Southwest Adds a Row of Seats

There are two ways to get more people into an airplane: recruit more lap-babies or jam in a few more seats. Southwest Airlines is doing the latter, adding a row of seats, thus making room for six more adults and, as an option, their babies.

But wait, it's not as bad as it sounds.  The extra row of seats is just part of a cabin upgrade that Southwest says will feature lighter, brighter seats and fixtures. 

In particular, the new low-profile seat has thinner cushions, which allow for more underseat storage while making room for those six extra passengers with nearly no loss of leg room (about one inch, we're told). As an added bonus, the new seats recline only two inches, so you don't have unwanted intrusions from the row ahead of you.

Some of Southwest's planes are starting to show their age so it's probably time for a spruce-up.  But even so, the airline remains a solid favorite with airborne consumers.  We surveyed about 1.8 million consumer comments online and found the low-cost Texas carrier cruising along with a net positive sentiment that seldom dipped below the 50% mark over the last year.

There was a little turbulence back in April after cracks were found in the fuselage of some older 737s. Nobody complained about the seats though.

Next 40 years

"We are preparing now for our next 40 years with a fleet modernization plan that includes the new interior, the Boeing 737-800 which is scheduled to come online beginning in March this year, and the 737 MAX, which is expected to join the Southwest fleet in 2017," said Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

"The evolutionary changes we’re making with the new interior uphold our low-cost roots and historic focus on Customer Service. The cabin upgrade also allows us to create significant revenue opportunities without adding unwanted fees."

In 2009, Southwest launched the "Green Plane" to test the market’s latest sustainable products onboard an aircraft in an effort to forge a new path in onboard eco-friendly products. Based on the inflight test results and feedback from customers, Southwest’s new interior features the E-Leather seat cover and many of the other products tested on the Green Plane including the carpet, life vest pouch, foam fill, and passenger seat rub strips.

Southwest will begin retrofitting its current fleet of 372 Boeing -700s with the Evolve interior in March 2012, anticipating completion in 2013, for a total estimated cost of approximately $60 million. As integration of AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest, moves forward, Southwest anticipates that AirTran’s Boeing -700s and 717s will also be retrofitted with the new cabin interior as those aircraft are converted into the Southwest brand over the next several years.  

Here are some of the features of Southwest's new Evolve cabin, as supplied by the company:

• Modern Cabin Design: The new design incorporates natural, earthy tones combined with Southwest’s iconic Canyon blue and clean, aluminum accents for a more modern, fresh appeal.  The redesign is inspired by Southwest’s past with a nod to the future.
• Lighter and More Comfortable Seat: The redesigned low-profile seat is more durable, made of eco-friendly products, is lighter, and more comfortable. 
• Increased Under-Seat Space: The new design allows for more under-seat room for carryon luggage and approved pet carriers.
• Customer Living Space: Reducing the recline from three inches to two inches preserves onboard personal living space while still allowing for ample seat adjustment for Customer comfort. 
• Seatback pockets: The new netted seatback pockets are streamlined to provide more knee room. 
• Headrest: The fixed-wing headrest provides better neck and head alignment with side-to-side support for sleeping.
• Improved Ergonomics: The combination of the low-profile cushion and fixed wing headrestimproves ergonomics by positioning Customers "down and back" into the seat, allowing for better lumbar support, armrest alignment, and increased personal living space.