If you've been following Southwest Airlines like I have, today marks the end of an era. The airline's famous open seating policy - that chaotic cattle call we've all experienced - officially ended overnight. As of January 27, 2026, Southwest now assigns seats and charges for premium options, completely transforming how you'll board and fly with them going forward.

But that's just the beginning of today's news. American Airlines just reported financial results that should have their executives sweating, and there's actually a smart opportunity to buy Wyndham points at a discount if you have specific redemptions in mind.

Let's dive in.

How many boarding groups does Southwest Airlines now have under its new assigned seating system?

The answer is chillin' near the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling. 👇

Yesterday marked the last day of Southwest's decades-old open seating policy. Starting today, every Southwest flight operates with assigned seats and premium seating options - a transformation that changes everything about how you'll fly with them.

Here's what's different now: The airline introduced eight boarding groups (numbered 1 through 8), replacing the familiar A, B, and C positions. Group 1 includes families with children six and under, plus passengers needing extra time. Group 2 is for A-List Preferred members, while Group 3 covers A-List members and early bird check-in passengers.

The biggest change? Southwest now offers what they're calling Extended Leg Room seats - basically extra legroom seats with 33-36 inches of pitch compared to 31-32 inches in standard seats. These premium seats are located in the first few rows, bulkheads, and exit rows.

What this means for you: If you're A-List Preferred or higher, you'll automatically get upgraded seating at check-in when available. For everyone else, you can purchase these premium seats during booking or up to 24 hours before departure. The airline hasn't publicly disclosed pricing yet, but early reports suggest it'll vary by route and demand.

The timing couldn't be more strategic. Southwest has been under intense pressure from activist investors to boost revenue, and this move - combined with their recent introduction of checked bag fees and basic economy - represents the biggest transformation in the airline's 50-year history.

While Delta continues to dominate and United holds steady in second place, American Airlines just reported numbers that are honestly painful to look at. The carrier earned just $111 million in profit for all of 2025 - an 87% collapse compared to the previous year.

To put that in perspective, Delta reported significantly higher profits for the same period, and United came in second. American's distant third-place finish highlights just how far behind they've fallen in the competitive U.S. airline market.

The profit-sharing situation tells an even starker story. American Airlines employees received just 0.3% profit sharing - that's not a typo. Meanwhile, Delta employees are celebrating meaningful profit-sharing checks, creating a massive morale gap between carriers.

CEO Robert Isom promised "significant upside" potential ahead, but that's becoming a familiar refrain from American's leadership. The airline has been making similar promises for years while consistently underperforming its competitors.

What to watch: American's struggles typically lead to aggressive cost-cutting measures that eventually impact loyalty program value. If you're sitting on a pile of AAdvantage miles, this might be your signal to start planning redemptions sooner rather than later.

Through February 18, 2026, Wyndham Rewards is offering an 80% bonus on purchased points - bringing the effective cost down to 0.72 cents per point. That's not the best offer we've ever seen from Wyndham, but it's worth considering if you have a specific redemption in mind.

Here's the deal structure: You can buy points in increments from 1,000 to 80,000 points. The base price is 1.3 cents per point, but the 80% bonus drops that to 0.72 cents each. For someone maxing out the purchase, that's 144,000 total points (80,000 purchased + 64,000 bonus) for $1,040.

Should you buy? Only if you have a specific use in mind. Wyndham operates over 9,000 properties worldwide, including brands like Wyndham, La Quinta, Ramada, and Days Inn. Award nights start at 7,500 points for standard rooms and go up to 30,000 points for premium properties.

The math: A 15,000-point award night would cost $108 with this promotion (15,000 × 0.0072). Compare that to the cash rate of your target property. If the hotel is pricing above $108 per night, buying points makes sense. If it's below that, just pay cash.

One warning: Wyndham Rewards points have become progressively less valuable over time as the program has devalued. Don't buy points speculatively hoping for future value - have a concrete redemption plan before clicking purchase.

Here's something unexpected: Emirates and Marriott just announced a partnership to open Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge - the first property of its kind anywhere in the world. The 40-room all-inclusive luxury lodge opens mid-2026 in Australia's Blue Mountains, about three hours west of Sydney.

This is interesting for several reasons. First, it's Marriott's first-ever Ritz-Carlton Lodge property, expanding the brand into adventure luxury territory. Second, it brings Emirates into the land-based hospitality business through a partnership rather than outright ownership.

The property will operate as an all-inclusive resort with gourmet dining, guided outdoor experiences, and spa services. As a Marriott Bonvoy property, you'll earn and redeem points for stays - though all-inclusive resort redemptions typically require significantly more points than standard hotels.

For points enthusiasts, the bigger question is how Marriott will price award nights. Similar luxury lodge properties in the Bonvoy portfolio (like the JW Marriott properties in national park settings) typically fall in Category 7 or 8, requiring 50,000-100,000 points per night depending on the season.

The location is deliberately remote - Wolgan Valley offers dramatic wilderness scenery and exclusive access to nature experiences. If you're planning a trip to Australia and have Marriott points to burn, this could be a unique redemption opportunity when it opens later this year.

Ski enthusiasts, take note: Air Canada just announced new nonstop service from Vancouver to Sapporo's New Chitose Airport starting next winter. This is huge for anyone chasing powder on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

Hokkaido is famous for having some of the best snow conditions in the world - light, dry powder that skiers dream about. The new Vancouver route makes it significantly easier for North American travelers to access this region without routing through Tokyo.

From a points perspective, this opens up new redemption opportunities on Air Canada through Aeroplan, or through Star Alliance partners. Vancouver-Asia routes typically price around 60,000-75,000 Aeroplan points in economy or 110,000-140,000 points in business class round-trip, depending on availability and dates.

The strategic angle: Vancouver's geographic position makes it North America's gateway to Asia. This new route leverages that advantage, potentially offering better availability and pricing than routing through crowded hubs like Tokyo or Seoul.

The answer is C) Eight groups (numbered 1-8). Southwest's new boarding system features eight numbered groups, replacing the old A/B/C system. Group 1 is for families and passengers needing extra time, Groups 2-3 are for elite members and early bird check-in, and Groups 4-8 cover general boarding based on fare type and check-in time.

I'm genuinely curious how passengers are reacting to this massive shift. Hit reply and let me know your thoughts - I read every response and love hearing your firsthand experiences!

That's all for today, my friends. See you tomorrow with more miles and points news.