After unveiling a series of new features last year aimed at simplifying group and family rides during its annual product showcase Go-Get, Uber is offering car seat rides in New York City and Los Angeles 10 months after teasing this additional option.
Southwest Responds to Social Media Backlash Over New Seat Design
11.03.2024 - 14:39 / travelandleisure.com / Bob Jordan / Airlines
They’ve been called the “Ozempic” of airline seats and compared to being as comfortable as “wooden benches,” but Southwest Airlines is defending its new slimmer seat design set to roll out next year.
The airline, which introduced its sleek new cabin last month, is weathering a storm of less-than-flattering comments on TikTok, which compare the design to “lawn chairs” and have customers asking if they need to bring their own seat cushions.
“Love it,” one user wrote on Southwest’s TikTok post. “I've always wondered when airlines would start catering to people like us who enjoy relaxing on slates of granite.”
Another user saw the seats and immediately commented: “My back just flared up.”
Following the criticism, a representative for Southwest told ABC News the «original images were 2D renderings to show the cosmetic look of the seats and were not scalable for illustrating seat comfort.»
«But rest assured, we have our customers' back-even when they give us flak,» the airline added.
A spokesperson for Southwest did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Travel + Leisure on the backlash.
The new seats are set to roll out in 2025 when Southwest takes delivery of new Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX-8 airplanes. The seats will be arranged in a 3-3 configuration and will feature a slimmer design, an adjustable headrest, and larger under-seat space, but won’t include any seatback screens.
The new design will also include personal USB-A and USB-C outlets and larger overhead bins.
When the design was first introduced, Southwest’s Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Tony Roach said the new cabin “significantly enhances our inflight Customer experience and will complement the amazing service that our Crews provide."
The decision to upgrade its cabin comes as Southwest continues mulling the idea of adding overnight red-eye flights, which CEO Bob Jordan has called a “logical evolution” for the airline.
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