Southwest makes key booking change travelers will like

Amid pressure from investors (including one who is currently in search of to oust chief executive Bob Jordan), Southwest Airlines (LUV) has been going through a period of transition this would be now not proving well-liked by many of its frequent customers.

The airline recently confirmed that it will be replacing its decades-old open seating policy with regular booked seats while there are already whisperers that its two-bags-regardless-of-fare-class policy may most probably be next on the chopping block.

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But in a single move to draw in customers to make use of its web page for his or her wider shuttle journey with a purpose to be appreciated by frequent customers, Southwest is now allowing cruises to be booked through its web page alongside the current flights, cars, hotels and vacation packages.

Customers have 'access to all major cruise lines': Southwest

A sort of feature is already reachable both with airlines that fly to well known vacation destinations and mainstream carriers the same as Delta Air Lines (DAL) . The emblem new feature is completed in partnership with World Travel Holdings, a vacation booking platform commonly used to book cruises.

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"We've heard from our customers that cruises were of interest to them, and our new partnership with World Travel Holdings gives customers access to all major cruise lines, the same as Carnival (CCL) , Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) , and Royal Caribbean (RCL) , to counterpoint their shuttle experience on Southwest," Southwest's Vice President Of Product Development Phil Gouel said in an announcement. "This partnership also gives our loyal members new tips on how you can earn points."

The emblem new partnership means that individuals who book cruises during the Southwest platform will now also earn points during the airline's Rapid Rewards loyalty program. To advertise the new feature, Southwest is offering two in place of the usual one point for every dollar spent prior to Oct. 31.

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'Rapid Rewards points, vacation packages, car rentals and hotel bookings'

The promotion also comes alongside Southwest's annual "Week Of WOW" sale offering Forty% off certain base fares and taking $250 off vacation packages with the OCTOBERSALE125 promo code. The emblem new cruise booking feature and sale prices are reachable in right now on Southwest.com.

"Similarly to this week's sale on base fares and the cruise bookings offer, Customers can shop for additional shuttle offers on Rapid Rewards points, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel bookings, and more," Southwest writes of the promotion.

The change is one in all a couple of that Southwest is undertaking to show across the string of unprofitable quarters which have been the lead to of growing investor pressure.

Elliott Investment Management, which recently acquired enough stock an improbable way to call a distinct shareholder meeting wherein it desires to position Jordan's and the current board's leadership below question, in most cases referred to as the future introduction of paid seating "too little too late" and continues to be uncompromising in desirous to peer both Jordan and most of the current board replaced by aviation insiders the same as former Air Canada (ACDVF) CEO Robert Milton and Virgin America head David Cush.

Another major change recently announced by Southwest includes the introduction of red-eye flights — the carrier prior to now ran best flights that started and ended inside of the identical day no matter time zone but will now start running just a couple of make a spread red-eyes to different Hawaiian islands from Las Vegas and Phoenix starting place from February 2025.