A look inside Southwest Airlines' newly-designed planes taking flight in 2026

[@sar4x474]

“In these tradition seats you’ll loose an inch of leg room to make more room for the higher priced seats.” Translation: We made the already uncomfortable seats more uncomfortable for you mere peasants.

[@DannyWalker247]

I am of average heigth so the leg room is not a problem with me. It is the terrible seat design with lack of any cushioning. The toilet in the restroom is the most comfortable seat on a Southwest plane.

[@ecwadorlife667]

Seems like we always lose something in these redesigned planes.

[@undertow2142]

“Higher paying seats have the pin cushions removed for your comfort”

[@Chris-lh7wj]

Yeah but how about that new light blue…really invites nature and calmness into the cabin.

[@kinggremlin4574]

Did you bother to watch the video, or just come to complain? SOME seats lose an 1" of legroom to make room for other seats that get more legroom. 1/3rd of the seats have more legroom, up to 5 inches more.

[@AG-un7dz]

The reasons to fly Southwest are diminishing.

[@westhavenor9513]

Hopefully still 2 free checked bags

[@GarrettWorcester]

Yeah, I feel like I'm going through separation and divorce proceedings with SWA.

[@HiFiInsider]

agreed

[@texquin]

Yup they have become terrible. No longer fly from Houston, Texas to Cozumel Mexico. I have been 10 times in the last 2 years, it is a hour & fifty minutes flight, and the flights were all full. I saw an article that the US government may shut them down with all the recent discrepancies. Spirit Air is much better.

[@MrKarmapolice97]

I used to love SouthWest

[@ctbt1832]

So another words southwest seats are now the same as Spirit seats less legroom unless you pay for more

[@user-wn2ho5ij5f]

Yes mate, airlines work the same as every other company. If you want something you have to pay for it. What business do you know that gives away free stuff?

[@odischeese21]

@@user-wn2ho5ij5f but spirit does everything southwest does but cheaper wym XDDD

[@urbanracer032]

​@@user-wn2ho5ij5fPay the same price and getting less legroom isn't exactly the best thing.

[@meak13]

First off let's fix that up for you... you got off to a bad start " in other words"... 2nd yes that's how it works... that's how everything works, you pay more you get more.

[@meak13]

​@urbanracer032 prices aren't flat rate... they fluctuate, so no you're never paying the same.

[@shoelessb4515]

How tall are you? Send a 6'2 reporter to do this story.

[@hikertrashfilms]

Asians and women are destroying the airline industry

[@wez123123123]

Yeah exactly … I’m 6,3 and my knees are pressing hard AF into the inflight magazines 😢

[@oliverheaviside2539]

@@wez123123123 I’m 6’2” and they are going to take away one more inch of legroom, unless you give them more money. I guess I won't fly SW any longer….

[@DifferentAverage]

Also 6’2 and it’s painfully obvious that this is going to be uncomfortable as hell

[@DeepThought77]

Exactly since that’s my height as well too

[@zimfan101]

You lose an inch of legroom but you get blue seats! You'll be cramping up but feeling the calm.

[@dude4173]

Less legroom, but Blue seats and blue lights! 😅

[@JudithDixon-zf5mt]

...and a USB port to keep your calming music playing

[@chicago2370]

How is less legroom improvement ?

[@YouMakeItHappen]

...for the company, not you

[@walterwhite1]

What joke they suck

[@TheCarpentersApprentice]

When they pay your price, you read the script.

[@davee8113]

Because your distracted by the new color interior and your phone holder on the chair in front of you!, Yea Right, at least the phone would then be closer to you!

[@tomkat9557]

$$$$$$

[@rixxroxxk1620]

That seat looks as comfortable as sitting on a milk crate.

[@oliverheaviside2539]

Cattle car airlines.

[@walterwhite1]

Looks awful

[@indianoutlaw5702]

That was TWA and Northwest economy class. Water free, but from a ladle and bucket, bring your own cup.

[@lakewoodil]

Yes, or a nail keg!

[@lakewoodil]

@@indianoutlaw5702 or cup your hands.

[@crew-dog2668]

Taking another inch from economy seats is revitalizing the company? Going downhill fast!

[@LEVELGAZANOW]

Give it a rest. I fly on all the airlines routinely and Southwest has by far the better leg room. It will not impact the rest of the seating one bit.

[@chicago2370]

@@LEVELGAZANOWfound the southwest intern

[@jameseverly8501]

@@LEVELGAZANOW i disagree you moving one sit forward to give another seat more leg room is not helping matters much

[@LEVELGAZANOW]

@@chicago2370 Who me? LOL! Nope! I’m a Captain for an Atlanta based airline but I am married to a Southwest Captain. I have nothing but complete admiration for this company. Compared to mine, it’s still a people based company that happens to fly planes. After 20+ years, her pay and benefits surpasses mine.

[@thatonerandomkid-r2n]

@@LEVELGAZANOW Oh so your a delta pilot?

[@jdog22c34]

Open seating was a differentiator. I've flown 300+ Southwest flights. This change is a mistake.

[@jedisdad2265]

Agree with you 100%

[@chalkylover]

Company was gettin destroyed. The market does not agree with you.

[@andrewlunt7557]

Totally agree. Being able to choose your own seat was something I really enjoyed.

[@jred201]

Open seating sucked. Flying SW felt like such a hassle because of it. So much less stressful boarding others. But this really sucks making way for this I guess.

[@jdog22c34]

@@jred201 seeing a toddler and not wanting to sit right in front of them because they kick seats or seeing someone that weighs 3 bills and choosing a different seat is great. Pre-ordained hell that I can't predict is not great.

[@user-ke4kz3in9j]

It’s like they don’t understand why people choose Southwest

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

Either they don't understand or they don't care.

[@tjsynkral]

The open seating and generous legroom were 2 of 3 things that make me choose Southwest. Getting rid of those will only leave bag fees, and as it stands Southwest tickets usually are a few fees worth higher than other airlines anyway. They'll lose me as a customer.

[@aribarkan9828]

the fact that they are still fyling boeing 737 maxs should be the main reason they lose us as customers.

[@chalkylover]

So they get rid of a complaining customer. Sounds like a win for them. I’ve flown delta mostly, have never paid for a bag(I can check 3 for free), always got to choose my seat when I book, and have always preferred this process.

[@Harvdog1371]

United has had this for 4 years. Southwest used to be my go to but they went downhill during Covid.

[@d.carter3850]

And this is why I stopped flying United and preferred Southwest. Now, I'll go back to United because of they're the same, at least United's airport is closer to my house.

[@mtaa11]

If you buy the basic fare (want to get away) you will not know what your seat is until 24 hours before. You don't get to pick your seat during the purchase. It could be a middle seat or a seat you don't like, and you can't change it. It will not be with family or friends either. For all the people that complain about no assign seating this is way worse. Good job clowns.

[@chalkylover]

Maybe they aren’t trying to serve families? Maybe they are going after different clientele?

[@brtecson]

@@chalkylover yeah, the business flyer who's willing to get nickeled and dimed to death and the people who go on vacations alone. aka nobody lol

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

@@chalkylover business travelers don't like SW. If they are traveling on the company dime they go for a carrier that has traditional legacy set up not a budget airline.

[@fleabag2mr.151]

Cattle car! Pack them in as tight as possible 😮

[@KayentaRojo]

Blue lights, how much closer to nature could it get? 😂

[@VintageToiletsRock]

Bland interior. In desperate need of a pop of color.

[@denziiey]

There was nothing wrong with Southwest. People started complaining and now things are getting complicated just like other airlines😒

[@aynsleyjeansonne]

“Light blue inside the cabin to give a sense of nature.” Blue, one of the rarest colors to find in nature… 😂

[@frzstat]

Except for the sky

[@bleuaqua8102]

Cmon Amtrak! Continue reopening routes and put these gougers to shame with their bag fees, lack of comfort, and discontinued routes.

[@youlikeitiloveit3747]

Absolutely no way Amtrak will ever be able to compete. What are you talking about. Between certain routes, maybe. But for the public at large? No way.

[@bleuaqua8102]

@@youlikeitiloveit3747 You don't think so? With rail companies like Brightline expanding services in South Florida, it'll happen. Amtrak has already announced reopening 5 routes and an long distance expansion plan.

[@youlikeitiloveit3747]

@@bleuaqua8102 it’s all regional in select markets. In the NE, it maybe better in some areas (if you do’t have a car) No one is flying between where BL operates. ATL to ORD, DFW to MIA, CLT to LAX, SLC to MSP, SEA to MEM, JFK to DTW… come on. Trains can’t supply that and not take 36-72hr

[@chalkylover]

@@bleuaqua8102it will never be cheaper for them to imminent domain more property and add more rail. Also it takes forever to train across the country.

[@bleuaqua8102]

@@chalkylover Maybe. The Georgia railroad case has big implications on the future of rail in the country. If they can decrease travel times and increase rail as a net-zero option, it has a chance. If not 👎🏻

[@BreakTime10101]

No TV screens in the headrests? They need to make planes with 2 seats on each side all the back.

[@apara2005]

Most people use their phones or tablets. No need for a screen in back of seats

[@chalkylover]

“I want all the amenities of a premium airline, for the cheapest ticket price in the whole industry” Also “everyone’s greedy but me”

[@cindyhurzeler3885]

The last time I flew Southwest, my phone slipped off my lap and landed on the floor in front of me. I had a window seat. I'm 5'4. I had to take off my sandal and pick up my phone with my toes. 😂

[@truneilson]

So they are becoming Frontier... but more expensive.

[@RealSchlep]

yea im not flying south west once this is out lol

[@chalkylover]

They don’t care

[@delta34435]

oh didn’t expect you to be here schlep

[@TheShowblox]

Bringing the whole family closer together… MUCH, MUCH CLOSER

[@JulianBark]

Too bad they aren’t offering seats with extra width.

[@ctbt1832]

They do. They are called cargo 😂

[@LEVELGAZANOW]

If you’re too fat to fit in a Southwest seat then you’re simply………..

[@thud9797]

737 only so wide so not sure how you can fit a wider seat.

[@MB-rr1fb]

@@thud9797 All 737-800 have traditional 2 x 2 first class seating ..................except on WN

[@thud9797]

@@MB-rr1fb Yeah I hate that 3x3

[@danbell6380]

737-Max 🤔 don’t really matter how comfortable you are if the plane isn’t going to make it. If it’s Boeing, we ain’t going.

[@chad5893]

LOL, notice they said "enhanced bottom cushion"? What does "enhanced" mean? I'm guessing enhanced means less...

[@Abcdefghijk920]

60 additional rollaboards in the cabin is a HUGE deal for the boarding process. That’s pretty amazing

[@brtecson]

the bin design is called a spacebin. basically, it's designed to store 6 carryons laid on their side instead of 4 laid flat. the thing is, it's been available for 10 years and southwest has opted to not buy them until now.

[@flaviuskern225]

When the door plug blows open at 19000ft, the blue will definitely make me feel better.

[@ogadlogadl490]

😂😂

[@reginomics23]

😂😂

[@sparkymac3320]

My wife and I retired a few years ago and we absolutely love road trips. Dealing with airports and planes and tiny seats has a way of using any vacation before it begins.

[@CheapsKate77]

Unfortunately, most people don’t have the time to drive to their destinations and back, so we are stuck with having to fly 🫤

[@brtecson]

I agree with that on a

[@Acreyman]

So everyone looses an inch of legroom so they can make more money by charging more for the seats woth more legroom. Got it.

[@ObmChris]

RIGHT.

[@drewblessing8418]

Wanna Get Away includes the seat in the fare. Revolutionary!

[@steverhinehart9794]

I gotta pay more for flying SWA. Booo. I rather pick my own seat.

[@afridgetoofar1818]

Just book a flight on one of the big three.

[@chalkylover]

You can pick own seat. When you book your ticket. Duh. Way better than fighting for a seat at boarding time.

[@sleepyvtek9]

I don't really care about leg space. it's about the width.

[@Runatta]

Loose weight then

[@brtecson]

@@Runatta chicks dig wide shoulders though

[@andrewnmontemayor]

​@@RunattaI have wide shoulders and am not overweight at all. It's a real problem flying solo somewhere with those tiny seats

[@andrewnmontemayor]

@@mvpfocus ya I regularly lift, definitely not a bodybuilder though. I'm Mexican but our family is kind of built like Hawaiians.

[@andrewnmontemayor]

@@mvpfocus nobody ever said anything about bigger bones. There's definitely different body types. Ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. I'm not really sure what you're trying to get at here. The seats they make are too small for some people including myself because I have wide shoulders.

[@mattweh]

Screw the bag space, make the leg room bigger for everyone!!

[@jimmymcclendon6210]

I flew on a Max 8 a couple of months ago with Southwest. It was extremely comfortable and a smooth flight!

[@GarlandTexasSpotter2024]

Still no IFE. And the walkway looks narrower than the current layout. JetBlue, Delta and United are still better.

[@Abcdefghijk920]

IFE is only good if it actually works. I would much rather use my own device which I know will work rather than take a chance on one that will not. Not to mention the extra weight that adds to the aircraft which means more fuel used and more money out of consumers pockets to cover it. I would take extra legroom and a more comfortable seat over IFE any day.

[@user-ii3vn8tn3q]

More leg room, if you pay a higher ticket price...less leg room for everyone else. Time to insist in high speed cross country rail Airlines have a monopoly.

[@danh7449]

Before you know it airlines will be selling Standing Zone only 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@apara2005]

😂😂😂

[@derrickcarson]

Don't give them any ideas.

[@chalkylover]

Against federal regulation, otherwise maybe they would. Actually doesn’t sound horrible

[@THELIFEOFPRICE]

Still no first class seats like american and delta with the 2-2 config up front? lol whyyyyyy

[@nicktalavera9659]

Those seats look so stiff and uncomfortable

[@shaunmaxwell2745]

So pay more for leg room and coach gets less again. Kind of glazed over that

[@Leo_Vasileio]

The seats look like Alaska and 2010s united wood plank seats

[@Aisha.The.Traveler]

We’re already cramped in these seats but now we lose an inch. This is really dumb. 🤦

[@afridgetoofar1818]

I now only fly first class with one of the big three. AA is the best.

[@paule8536]

Same here. I fly both AA and Delta

[@RJCormanRailfan]

Even the little ERJ145's?

[@sammarvel8]

This just in! Doors are flying everywhere! Chairs are falling off but I'd you pay extra the doors will be sealed properly

[@socal33]

Haven't flown in 8 years and my blood pressure is finally, almost, normal.

[@brtecson]

my question for southwest is are the going to delay flights for 2 hours over and over again all day long, or will they just cancel them so passengers can buy flights on competing airlines? this happened to me three times in between '22-'23 so i started flying other airlines.

[@pdek32]

So Southwest is basically getting the “oasis” mod that American has

[@PEPSI-s4r]

We are all built differently....as a 6'7" dude it is nice to see a few seats with more leg room. I'd pay more for this

[@sweetnaomi56]

They're going to ruin Herb's airline

[@Chicharito413]

They should increase the width of the seats.

[@wildwildwest1662]

The walk way seem narrow .

[@pendleton123]

... It's a standard airplane walkway bro

[@wildwildwest1662]

@@pendleton123 thank bro , I do need a new pair of eyes glasses . Am in my 60 .

[@21borders15]

Anyone with a slight knowledge of lighting colors affects moods and feelings would know to put a warmer tone theme and lights. Neutral seats, amber ambient lighting would feel much more relaxed

[@frrrfrrr9177]

That’s stupid I want to pick my seat when I book my flight even if I’m sitting in normal seating. They are basically doing what JetBlue does with the basic blue and the blue fare price

[@pnoi808]

Agree with you or leave it how it is!

[@Bryanfisher6534]

for real! assigned seats suck!

[@chainsawdodge834]

Last time I flew jetblue it was cheaper for blue than it was basic blue because carry on bags were included with blue but it would have cost more to add them with basic blue.

[@rodneyakjohnson451]

Thats why i fly southwest to find my own seat ...now you wont know till 24hrs before your flight ?? Big mistake on southwest

[@pnoi808]

@@rodneyakjohnson451 agree!! I hate it gonna go back flying Hawaiian where I can choose my own seats in which southwest should do that.

[@Black____]

Are the engines safe is the most important question

[@jjgreek1]

So they took an inch away from the poor…and gave it to the rich?

[@kenmartin1919]

I love Southwest. The customer is NOT always right, and they know how to handle them by barring future business with these people.

[@chalkylover]

Yes if the customer was right, southwest wouldnt be hemorrhaging money and on the brink of collapse. If you run a business and only listen to the people that want to pay as little as possible, you will probably be out of business pretty quickly

[@ryanwinders6912]

Why would they stop service from Sarasota? I go to school out here out of state so it looks like I will no longer be flying southwest….

[@ironsteed5766]

Lose another inch of leg room? Way to go, SW. I remember when every seat they offered had good leg room. Sooner or later, they all fall to the mighty $ and squeeze more seats in.

[@BELCAN57]

Tell me again, why should I choose Southwest ?

[@lamikeDalton]

Cause you're too poor to fly virgin atlantic!

[@BELCAN57]

@@lamikeDalton Unfortunately Virgin doesn't fly the US like the domestic airlines do.

[@austin.draude]

Because you can now fly that key corridor from... *checks notes* ... Memphis to Nashville. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@tman4915]

A lawn chair is more comfortable than these. 😂

[@TheBayFoto]

Those seats look abysmal. I can feel the lack of comfort through the video.

[@kevinb6745]

SW is not even cheap like they used to be; often times it’s more price effective to fly with United, American or Delta.

[@DurdenTyler21]

so they made the cheap seats smaller and kept the original size for the more expensive tickets... clever.

[@Airmadillo]

What about the doors, new bolt or the same?

[@sandybeach7009]

Personally I hate the headrests. I'm 5' 0" and headrests push my head forward keeping my neck facing down.

[@classicredwine]

I didn’t catch the very end. Is he saying there will be assigned seats but you can’t pick them?

[@rodneyakjohnson451]

People fly southwest cause no assign seats now they just made a huge mistake ...

[@davee8113]

So either pay more to get a few inches of leg rooms, or, don't pay the upgrade and get crammed into a smaller seat (one inch less room). Gee, sounds like a winner for them!

[@Budz4uz]

Southwest had offered the most legroom for economy seats at 32 inches (along with JetBlue). Now that is being cut back to 31 inches so they can upsell to more comfortable seats. So, they will no longer be a lead in roomy economy. They are now on the same level as Jet Blue, Delta, American, and a few others. It is all about the legroom and personal space (or lack thereof) when I fly. I always try and plan on higher expense to get better seats. But that is just me.

[@chitowngirl11]

The blue seats, blue carpet, and blue lighting is literally disgusting and not “calming” at all. Also, there is barely any blue in nature 🤦🏻‍♀️ These people get paid how much?

[@roberthoury4034]

Unfortunately, looks like the main isle is narrower.

[@Mariohenri90]

I've been in a 6 hour flight with cramped up seats. This is not gonna fly well lol.

[@skohaya]

So If someone doesn't want to pay for the new upscale price then those expensive seats will be bought at the last moment and that's where they'll make more money. My question is how does Southwest deal with the many people who need to pre-board? Which seats are they going to be delegated to?

[@TexArk-y4b]

How about doing two seats instead of three. That would be best

[@smorris281]

Those seats are tiny, everyone is packed in like sardines! Plus, those seats look as comfortable as a seat on a public bus.

[@Stufftowatch21]

Why don’t SWA make the 3 rows 1st class , make the seats bigger 🤷‍♂️they’re no longer low cost carrier .

[@np1234c]

I’m 6ft tall. That inch makes a massive difference and is the last straw. Goodbye forever SWA.

[@news603redux]

Yeah, who wants to go to southwest Florida anyway, lol? Just EVERYBODY all winter.

[@brtecson]

"snowbird" they even have a name for the millions of people who do this

[@Bic3ps4Gunz]

I’ll stick with JetBlue

[@_.twixxx]

Welp, reliable Southwest has gone down the drain for being a good airline to fly.

[@davidbass6119]

Heres another thing I wish someone would change…. If I board a flight with just one carry on that I can store under my seat…. I have to wait way to long to disembark while people with overhead luggage take forever to get their crap…. Why not allow passangers with little or no carry on’s to get off the plane first. Then let passengers with overhead luggage go next… Sometimes I have a connecting flight that I have to haul as to get to.

[@HiFiInsider]

i hate assigned seating. boarding will take much longer with this. the only way we can fight back is NOT to fly SW. i won’t be.

[@realracing6269]

Any other better option

[@chalkylover]

Go to frontier

[@jayeetachakraborty9299]

boycott american for refusing to readd domestic ife and especially don't fly flights to or from dfw using aa at all costs

[@andrec6012]

Remember, you can fly anywhere you want for $49 🤣🤣

[@spydygoblin]

Yup just gotta lift your knees up to your chest & you’ll be good 👍🏽 😂

[@christophergaus3996]

Less legroom instead of less seats, huh?

[@disneylandx123]

Why do you only upload in 720p?

[@danieldulivero]

Unacceptable!!! Don’t give us a division between extra legroom and small legroom! It’s not in the fairness! Give us all of extra legroom seats in normal pricing! 😡

[@ngaby97]

I flew Southwest for the final time a week ago. They have officially broken me. I don’t care about flying through Atlanta and the bag fees anymore, I will strictly fly Delta.

[@Alex-jx5bx]

Next time they will come up with standing stalls😮

[@indianoutlaw5702]

And all this will raise the price of a ticket by only a average of 100 dollars each way. But hey, the stretchy uniforms are worth it! I fly SWA because i like the no frills.

[@technojerry]

Looks like I will be canceling my SWA credit card since not getting an assigned seat with their current lowest fare won't be competitive anymore. I will get a CC with another airline to get the free checked bag and a cheaper assigned seat.

[@mikesmith-wk7vy]

Oh look big surprise less space and more uncomfortable seating. I bet that less leg room doesn’t translate to cheaper prices

[@nickstern2281]

Walstreet ruins everything…its a shame. No advantage to Southwest over competition once this kicks off. 😢

[@chalkylover]

Without Wall Street, there wouldn’t be an airline industry. But sure capitalism bad

[@EP2JS]

They forgot to mention that Eiffel 65 will play constantly when in flight.

[@rogue7536]

Comfort shouldn’t be a pay model.

[@LDtheLD]

No in seat screens?? Dang, I’ll stick with delta.

[@paule8536]

Disappointed they didn’t add a first class cabin.

[@60gregma]

It doesn't even need to be first class, but a couple of rows of 2:2 seats up front would be nice. I hate being crammed into 3:3 seats, especially as a single traveler.

[@Bailey.465]

Didn’t all the others do these things a decade ago

[@jhk88rph]

How about the seats and wheelchair storage for disabled passengers?

[@ronparrish6666]

The new Ryan Air

[@TheAudioCzar]

Now you got to pay for seats, I feel like paying for bags are next, soon. Southwest won't be the cheapest to fly anymore