Seating free for all may be coming to an end

An American airline that is notorious for it's free-for-all seating policy is considering changes.

And the reason, you've guessed it, is money.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is known for its open single-class seating policy but could be changing, Travel Mole reports.

Southwest has one economy class cabin with no pre-assigned seating and mostly open boarding. 

Passengers are allocated to one of three boarding groups and it is then first come, first seated, unless you opt to pay a fee for early boarding.

Otherwise it is a bunfight as passengers try to save premium seats for their friends and anyone late boarding on a fuller flight gets a dreaded middle seat.

"Once onboard, simply choose any available seat and stow your carryon items in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you," the airline's website says

Now Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has said the airline is looking at changes.

“We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” Jordan said this week.

Although, it touts its "simple and user-friendly" seating policy, this restricts the carrier's ability to make more money from fees.

Jordan said a review of passenger seating has resulted in "interesting" results.

“Customer preferences do change over time,” Jordan said.

While rival US airlines, including Delta and United, have introduced fee-paying choices for priority boarding, extra legroom seating, exit rows and others, Southwest has remained steadfast in its simple seating policy with no premium options.

But money talks. Stay tuned.

Calls for cash to remain king in Australia

Australia should follow in Ireland's footsteps to ensure consumers can access and use cash, a lobbying group says.

Ireland is mandating cash acceptance by supermarkets and pharmacies.

There is only one way to ensure cash is widely available to everyone who needs it - by forcing large and important retailers to accept cash, says Jason Bryce, spokesperson for the Cash Welcome campaign..

This cost-free initiative sends a signal that Australia is not going cashless and the banking and retail industries must act to support the distribution of cash, the organisation says.

"Australia must follow Ireland, France, [countries in] Europe and many states and cities in the USA and mandate cash acceptance," says Bryce. "Already too many people are having trouble accessing and using cash.

"The cash industry is in crisis because of the uncertainty around the future of cash in Australia.

"There is only one way to guarantee a strong cash distribution system - and that is to ensure that cash is widely available and used in the community.

"Retailers selling food and essential groceries must accept cash to ensure that everyone is included in our economy and all communities have cash available when required."

See https://www.change.org/BankingAndCashGuarantee

Guess what happens when you mix sport, politics and money?

Mix politics, sport and money and the result is unlikely to be a good one.

The International Olympic Committee this week named international beverage giant AB InBev as a worldwide partner until 2028, following news that Asahi had pulled out of its Paris sponsorship deal due to Russia’s presence at the 2024 Games.

Multinational brewer AB InBev, full name Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and the largest brewer in the world, revealed that its alcohol-free Corona Cero will be the official beer of the Olympics through the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA 2028.

The company's brands include Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois.

The deal means poor sports lovers are going to lumbered with an no-alcohol beer.

The agreement also includes marketing rights for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Paralympic Games through the IOC-IPC long-term collaboration agreement, website The Drinks Business reported.

Asahi announced last month that it would be pulling its sponsorship of the Paris Games.

Asahi brand Pilsner Urquell, which is also the official partner of the Czech Olympic Committee, withdrew from all communications and sponsorship material related to the 2024 Olympics, reportedly due to the IOC deciding to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the event.

Asahi released a statement saying “Pilsner Urquell does not want to support the Olympic Games in Paris under current conditions. It will send money to Czech athletes”.

AB Inbev CEO Michel Doukeris said: “Beer is the beverage of moderation and choice, and so it’s fitting to lead with Corona Cero, for this occasion.”

Moderation and choice? Mr Doukeris is clearly a master of spin and bulldust.

French law prohibits the sale or distribution of alcohol in stadiums, and the organisers of the Paris Olympics have not applied for an exemption. Alcoholic drinks can, however, be served in VIP areas.

How very IOC. One rule for the plebs, one rule for sponsors and high flyers.

# The writer has been known to drink beer and is a former consultant to the IOC