Southwest Airlines proudly unveiled its new cabin design only to be mocked for “paper-thin” seats that have been compared to “lawn chairs” and “granite slates.”
The company announced the redesign of its new Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX-8 aircraft last week, saying updated interiors and customer experience improvements will debut in 2025.
Southwest partnered with design firm Tangerine to create the sleek new cabins, which feature USB-A and USB-C charger outlets, larger overhead bins, and holders for personal electronic devices.
The interior also features aerodynamic seats from RECARO, a Germany-based aircraft and automotive seating brand.
Southwest Airlines faces backlash for its new cabin redesign set to debut in early 2025
The airline partnered with design firm Tangerine to create the sleek new cabins, which feature aerodynamic seats from RECARO, a brand of aircraft and automotive seats.
The updated interior also features USB-A and USB-C charger outlets, larger overhead compartments, and holders for personal electronic devices.
“The new RECARO seats include a multi-adjustable headrest cushion to improve head and neck support, an intuitively designed seat for maximum comfort while maximizing seat width and overall support,” according to the Press release.
Southwest noted that the redesign was “based on extensive research covering customer and employee perceptions of color, comfort and their aspirations for the overall inflight experience.”
The airline shared a video of the cabin interiors on TikTok, including close-ups of the seats and headrests embossed with Southwest hearts.
‘New fit check!’ the company wrote in the caption.
‘Introducing our updated cabin design and new seats! You will be able to see this interior in new aircraft deliveries starting next year. Not to mention our continued push to add larger overhead bins and in-seat power ports to our current airplanes!’
The 19-second clip has been viewed 8.9 million times and received more than 15,000 comments since it was posted on February 2.
However, the reaction appeared to be largely negative, with critics insisting that the new seats appear “uncomfortable” and “narrower” than those in current cabins.
“What I’m seeing are rock hard seats,” one person responded.
The airline shared a video of the cabin interior on TikTok, including close-ups of the seats and headrests embossed with Southwestern hearts.
‘New fit check!’ the company wrote in the caption. ‘Introducing our updated cabin design and new seats! You will be able to see this interior in new aircraft deliveries starting next year.
The 19-second clip has been viewed 8.9 million times and received more than 15,000 comments. However, the reaction was mostly negative.
‘I love it. “I’ve always wondered when airlines would start catering to people like us who enjoy relaxing on granite slates,” someone else joked.
“So we’ll have thinner, more uncomfortable seats with a heart,” added another.
Others wanted to know what Southwest was thinking and said the presentation made them want to change airlines.
“You just gained a Delta customer,” one viewer complained.
“Best Delta ad I’ve ever seen,” someone else agreed.
‘They didn’t do a single focus group about this?!’ asked another.
The reaction has moved to X, formerly Twitter, where people have also criticized Southwest for the redesign.
“Southwest is launching new paper-thin seats and Americans have to deal with it because the national airline has lobbied so successfully against high-speed rail that we have no other options,” wrote Hayden Clarkin, known as “The Boy from transit.’
Critics insisted that the new seats appear “uncomfortable” and “narrower” than those in current cabins. They were compared to everything from ‘garden chairs’ to ‘granite slates’.
The reaction has moved to X, formerly Twitter, where people have also criticized Southwest for the redesign.
‘That Southwest update reveal was so dumb. “The seats are already rock hard and now they’re thinner (and) look even less comfortable,” said Toni Childs.
Someone else shared a photo of a lawn chair and said Southwest Airlines has “revealed their new seats.”
A Southwest spokesperson said SF Gate that the company “conducted multiple rounds of comfort testing with hundreds of participants” for the new seats before finalizing the design.
“We collaborated with RECARO to custom develop a more ergonomic cushion by using different foam technologies and densities, and adding more padding to certain areas of the headrest, backrest and bottom cushion,” they said.
“The seat material selected for these new seats is not only softer to the touch, but better displays the foam technology.”
The airline insisted that the new seats have the same width, legroom and armrest size as the current seats on its Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX-8 aircraft.
The spokesperson also dismissed concerns that the new interior design would include more rows, saying Southwest has “no plans” to add more seats in the cabin.
DailyMail.com has contacted Southwest Airlines for comment.