Southwest shows off new seats, says they have more cushion — not less
Southwest Airlines is showing off the newest seats planned for its fleet — and doubling down on dispelling earlier outcry that they’re too thin.
Appearing alongside seat manufacturer Recaro, the Dallas-based carrier unveiled the new seats Tuesday at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany.
Seat features
The carrier says the new seats, adorned in navy blue and sporting a signature Southwest heart logo on each headrest, are a distinct improvement over what customers currently find on its Boeing 737s.
Planned for new aircraft deliveries starting in 2025, the seats sport some distinct upgrades over Southwest’s existing ones, to be sure.
Recaro customized both the headrest and armrest specifically for Southwest, offering a longer armrest and a headrest that the passenger can fold out for neck support — or slide up or down for comfort.
Where to sit: Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines
On the back of the seats, you’ll find both USB-A and USB-C charging ports, along with a sizable personal device holder and a tray table featuring two cupholders.
“Ten percent of the world is left-handed,” offered Bill Tierney, Southwest's vice president of customer experience and digital experience, at Tuesday’s unveiling.
“Every part of the design is meant so you don’t have to put too much effort into moving around, keep your neck comfortable, and you can be productive with your devices,” Tierney continued, noting the seats sit at the intersection of comfort and functionality.
Larger cabin refresh
In fact, this seat reveal is just one step in a larger cabin refresh Southwest is planning for its new aircraft, which will see jets come off the line with a variety of aesthetic upgrades over its current aircraft, TPG reported in February when the carrier first announced the changes.
But seat design renderings Southwest shared at the time weren’t without backlash — namely, concerns about how thin they looked in the mock-ups; it helped reignite the decadeslong conversation about legroom, seat pitch and width on commercial aircraft.
Ultimately, those design renderings weren’t exactly an accurate depiction of the seat itself, said Christopher Parker, Southwest's managing director for inflight experience and voice of customer, speaking to TPG on Tuesday.
“There were a lot of things in the news when it was released about it being a ‘slimline seat.’ This is not a slimline seat,” Parker said, noting the company went through exhaustive testing with staff members and customers — who concluded, he said, that the seats were the most comfortable among those the carrier considered.
“When we went through the process of adding the actual seat cushion, we actually added more cushion,” he said. “None of this was intended to make a thinner seat for cabin densification purposes.”
The carrier also went to great lengths, Tierney added, to test ergonomic features to make the seat as comfortable as possible. I certainly noticed those elements, and the improved back comfort, when I briefly tried the seat out at the unveiling.
Of course, the ultimate test for these seats will be how they perform over time — and over the duration of a multihour flight.
But Recaro CEO Mark Hiller, the man in charge of making the seat, was confident Tuesday.
“We are sure that our product ... is a great addition to the Southwest fleet,” he said.
Plans to integrate into fleet
It’s worth noting that Southwest won’t retrofit its existing aircraft with the new seats or design. The new aircraft it receives in 2024 won’t have the refreshes, either.
They’re planned for new deliveries starting next year — though the carrier’s delivery schedule has remained very much in flux amid troubles at Boeing.
Related reading:
- Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
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- How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
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- How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.