Travel
Southwest Airlines Breaks with Tradition — Assigned Seating Comes to the Friendly Skies in 2026
Southwest Airlines is introducing assigned seating for the first time, starting January 27, 2026. Learn how SEATISFACTION™ will change your travel experience.
Last Updated on July 29, 2025 by Daily News Staff
737 MAX-8 // Ashlee D. Smith
For decades, Southwest Airlines has carved out a unique space in the airline industry by sticking to a first-come, first-served boarding process that passengers either loved or loathed. But all of that is about to change. Beginning July 29, 2025, Southwest customers will have the option to choose their seats at the time of booking for flights starting January 27, 2026.
Dubbed SEATISFACTION™, this new program marks a major evolution for the Dallas-based carrier, bringing with it more flexibility, upgraded options, and—for many—long-awaited peace of mind.
What’s Changing?
In a statement from Tony Roach, Executive Vice President of Customer & Brand, the airline emphasized that this move is all about “more choice and greater control” for travelers. “Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers,” Roach said, “including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin.”
For the first time, Southwest flyers will be able to:
Choose seats during booking, including Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seats. Opt for upgraded seating through various fare bundles. Purchase seat upgrades even with a Basic fare. Priority boarding can now be purchased 24 hours before departure.
Special Perks for Rapid Rewards® Members and Loyal Flyers
Southwest is also rewarding loyalty in new ways. A-List and A-List Preferred members, as well as Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Cardholders, can select seats at booking or within 48 hours of departure—even when flying on Basic fares.
This makes it easier for loyal customers to access top-tier experiences without needing to upgrade their entire fare.
Rethinking the Boarding Process
To complement the rollout of assigned seating, Southwest is also introducing a new boarding process. No more jockeying for position in the A, B, or C groups.
Starting January 27, 2026, boarding will follow a group-based structure based on seat location, with Extra Legroom passengers and premium fare holders boarding first in Groups 1–2. Frequent flyers and credit cardholders will also enjoy earlier boarding positions.
Marketing the Moment: “Are You Sitting Down?”
To promote the change, Southwest has launched a cheeky new campaign called “Are You Sitting Down?” The ad series uses the airline’s trademark humor to introduce the new era of assigned seating, promising a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience without losing the friendly flair Southwest is known for.
Why Now?
While Southwest has built a brand on simplicity and no-frills flying, growing demand for customization—especially post-pandemic—has pushed even the most steadfast legacy practices to evolve. For business travelers, families, and tall passengers alike, knowing where you’ll sit before boarding has become less of a luxury and more of an expectation.
With this move, Southwest aims to balance customer autonomy with its core identity of hospitality and affordability.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’ve always rushed to check in early to nab that perfect aisle seat or dreaded the uncertainty of the open-seating scramble, 2026 promises a more tailored flying experience on Southwest Airlines.
The choice is now truly yours.
Related Links:
SEATISFACTION™ details at Southwest.com
Rapid Rewards® Credit Card information [Southwest’s “Are You Sitting Down?” campaign video]
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
Last Updated on June 12, 2026 by Rod Washington
Cruise travel is having more than a moment. It’s having a decade.
(Tiffany Miller) The cruise industry is not waiting for travelers to come around. By most measures, they already have. A projected 21.7 million Americans are expected to cruise in 2026, a record high and a 4.5 percent increase over last year, according to AAA.
“Cruising has come a long way since The Love Boat,” said writer and travel expert Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, aka JetSetSarah. “Pull up to the port, unpack once and have the world come to you.”
This April, more than 11,500 attendees and 650 exhibitors gathered at Seatrade Cruise Global to map out what comes next.
Dining as the main event
Food has always been part of the cruise experience. The question the industry is now asking is what happens when it becomes the point.
Cruise lines are placing greater emphasis on the dining experience, with destination-inspired menus, port-specific drinks and more immersive, multi-course experiences.
Royal Caribbean introduced the Empire Supper Club this year, pairing multi-course menus with craft cocktails and live music into a single evening.
Expedition cruising finds a new audience
Expedition cruising is one of the fastest-growing types of cruising, and major cruise lines are moving into it.
These itineraries go where other ships do not. Travelers kayak among glaciers, contribute to citizen science programmes and spend time in the field with naturalists and researchers, with programming built around science and conservation rather than port stops.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has operated in this space for decades, with programs including the Visiting Scientist Program, the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund and the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship.
Wellness expands across the ship
Wellness is no longer a spa deck. It is becoming a reason to book.
A few years ago, a thermal suite was a selling point. Now it is closer to a baseline expectation. Meditation spaces, sleep-focused staterooms and recovery lounges are following the same trajectory. A dedicated wellness pavilion debuted at this year’s show, a signal that the category has grown large enough to need its own floor space.
Cunard’s Wellness at Sea program runs across multiple days. Its three tracks (Relax, Energise and Recover) each combine fitness, spa and mindfulness elements. Shore excursions and destination-specific spa offerings carry the experience beyond the ship.
Ships as cultural hubs
Entertainment on cruise ships used to mean a stage show. Cruise lines are now producing content that doesn’t exist anywhere else.
Holland America Line partnered with The Verdon Fosse Legacy to debut “Fosse and Verdon, The Duet That Changed Broadway,” a live musical and multimedia tribute to the work of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. The production marks the first international staging of their work at sea.
Onboard retail is moving in the same direction. More cruise lines are curating locally sourced goods and destination-specific products at port, the kind passengers could only find by actually being there.
The bigger picture
The passenger numbers tell one part of the story. What cruise lines are building inside that growth tells another.
“Today’s ships offer amenities that are at least as good as, and often more comprehensive than, those in resorts and hotels,” Greaves-Gabbadon said. “A cruise can be equally enjoyable for solos, families, honeymooners, groups and adventurers, and that versatility is a large part of their appeal.”
What the show floor made clear is that the industry is not waiting to be discovered. It is building toward the traveler it wants next.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/
Lifestyle
Loneliness affects 1 in 6 people globally. New research reveals the childhood experiences that help adults thrive
The World Health Organization (WHO) calls loneliness a global health threat, and the numbers explain why. With 1 in 6 people affected worldwide, loneliness hits the hardest among teens and young adults ages 13 to 29, where between 17% and 21% report feeling lonely.
(Tiffany Miller) Kids have more ways to connect than ever. They can text, scroll, game, comment and chat all before they even leave the house. Yet for many young people, all that connection does not necessarily translate into feeling known, useful or part of something larger than themselves.
The World Health Organization (WHO) calls loneliness a global health threat, and the numbers explain why. With 1 in 6 people affected worldwide, loneliness hits the hardest among teens and young adults ages 13 to 29, where between 17% and 21% report feeling lonely. Young people experiencing chronic loneliness are twice as likely to develop depression and 22% more likely to earn lower grades, according to the WHO. If screens are now built into childhood, what actually helps kids build confidence, purpose and belonging?
New research from Harris Poll, commissioned by Scouting America, examined more than 3,000 U.S. adults, including those who earned the Eagle Scout rank, the program’s highest designation, and compared them with adults who never participated. Conducted for three months beginning October 10, 2025, the survey of 3,178 adults asked for feedback on well-being, civic engagement, leadership and character development. The findings reveal meaningful differences in how those groups describe their relationships, outlook, civic involvement, connection and sense of purpose.
The clearest difference may be loneliness. Just 11% of those who earned the Eagle Scout rank say they frequently feel lonely, compared with 23% of non-participants. Those who earned the rank are also more likely to report a strong sense of purpose, with 78% saying they feel one compared with 60% of those who were never in the program, and 95% describe themselves as happy versus 82% of adults who never took part.
The data does not reduce childhood connection to a single activity. It shows how structured, real-world experiences can give young people repeated chances to be active participants rather than passive ones, working alongside others, taking responsibility, solving problems, serving a community and building confidence over time.
That matters because belonging is not built in theory, it is built through repetition and lived experience. A young person shows up, learns a skill, helps with a project, gets trusted with responsibility and begins to see that their presence matters. From the outside these moments may look small, but over time, they can shape how a person sees themselves and how they relate to others.
Those patterns extend into adult life. The research does not establish that the program causes these outcomes, but the consistency across measures is striking. Some 74% of those who earned the Eagle Scout rank say they have held leadership positions at work, compared with 31% of non-participants. Another 57% say they have spoken up for a cause they believe in or on behalf of others, versus 33% of those who never took part.
The story inside the numbers is not that every child needs the same path. It is that young people need places where they are asked to show up, contribute and be counted on. They need adults who mentor them, peers to collaborate with them and real responsibilities that help them practice who they are becoming.
In a childhood increasingly shaped by digital life, those experiences can be easy to underestimate. But the research shows the long-term value of giving kids something to do, somewhere to belong and a reason to see themselves as capable. For families worried about loneliness, confidence or lack of meaningful connection alongside their digital lives, the takeaway is practical: Look for structured experiences that allow young people to participate, contribute and lead. Connection is not just something kids feel. It is something they get to practice.
Methodology
The research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Scouting America among 3,178 U.S. adults ages 18-plus, including 1,549 who were never members of Scouting America (“non-Scouts”) and members of Scouting America (“Scouts”), including 1,067 who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout (“Eagle Scouts”) and 562 who did not achieve the rank of Eagle Scout (“non-Eagle Scouts”). The survey was conducted initially from Oct. 10 through Nov. 17, 2025, and relaunched from Dec. 16, 2025, through Jan. 9, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Looking for stories that inform, inspire, and keep you connected to what matters right now? Visit STM Daily News for breaking news, community stories, travel, food and drink, health and wellness, technology, transportation, and our popular Knowledge series. Discover fresh content updated daily, and stay informed with news you can use this moment. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media so you never miss a story.
(Tiffany Miller) The summer of childhood had a different quality to it. The days felt unscheduled, the weeks unhurried, and the season itself stretched on in a way the calendar did not quite explain. A new survey from ThriftBooks, the largest independent online bookseller of new and used books, found that many readers believe the endless summer feeling is gone, and that the one thing most associated with getting it back is also the thing they feel least entitled to do.
It also found that nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults who read say summer moves faster now than it did when they were growing up. And 76% say reading is the one thing that slows it down.
Summer used to feel different
Part of what shifted it was the screen. About 60% of readers say screens take away from the feeling of summer. The associations most tied to childhood summers — being outdoors, family time and reading — have quietly faded into the background. What replaced them is a season that feels more scheduled, more managed and harder to slow down.
Reading slows it down. Guilt gets in the way.
Reading holds a complicated place in that picture. Fifty-three percent of readers fell in love with reading during childhood, and the emotional connection between books and summer runs deep. Fifty-six percent say reading makes summer feel like it lasts longer, and most agree it helps them slow down in a way other forms of downtime simply do not.
But wanting to read and feeling permitted to read are different things. Seventy-four percent of readers say they sometimes or often feel that reading for pleasure is only allowed after everything else is done. That hesitation often looks familiar: a book left on the nightstand while the dishes get done, a chapter saved for when the to-do list clears. The single biggest obstacle is not a shortage of time but the sense that reading is not productive enough to justify: 27% say the main barrier is feeling like they should be doing something more useful instead.
A generational divide
That tension runs deepest among younger readers. Gen Z enters summer more optimistic about reading than older generations, but also more burdened by it. Seventy-seven percent of Gen Z say reading makes summer feel longer, compared with 44% of Baby Boomers. Yet it is younger readers who are most likely to feel they need to earn the time first.
Why it matters now
The findings suggest summer often feels shorter because schedules and distractions leave less room to slow down. For many readers, books may be one of the simplest ways to bring back the endless summer feeling.
Methodology
ThriftBooks commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,000 adults throughout the United States who read three or more books per year. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95%.
Fieldwork took place between April 13 and April 17, 2026. Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is a creative market research agency.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
