Suddenly, everyone is an interior
designer.
At least, that’s the way Southwest
Airlines must feel after taking a social media backlash over debuting its new
seat design.
The carrier gave everybody a sneak preview
on its TikTok social media channel about what to expect next year when the
seats are implemented.
Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
The seats are part of an overall interior
redesign by the airline and drew more than 15,000 comments in a week. One user
likened them to lawn chairs, and another said that Delta Air Lines just earned
a new customer.
Southwest's new seats include a multi-adjustable headrest cushion, which seemed to draw
the most attention from online critics.
The carrier said the new
seats were designed "based on extensive research covering customer and employee
perceptions of color, comfort, and their aspirations for the overall onboard experience."
The new cabins are expected
to be in place on new airplane deliveries coming in 2025.
The airline has included a
video of the new seat designs on its TikTok channel. One user jokingly wrote
that he wondered if there was an option to stand up during the flight instead
of sitting in the new seats, while another user said they booked a Delta flight
after seeing the video.
Southwest did say that the
video does not depict an actual representation of the seats.
The seat has a custom
ergonomic cushion with more padding in certain areas.
No word yet from famous interior
designer Philippe Stark. And there has been no mock commercial from the noted
satirical comedy show Saturday Night Live, saying that at least you have
something to sit on instead of being delayed.
The television show recently skewered
Alaska Airlines.
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