KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘It’s a setup. It’s a trap’: Gee Scott calls out Southwest Airlines’ after seating policy change

Feb 1, 2026, 5:00 AM

One of Southwest Airlines’ more favorable policies was recently thrown out, ending its long-standing perk of allowing passengers to select their own seats ahead of a flight.

Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, found the policy change to be a trap, with the company essentially pulling the rug out from under its customers, and potentially adding excessive fees to give back what passengers once loved.

“You don’t see the bait and switch coming up?” Gee asked. “‘Oh, we want to pick our own seats.’ OK, you don’t want to do the group A, group B thing, cool. We have something special for you, increased prices. It’s a setup. It’s a trap.”

After KIRO producer Paul Holden explained that a past survey showed 80% of participants wanted to choose their own seats on Southwest Airlines, he claimed the airline has taken a step back.

“Now they’re just like the rest of them. You board with your boarding group, and you enjoy the classic experience of, ‘Hey, I paid more, so I get to get on the plane faster than you and have more leg room,'” KIRO producer Paul Holden said.

“I’m not sure that’s going to work out for Southwest Airlines, and I would love to hear from folks who use it much more than I do,” Ursula responded. “The times I’ve gone, I thought that it was one of the more appealing things about it.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.

Gee and Ursula Show

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘We are not going to become fully staffed likely in our lifetime’: Rantz warns Seattle police shortage is worsening

Seattle’s police staffing shortage is getting worse, Jason Rantz, warned recruiting challenges and the city’s reputation could impact staffing goals.

14 minutes ago

‘Getting sick should not financially ruin you’: Gee backs starting with primary care for everyo...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Getting sick should not financially ruin you’: Gee backs starting with primary care for everyone in WA

Gee Scott WA’s debate over universal health care should begin with a principle people can agree on, even if they disagree about how to pay for it. “

15 minutes ago

Amazon (3)...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Business is booming, and jobs are still being cut’: Ursula warns workers as Amazon’s record margin follows more layoffs

Amazon cut about 250 more jobs this week, then reported its highest operating margin ever.

21 hours ago

Vancouver BC...

Charlie Harger

Harger: Vancouver keeps its evening sun Sunday. Washington falls back. Pick one already

Vancouver, British Columbia is done changing its clocks. When the rest of us fall back at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1, B.C. will stay right where it is.

22 hours ago

...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘This is all a fear tactic’: Gee and Ursula back Hobbs as he pushes back on federal noncitizen voter list

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is pushing back on federal prosecutors' claim that hundreds of noncitizens are registered to vote.

1 day ago

cloverleaf tiny home village...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘How insane and dystopian is that?’: Jake and Spike blast reports of drug-use units at Seattle’s newest tiny home village

KIRO hosts Jake and Spike criticized reports that Seattle’s newest tiny home village would set aside two units where residents could use drugs.

1 day ago

‘It’s a setup. It’s a trap’: Gee Scott calls out Southwest Airlines’ after seating policy change