A look inside Southwest Airlines' newly-designed planes taking flight in 2026

From the outside, the new Southwest Airlines 737 max jet looks like all the others. But inside is where passengers will notice some major changes.

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[sarx]

“In these tradition seats you’ll loose an inch of leg room to make more room for the higher priced seats.” Translation: We made the already uncomfortable seats more uncomfortable for you mere peasants.

[AG-undz]

The reasons to fly Southwest are diminishing.

[ctbt]

So another words southwest seats are now the same as Spirit seats less legroom unless you pay for more

[shoelessb]

How tall are you?
Send a 6'2 reporter to do this story.

[zimfan]

You lose an inch of legroom but you get blue seats! You'll be cramping up but feeling the calm.

[rixxroxxk]

That seat looks as comfortable as sitting on a milk crate.

[crew-dog]

Taking another inch from economy seats is revitalizing the company? Going downhill fast!

[jdogc]

Open seating was a differentiator. I've flown 300+ Southwest flights. This change is a mistake.

[KayentaRojo]

Blue lights, how much closer to nature could it get? 😂

[tjsynkral]

The open seating and generous legroom were 2 of 3 things that make me choose Southwest. Getting rid of those will only leave bag fees, and as it stands Southwest tickets usually are a few fees worth higher than other airlines anyway. They'll lose me as a customer.

[Harvdog]

United has had this for 4 years. Southwest used to be my go to but they went downhill during Covid.

[fleabagmr.]

Cattle car! Pack them in as tight as possible 😮

[danbell]

737-Max 🤔 don’t really matter how comfortable you are if the plane isn’t going to make it. If it’s Boeing, we ain’t going.

[mtaa]

If you buy the basic fare (want to get away) you will not know what your seat is until 24 hours before. You don't get to pick your seat during the purchase. It could be a middle seat or a seat you don't like, and you can't change it. It will not be with family or friends either. For all the people that complain about no assign seating this is way worse. Good job clowns.

[aynsleyjeansonne]

“Light blue inside the cabin to give a sense of nature.” Blue, one of the rarest colors to find in nature… 😂

[jimmymcclendon]

I flew on a Max 8 a couple of months ago with Southwest. It was extremely comfortable and a smooth flight!

[kekzinj]

It’s like they don’t understand why people choose Southwest

[truneilson]

So they are becoming Frontier... but more expensive.

[denziiey]

There was nothing wrong with Southwest. People started complaining and now things are getting complicated just like other airlines😒

[BreakTime]

No TV screens in the headrests? They need to make planes with 2 seats on each side all the back.