Southwest Airlines is feeling uncomfortable after facing social media backlash over its recently redesigned seats.
Last week, the airline unveiled its newly redesigned RECARO seats in a press release which include a “multi-adjustable headrest cushion for improved head and neck support” and aim to provide “maximum comfort while maximizing seat width and overall support”.
However, customers are skeptical about the comfort factor, calling the seats “thin” and potentially “rock hard.”
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The new seats also give passengers a place to store personal electronic devices for inflight entertainment, which will be needed as photos released by Southwest show that there are no video screens on the back of the new seats.
Southwest’s new RECARO seats will include space for passengers to store their personal electronic devices (Southwest Airlines)
“Our redesigned cabin interior significantly enhances our customer’s in-flight experience and will complement the extraordinary service provided by our crews,” said Tony Roach, senior vice president and chief customer officer of Southwest Airlines, in a company release.
But customers aren’t so sure.
In a video viewed more than 5.3 million times, a TikToker named Nuha showed a preview of the new cabin.
@devotedly.yours Southwest Airlines introduces its new interior and I’m not sure anyone is excited about the smaller, thinner seats #southwest #delta ♬ Spongebob Closing Theme Song Music – Ocean Floor Orchestra
“Never in my life did I think I would see a video from an airline showing us their improved interior and it would make me want to book a flight with a completely different airline,” he tells viewers. “You made smaller, thinner seats. I’m sure Southwest spent a lot of money on these upgrades but… this completely backfired.”
Of course, other customers and potential passengers also chimed in, even comparing the new seats to “sitting on a park bench” in flight.
“My back hurts already,” one person wrote alongside a crying emoji.
“The seats make it look like it would be more comfortable to walk to your destination,” another joked.
Related: Southwest develops software solution to prevent travel crashes
Southwest ended 2023 with net income of $498 million, although it reported a fourth-quarter 2023 net loss of $219 million.
As of Thursday afternoon, the airline was down just over 13% year over year.