As reported by NotiFlyer, Southwest is imposing capacity controls on its awards.

Currently an award ticket is good on any seat. There are a few blackout dates, but otherwise award tickets aren’t restricted.

As a bone to members, Rapid Rewards credits will expire after 24 months instead of 12. They’re also removing blackout dates, but blackout dates are meaningless once you introduce capacity controls. Now they’ll be able to allocate as many as zero or one seat on a flight. Who needs blackout dates?

Southwest is headlining the change to 24 month expiration of credits, and buries the news in the middle paragraphs. Clearly an attempt to divert attention from the real bad news and soften the blow.

Rapid Rewards members, you have my sympathy.