Policy Change - Southwest will require passengers encroaching on neighboring seats to purchase an additional ticket starting in January [1] - The additional ticket may not be refunded [1] - Previously, passengers could pay for an extra seat in advance and receive a refund, or request an extra seat at the airport for free [1] - The second seat will only be refundable if the flight has at least one open seat and both seats are in the same fare class [2] Stakeholder Reaction - Advocacy groups for overweight people consider the changes devastating due to increased costs [2]

Airline Industry Trends - Fetcher, a startup, is collaborating with Delta to reshape the ticket purchasing experience [1] - Delta is exploring AI pricing strategies to potentially increase revenue [3] - The implementation of AI pricing may lead to consumer confusion regarding optimal ticket purchase timing [2] - Delta's AI pricing strategy aims to introduce more fare classes and dynamic pricing adjustments [3] Competitive Landscape & Regulatory Response - Some lawmakers are expressing concerns about Delta's AI pricing approach [4] - American Airlines has stated they will not adopt AI pricing strategies [4] - The industry anticipates widespread adoption of AI pricing as a tool for revenue enhancement [4] Potential Financial Impact - AI pricing could potentially increase ticket prices by $20-$40 [5]