“No first class, all economy. Seems fitting”: CFB fans left unamused as Southwest Airlines bags 'official airline of the SEC' title

In a confusing move, Southwest Airlines Co. has been named the 'Official Airline of the SEC'. All parties – SEC, SEC Network, and the airlines – have agreed to a multi-year sponsorship agreement.

However, not all college football fans are thrilled about this partnership, with many taking to X to express their discontent. One fan sarcastically commented:

"No first class, all economy. Seems fitting," capturing the general sentiment among the skeptics.

Another fan chimed in, "Southwest is a shell of its former self. Flew it recently and it was eye-opening."

Criticizing the airline's reach, one user remarked, "How many actual SEC cities does SWA fly into? Nashville and 2 in Texas? What a joke."

Despite the backlash, some fans welcomed the news.

"Looks like SWA seized an opportunity," tweeted one user.

Another added, "A beautiful relationship, Brett."

Highlighting the commercial forces running college athletics, a user pointed out:

"Commercialization of college athletics is here and never going away. The Big 12 has a world-class businessman with immense commercial experience and expertise in pro sports and entertainment management as their Commish."

To celebrate the partnership, Southwest also organized the Flex Your Fandom Sweepstakes. The winner of this offer stands a chance to win a trip to the South Eastern Conference Football championship match.

Southwest adds new routes and services for SEC fans

Southwest Airlines is stepping up its game for college football fans, announcing new routes and additional services to ensure they don’t miss the big games.

Some of these key games highlighted include Georgia at Texas in Week 8, USC vs. LSU in the Vegas Kickoff Classic, Alabama at Wisconsin in Week 3, and Tennessee at Oklahoma in Week 4.

"Southwest Airlines is proud to be joining the SEC roster as the airline of choice and getting sports fanatics to their favorite games with ease," stated an official release.

The vice president of Marketing Communications & Strategy at Southwest Airlines, Jennifer Bridie talked about Southwest's long-standing relationship with fans:

"SEC fans have been flying with us for decades, checking two free bags of gear, rescheduling road games without fees, and saving flight credits for the year their team finally makes it to the championship."

In a bid to enhance the fan experience, Southwest's unique sponsorship aims to provide more flexibility for fans to join the action.