgrade to first class. My brother only has one leg and he’s a pretty big guy. In the old SW boarding system, he had to choose whether to take early boarding to to try to get a good boarding number and sit in the exit row. It was a game he played all the time as he really liked the exit row.
Southwest was my preferred airline for my shorter flights…ones less than 2 hours long. But I will never fly them again. At one point, their costs and benefits distinguished them from other airlines. Now, they are just another airline without code shares. So…I used my last points up on a trip two years ago.
I never had strong feelings about SW one way or the other (though I was never a fan of unassigned seating), but would fly them either because they were most convenient for a route or cheapest on it. The number of recent instances I’ve seen of the former (with one exception on a recent flight where the area around my seat was absolutely filthy when I boarded) have been rare, and they have been more expensive than United (!!) on a couple of other routes I looked at. I fail to see any logical reason to fly them at this point, regardless of seating arrangements.
My husband is tall. We pay for extra leg room.
My dad once paid for an extra middle seat. The airline decided it was “unoccupied” and gave it to a standby passenger. I forget which airline it was. He fumed about it for years afterward.
Thanks. So if I understand correctly (and I am truly not sure if I do). its sort of an honor system on SWA. If someone is large and should buy 2 seats but doesn’t, they take their chances that the set next to them will be empty, or otherwise risk having to rebook another flight) or move to a different row if seats are available, and pay for the extra seat? Is being overweight considered a disability? IIRC only in some circumstances if caused by an underlying medical condition. And no one wants to have to ask that. So is it the honor system? A quick look at a description of the policy says a passenger can request a refund of the second seat if the flight was not completely full and there was at least one open seat (well, completely full including the empty paid-for seat by the person of size). But is the person of size going to go up and down the aisle to see if there is any empty seat? Even when the gate agents announce completely full flight, sometimes there seem to be empty seats. This is all just curiosity. Just trying to understand.
No, not the honor system. You are required to buy a second seat and then ask for a refund if the flight isn’t full. That was always the rule, but I think it wasn’t enforced as strictly before as it is now, especially if the flight wasn’t full. Unfortunately, I think the gate agents are forced to confront customers of size and they have to rebook (and the next flight might have extra seats, but I believe they have to buy that seat and apply for a refund).
If they wait to buy the second seat at the airport, it is going to be full price.
There are all kinds of online stories of people claiming they always got to fly and this is new, but it isn’t. People are also having carryons that they always used get denied as they don’t fit in overhead bins.
SW just made the policy clear, it came out at the same time as the pre-assigned seats, and people are claiming it is a new policy. It isn’t.
Did they refund the amount paid for the extra seat?