Read This: Goodbye Open Seating: How Southwest's Change Reflects Airline Uniformity

I see this as yet another sign of late-stage capitalism, where market forces drive uniformity at the expense of consumer choice.

Southwest Airlines is ending its unique open-seating policy, a hallmark that distinguished it from other carriers. The shift to assigned seating marks the homogenization of air travel, where all airlines now offer similar experiences. This change reflects a broader trend of airlines becoming indistinguishable in services and offerings, reducing the distinctiveness that once characterized different carriers.

All Airlines Are Now the Same

Southwest’s open-seating policy will be sorely missed.

The AtlanticIan Bogost