The controversy over Southwest Airlines’ new seats 

How about making sure these planes have all their bolts properly installed

I've never understood the headrest.... it makes you have a forward head position that totally isn't normal

I remember in the 80s where the seats had as much padding as a sofa.

I fly about 7-8 times a year and I hate it. It's not even the leg room which is what everyone focuses on, it's the seat width. I'm not even overweight and even when sitting next to another similar sized person you're squeezed in elbow to elbow with them.

I miss the days when flying was fun. I don't like flying anymore...

Those seats look narrower, harder, & the trays look smaller. Those headrests look uncomfortable too.

Omg! Someone called them Ozempic seats! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yo Southwest. All those "extras?" What travelers REALLY want is leg and seat room. Southwest thinks they're reassuring people when they say seat width and legroom are the same. As far as I'm concerned, that means you haven't made any improvements.

I flew Frontier this past weekend. The seats were almost bare metal. I had lower back pain the entire time.

I wouldn't call them a "budget" airline anymore.

Stop getting rid of the seat comfort because it honestly is getting better to drive now

At this point, just stay home with your loved ones and travel around your home state because you never realize hidden gems exist.

People are tired of the prices going up and the amenities going down. So, I don't blame people for freaking out based on those pics. But the tech trays look cool.

The laugh in the background before the main story goes crazy 😂

I don’t care what I sit on as long as the airplane stays in the air ! 😂

The last time I flew was over 35 years ago when I was just out of college. I'm a big and tall woman and I had an aisle seat. I tried desperately to shift as much of myself as possible away from the man next to me in the center seat to the point of practically leaning into the aisle. And although I apologized profusely to him, he continued to loudly make known to everyone his disgust and anger at having to sit next to me, as though I was purposely trying to take up his space. Finally, he got up and went to speak to one of the flight attendants. I was mortified and in tears at the thought that they might ask me to leave the plane; I just didn't know what to expect. But the attendant very kindly asked me to follow her and she led me to a full row of empty seats on the other side of the plane. I got the entire row to myself for the whole flight. I was very grateful to her for her sensitivity and kindness, but I knew I would never ever fly again.

Always less room , more profits, greedy corporations, opposite of grocery packaging! 😅

I flew Southwest yesterday. The seats are hard, narrow and do not lean back at all. I am a thin built female and was not comfortable, anyone with any bulk will have a difficult time in these seat and would be in contact with their neighbor. Not good!

Remember when we had competition in the airline industry, and fares were actually reasonable?

I flew once on Spirit. I swore I would never fly with them ever again. The seats were if I remember correctly a hard plastic shell with little back adjustment. The 3 most uncomfortable hours on a plane. These cattle movers are making driving great again.

i like how the seats have that standard “look comfy but feel just as comfy as a plastic bus seat” design to them. ugh the nickname “sky bus” prevails

The seats look like they should have "Little Tikes" embossed on them.

For short flights the seats should be fine. Maybe use another airline for long flights.

My solution to air travel, don’t fly at all!

They should pay less attention to seat style and more attention to be sure nuts and bolts are in place and fastened as they should be. Oh, and extra strong seat belts for the next window or door blowout.

If an airline want's to stand-out, they should space the rows further apart (more legroom) and more padding in the seats. I know this will cost more per seat, but im willing to pay that. I don't want go all the way for first class, but there should be an option in-between rock-bottom-pricing and those $5000 first-class seats in some airlines.

People are sick of being treated like sardines, its sad how greedy airlines have gotten and how low the standards have fallen from the golden age of flying.

No! No! No! No! No! The last guy on the right has it wrong. He should have said "Be the airline that gives me ADEQUATE legroom......" We've been trained to think adequate is "extra" when it's not.

Why did all of that laughing at the end sound like a SNL laugh track??? 😂😂😂😂

I've not experienced the seats myself, but it looks like the material on the seats would be something easier to clean and maintain compared to the fabric cushions in place on most planes now. This might make it easier to clean and maintain with a quick wipe down of some disinfectant solution... especially if someone gets sick or has an accident at their seat so the plane can be cleaned and rid of any odors a mess might leave behind... I have a gaming chair with the fake leather material and it's super durable and easy to maintain and still comfortable... maybe it's like the new gaming chairs available now... An easier cabing to clean and maintain makes for less time waiting at the gate for a crew to finish their chores and get the plane ready and back up in the air. The lack of leg space or packing more rows is a different issue and jamming more people into a plane sucks... I'm sure if the airlines could get away with it they would have people standing during the whole flight so they can fit more people in at once...

The last I flew SW I had a backache for several days, and I'm only five feet tall and weigh 108. Planes today are like sardine cans. Cram as many people as you can in there and don't worry about it seems to be the motto. PS - those headrests would probably be too high on the backrest for me and would just skim the top of my head, so they wouldn't be great for children either.

The key is if the 737-800s/Max8s will still have 175 seats with the new design, or more than 145 seats with the 737-700s/Max7s (what they currently hold now). If the number stays the same, then legroom isn't changing one bit (which is good because the legroom on their 738s is impressive). But if they add more seats, then I'll be concerned. For what it's worth, American's 737-800s/Max8s hold 172 passengers (3 fewer than Southwest), but their planes also have first class and extra legroom seats. So they squeeze their economy seats way more to offer more "premium" seats.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN TURBULENCE ON A CHURCH PEW 😂

We all want more legroom, it’s that easy

Seats are no different than Frontier's torture devices.

The most important thing is all the seats need more leg room and seat room. Raise the price and give us what we need!!!!

These airlines need to stop making these seats recline, such a pain.

Beverly Hillbillies had an episode were they bought an airline and took out seats and had crates to sit on with rope for the seatbelts 😂

But can they confirm that the plane will take off and land with all its doors attached and bolts fastened in correct place. 🤔🤔🤔

I'm pretty sure the legroom is the least of the problems on that Boeing jet.

looks like seats on a city bus, but with a headrest. that looks really uncomfortable.

I just flew on the updated plane and the seats are SUPER trash. So incredibly uncomfortable. I was wondering why I was struggling, and now it makes sense.

Don't worry!! They will soon sell inflight extra cushion with their peanuts....

As long as the seats are not reclining, I'll take it.

I'm short. Those seats look ungodly uncomfortable. They need a straight back.

These airline are like comfort slumlords of the air

How about not OVERBOOKING IN AN OVER CAPACITY PLANE???

Whoever said "Ozempic seats" deserved a credit for that one 🤣

Recaro seats are some of the best in world. They are used by many of the high end car manufacturers. They have also been used by many airlines. They are well built and I'm sure they'll be comfortable. Why all this hype for a seat no one has ever put their butt in?

I remember not too long airlines touted they had removed a row or two to give more leg room. Now they add more rows to get as many people as possible.

They should do something about their convoluted boarding process.

Low cost airlines in other countries already use those exactly the same chairs, theyre terribly uncomfortable and people complain about pain in their backs and knees

If they really cared about comfort they work keep the damn seats from reclining and putting some stranger in your lap.

My last flight I had a full blown panic attack because of the confined seat space. We were delayed in Houston because of pilot issues. Yuk! No fun anymore. And the airline you pick doesn’t matter! They are all the same now!

Who cares? People complaining probably don't even fly. They look easier to clean, and they look okay for a quick flight. When flying overseas, I can see why people would like more comfortable seats. Southwest doesn't charge for check-in bags or at least the first under 50 lbs. I would definitely catch a quick and direct flight with Southwest.

Why is there never any lumbar support. Those ubiquitous hunch-over seats are physically painful.

I like how they have power outlets now

Thank you for the warning The curve in the seat would kill my back.

Everyone gets a free Ozempic shot and 30 minutes on the treadmill before boarding.

I'm 6'8" and they need more than just two seats with legroom!

“the budget airline…” LMFAO um

So they did or didn't add a row of seats???

Didn’t airline seats used to be floatation devices in case of a water landing? Do these still float or they just don’t care about that anymore?

SWA is so confident about the seats' comfort, yet they couldn't even include an average height/weight passenger in the render?

I'm confused about what is a 2D picture and what is a 3D picture. Isn't a picture always 2D (it's flat)? 3D is just how your mind perceives what's in a picture. Anyway, I don't see why people are complaining. How can one complain without ever sitting in these seats? If the seats were bus stop benches, maybe they can complain, but they're airline seats that look like airline seats. Once you sit on one and you feel they have all the comfort of being strapped into the electric chair before they turn on the juice, then you can complain.

The tech tray is a much needed upgrade but these seats r so tiny & where is the leg room? So I’m guessing they only want short size 2 people with good knees to fly

So, it was cheaper to “ upgrade” the cabin than actually fix and maintain the airplanes? We are not fooled.

The key question is how soft is the bottom cushion? I am royally fed up of airline seats causing tailbone pain. After hundreds of flights during my life my tailbone now makes me avoid flying whenever there is an option.

They look really uncomfortable. How can you take a nap while sitting on what amounts to wooden bleacher seats?

Their defense is that the pictures weren't accurate depictions of the seats???

Southwest has the least legroom in any domestic airline and don't get me started on the "free for all middle school bus" seating.

I am guessing that "take a seat" isn't exactly what passengers are telling Southwest.

They’re like SPIRITS

My goodness why don't all Airline's just take notes from Jet Blue their designs are so well done in 10 different ways....

better than dusty old cloth seat.

I have long legs and lower back problems so I can never fly again. The last time I flew I had intense leg cramps and the flight attendant would not allow me to stand by my seat. It was a long flight in nice weather. She wouldn't even allow a line of more than one person to wait for the bathroom. I would love to see a story that exposes the power trips most flight attendants are on.

has anyone else noticed that lavatories are also being nixed for more seats?

Yet another reason why I don't fly unless I'm going out of the country, which is extremely seldom

You know how you upgrade? You get rid of seats and build more planes

I hate they bought out Midwest Express because they were 10x's better and they did not skimp on anything.

I don’t get the beef with southwest. 2 free checked bags is incredible. I’ve flown 30min flights and 3 hour flights, changed planes, not changed planes, and never had a single issue with southwest. I’ve never had a bag lost or damaged. I prefer the window seat and my wife takes the middle. Im comfy and have plenty of room, I don’t see why someone needs 13” of additional leg room to be comfy for 1 hour. And then everyone gets mad about the boarding process and how people get on before you even when you’re in the front of the boarding line. Southwest is the best bang for your buck. If you don’t like it, spend 2x-3x the money and fly delta first class.

The next generation of proposed seats has passengers virtually in a standing position (think a seat like a bicycle where your weight is on the seat with your feet touching the floor). I've also seen a rendering of a double-decker seat configuration where you can choose an upper-level or lower-level seat, but if you're on the lower level, the upper level passenger in front of your seat has their butt essentially in your face. (Hopefully they didn't eat any of the airport food before getting on board.)

I don't see a problem; I with the interviewer I'm sold.

Human Sardines. Absurdly uncomfortable. You have to try and not touch the person next to you the entire flight.

Ryan Air feeling

These look like the seats that have been in their Max8 planes for a couple of years. They look nice, but they’re extremely uncomfortable.

So this is all based on a poorly done rendering? Great journalism!

Everybody is complaining about the seats and saying they're uncomfortable. Yet, not one person has ever sat in those seats 🤷‍♂️

For sure squashed another row in

I don’t like flying in airplanes without more padding on the seats. Taking a long flight just kills the caboose!

Leg room and seat width. That’s it. The rest is just BS

Southwest is not a budget airline and hasn’t been in decades. They’re about the same price as United, Delta, etc.

I flew South West last year, talk about hard seats .. it was like sitting on bricks. The seat I had was maybe 15 1/2 inches wide and my knees were up into my gut. One of the flight attendants looked like she was hungover, bloodshot eys and sluring her words. Somebody asked if she was having a stroke. That wasn't the first time something like that happened on a South West flight ... never again.

They definitely do not have budget airline prices.

Funny seeing People foolishly judging a product before its even introduced on the planes yet. Just shows you the direction this country is headed.

I’m not sure why they call the “things” between each seat an armrest, they are hard as a ROCK.

I like that the surface is less porous. Less germs and gunk hiding. Charge your phone so they can steal your data lol

Seems to be a misunderstanding about the power outlets. As far as I know Southwest will ONLY upgrade their MAX-8 fleet with power outlets, and even that is moving slow.

If an airline is going to skimp on safety, they should at least invest in comfort. I would at least like to be comfortable if it ends up being my final flight.

I don't fly SWA but I once flew Vueling in Spain. I noticed the seats were very thin; it was like leaning against cardboard. By making the padding thinner, you can get extra rows on board with less legroom. I am pretty certain this is the wave of the future. It makes business sense too; if you can sell six more seats for the same amount of work, you would do it.