Southwest Airways is feeling discomfort after dealing with social media backlash over its newly redesigned seats.
Final week, the airline unveiled in a press launch its newly redesigned RECARO seats that embody a “multi-adjustable headrest cushion for enhanced head and neck assist” and purpose to supply “final consolation whereas maximizing seat width and total assist.”
Nonetheless, prospects are skeptical of the comfortability issue and are calling the seats “skinny” and doubtlessly “rock arduous.”
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The brand new seats additionally give passengers a spot to retailer private digital units for in-flight leisure, which will probably be wanted as photographs launched by Southwest present there are not any video screens on the again of the brand new seats.
Southwest’s new RECARO seats will embody a spot for passengers to place their private digital units (Southwest Airways)
“Our redesigned cabin inside considerably enhances our inflight Buyer expertise and can complement the wonderful service that our Crews present,” mentioned Tony Roach, senior vice chairman and chief buyer officer at Southwest Airways, in an organization launch.
However prospects aren’t so certain.
In a video that is been seen over 5.3 million occasions, a TikToker named Nuha confirmed a preview of the brand new cabin.
@devotedly.yours Southwest Airways debuts their new inside and I am unsure anyone is happy for his or her smaller and thinner seats #southwest #delta ♬ Spongebob Closing Theme Tune Music – Ocean Ground Orchestra
“By no means in my life did I believe I would see a video from an airline displaying us their upgraded inside and it will make me need to ebook a flight with a very totally different airline,” she tells viewers. “You made smaller and thinner seats. I am certain Southwest spent some huge cash on these upgrades however … this has fully backfired.”
Naturally, different prospects and potential passengers weighed in, even evaluating the brand new seats to “sitting on a park bench” whereas within the air.
“My again already hurts,” one particular person wrote alongside a crying emoji.
“The seats make it appear to be it will be extra snug to stroll to my vacation spot,” one other joked.
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Southwest completed 2023 with a internet earnings of $498 million, although it reported a This fall 2023 internet lack of $219 million.
As of Thursday afternoon, the airline was down simply over 13% yr over yr.
