New York’s Albany International Airport (ALB) and Southwest Airlines are marking 25 years of Southwest service to the Capital Region with art.
A new large-scale sculpture titled Treasure Map, by Hudson Valley artist Ruby Palmer, is now on display in the terminal.
The work was made entirely of aircraft seat leather from Southwest’s Repurpose with Purpose initiative, which promotes sustainability through creative upcycling of retired aircraft seat leather.
A wide variety of objects, including travel gear, have been made with old seat leather, but Treasure Map is the first sculpture to come out of the initiative.
There will be a party to celebrate both the anniversary and new artwork on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM next to the Southwest ticket at Albany International Airport, where Treasure Map is installed.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist and enter prize drawings to win an original artwork by the artist, plus 25 round-trip tickets to any Southwest destination.
Southwest Airlines is changing its policy for those who may need an extra seat
Southwest Airlines’ new assigned seating policy goes into effect on January 27, 2026 and on that date, the carrier will also be changing its policy for travelers who don’t fit within the armrest of their seat.
Right now, plus-size passengers have the option to pay for an extra seat in advance of their flight, with the option of getting that money back later if the flight isn’t full. They can also request an extra seat at the airport.
Under the carrier’s new policy, passengers may still get a refund, but there is no longer a guarantee that they will.
Currently, Southwest Airlines considers the boundary between seats to be the armrest and encourages passengers who know they’ll need extra space to purchase an extra seat before they travel.
The carrier now refunds the cost of the extra seat after the flight, on request.
Passengers of size who don’t purchase that extra seat beforehand may also discuss their seating needs with a gate agent (or be advised of it…) and be given the extra seat on a complimentary basis if space is available on the flight.
If the flight is full, however, the airline will offer to rebook you on another flight.
Southwest’s ‘passenger of size’ policy on or after January 27, 2026
After January 26, 2026, passengers of size’ are required to purchase an additional seat before the flight.
If you don’t pre-purchase that extra seat and it’s determined at the gate that the extra room is needed, you’ll be charged for it – at the applicable fare on the day of travel – before boarding.
Complimentary extra seats will no longer be made available. And now a refund for the extra seat will only be offered if the flight departs with at least one open space, if both seats were purchased in the same fare class, and if you file that request within 90 days of travel.
End of an era: Southwest Airlines no longer checks bags for free
Passengers checking bags on Southwest Airlines must now do what passengers on other airlines do:
pay for their checked bags.
The carrier’s longstanding and much-loved “two bags fly free” policy ended May 28, 2025.
Now Southwest Airlines passengers who don’t have a Southwest credit card, elite status or a certain class of ticket must pay $35 for the first check bag and $45 for the second.
Checked baggage fees on domestic US airlines
For many travelers, Southwest’s “two bags fly free” policy was the clincher when choosing which airline to fly.
But now those travelers may be looking around for other carriers and trying to figure out the checked bag fees.
So let’s take a look at what current checked bag fees are on most domestic U.S. airlines. Weight and size restrictions apply and are often not the same from airline to airline, so be sure to check.
In many cases, a credit card, cabin class or airline status will allow you to avoid these checked bag fees. And there may be discounts for prepaying your bag fees.
Here are some of the basic baggage fees as of May 28, 2025.
American Airlines: $40 for the 1st bag ($35 if you pay online); $45 for the second bag.
Delta Air Lines: $35 for the 1st bag; and $45 for the second bag.
Frontier Airlines: Pricing for carry-on and checked bags varies by where (i.e. online or at the airport) and when you pay for it. And even by route. It can be confusing. And costly. Be sure to measure and weigh your bags and check the site for options.
Hawaiian Airlines: Interisland: 1st bag: $30, 2nd bag: $40. North America: $40 for the 1st bag, $45 for the 2nd.
JetBlue: $35-$50 for the first bag, $50-$70 for the second. Discounts are applied depending on when you pay for your checked bag.
Airports in the U.S. and abroad are preparing to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
Big thanks to @thepraties for bringing the Irish spirit to LAX and performing for our travelers as part of the #LAXPresents Winter & Spring 2025 season! You’ve definitely helped us get into the festive mood! 🍀🎶 pic.twitter.com/39m7r0w0Ab
We can’t wait to welcome tens of thousands of tourists to Ireland over the coming day and a true Céad Míle Fáilte awaits with our buildings – both inside and out – lit up in green, white and orange!
And check out this special livery coming to JetBlue
In February, JetBlue invited customers to vote on which of three special livery designs created by Puerto Rican artists will be painted on a JetBlue Airbus A320 to honor Puerto Rico’s rich culture.
The winner is the design created by Juan Gutierrez, better known as The Stencil Network.
The design embodies the spirit of Puerto Rico and features the proud jíbaro (Puerto Rican farm worker) on the tail and images of Puerto Rico’s fruits and flora on the body. On the plane’s belly is the phrase “Yo Soy Boricua” (I am Puerto Rican).
Look for this colorful plane to be flying this summer.
Southwest Airlines has been in the news lately for the carrier’s decision to end its open seating policy, add premium-style seating and begin flying red-eye flights.
So, it’s a good time to look at another Southwest Airlines seating story. This one is all about what the airline has been doing with old aircraft seat leather.
After a seat refresh in 2014, Southwest Airlines had 43 acres of surplus seat leather. Rather than throw it in the landfill, the airline created the Repurpose with Purpose program.
The ongoing program not only recycles and repurposes Southwest Airlines’ old seat leather, but it also provides employment, skills training and other community benefits.
Through October 2024 an exhibit at Denver International Airport (DEN) displays some of the diverse and creative items being made.
Look for the exhibit at DEN Airport on Concourse C, Mezzanine (upper level), and at Baggage Claim 1, East Side.
