‘Reduce Costs’ and ‘Protect the Environment’: Southwest Airlines Cuts Legroom, Installs Thinner Cushions
- Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:27pm by
Becket Adams
- Print »
- Email »
Put up another point for going “green”: Southwest Airlines is retrofitting its planes in an effort to “reduce costs and ‘protect the environment,’” according to Mario Aguilar of Gizmodo.
“Sounds great,” Aguilar writes, “except that the redesigned seats will take away some of the precious few comforts you had left in the air.”
Really? Wait — there wasn’t much leg room to begin with. How much are we talking here?
“Your legroom will decrease from 32 to 31 inches, and the pitch of the recline will decrease from 3 to 2 inches,” Gizmodo reports. “The company is also outfitting its seats with thinner cushions cloaked in a fancy-sounding pleather.”
But why would they cut back the leg room? Surely they must expect some sort of customer backlash. They must have a good reason to do this.
Here’s how Southwest justifies its decision (via its website):
Dubbed Evolve: The New Southwest Interior, the cabin update utilizes durable and environmentally responsible products to reduce waste and create weight savings onboard the aircraft, while enhancing comfort for Customers…
The new interior design also provides the unique opportunity of greater revenue potential by increasing the number of seats onboard from 137 to 143, without sacrificing Customer comfort and personal space but, at the same time, increasing under-seat room for carryon luggage.
Ah, there it is: “…opportunity of greater revenue potential…”
Although the company says that they are retrofitting their fleet “for the environment,” the updates are most likely being done because new Evolve cabin interiors will save Southwest Airlines approximately $10 million dollars a year. As opposed to being an environmental decision, it’s just a business decision.
And probably in an effort to calm customers over the loss of leg room, Southwest has made sure to point out that the changes will actually make seats more comfortable because they are also making “ergonomic improvements” to their design.
“What’s more, because the seats recline less, you‘ll have more ’onboard personal living space,’” Aguilar writes. ”Yeah, sure, we’ll believe its better when we see it.”
When can customers expect to see some of these changes take place?
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. Other Southwest fleet types are still being evaluated for a possible retrofit.
Click here for 360 view of the new Southwest interior.
(H/T: Gizmodo)
(Front page photo source: Getty)
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 580 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 406 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 406 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 372 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 357 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 406 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 406 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 357 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 406 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (103)
Kinnison
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:21amI flew a Delta Airbus A-330 from SeaTac, WA, to Schilpol Airport in the Netherlands in December, a 10 hour flight. I am only 5′10″ and in Coach my knees touched the back of the seat in front of me. The airline had installed some kind of tin box under the forward seats, possibly for life jackets, that reduced the under-seat luggage space and foot room to virtually nothing. It was 10 hours of torture. There is evidently a site on the net that rates various airlines and their planes on seating and passenger comfort. I recommend using it before you fly across the country or across an ocean.
Report Post »A Conservatarian
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 3:15amI‘m 6’7”, these airlines can stuff it up their behinds.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:34amI know…. lets all just stand-up using hand holds like in the local city buses. Cattle car airlines. nothing exciting and luxurious about flying anymore. I’ll drive thank you very much.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:40am.
Report Post »Ryan Air, (The Southwest of Europe),
is testing planes where there are NO seats, you stand the whole time.
The airlines have discovered that people will suffer through anything if it’s cheap.
The CEO of an American airline was once asked,
“If you don’t offer good service, people won’t want to fly your airline, will they?”
To which he answered, “They don’t want to fly, they HAVE to fly.”
Ruler4You
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:14amI think it would be safer to say: Increase the profit margins. Than “protect the environment.”
If Southwest really wanted to ‘protect’ the environment it could begin by stopping the flow of excess CO2 from its executives and PR staff.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 11:58amIt should be a crime to insinuate that they are interested in the environment when the only thing that matters to them is “how to squeeze another dime from their flights”. “Screw the patrons, me first”. They should paint that on the side of their planes.
Report Post »stumpy68
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:33pmThis will last until someone has medical problems caused by the cramped conditions
Report Post »and sues
C-Delta Conductor
Posted on January 22, 2012 at 12:25amAm I the only one who is P*ssed that my safety, comfort, and ability to choose superior products has been taken away from me UNIVERSALLY by the “Global Warming” excuse for businesses to cut customer service.
Are they cutting costs at the expense of the consumer or???
Does anyone seriously think that Dasani is making water bottles flimsier (and charging the same price) for the planet?
Does anyone think that car companies are making car bodies cheaper (and charging more) for the planet?
Does anyone think that Apple is selling laptops with aluminum bodies (at twice the price) for the planet?
Does anyone seriously think that Southwest is doing this nonsense for the planet? (or is it just that airlines haven’t made a combined, net profit in nearly two decades despite their lavish, lustful government cronyism?)
Why do we give the government-funded-scientist’s findings this much sway over us, why do we stand for these types of anti-market forces FOR A HOAX? This is ridiculous I will not fly Southwest anymore.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on January 22, 2012 at 5:19pmSECRET SQUIRREL–hey, you stand up in the subway! Why not in the airway?
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:15amI won’t do business, flying or otherwise, with any company dumb enough to GO GREEN. Agenda 21 will destroy America. Check it out.
Report Post »badswing
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:05amits funny. when you mention agenda 21 people think you are conspiratorial and dont realize it is part of the UN platform. it has made its way into EVERY towns planning board and they go by its tenets. we are going down fast and the crash is going to be violent
Report Post »Ashley
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 9:12amI am so sick of seeing the “go green” stuff on literally everything that I purchase. I even noticed the green propaganda on the gift boxes from stores, like JCPenney. Water bottles are so flimsy now that they will not stand up and they proudly proclaim on their label that the bottle of the mouth is smaller to make it environmentally friendly. Even Christmas Cards are printed on recycled paper. Sickening!
Agenda 21 is not a tin foil hat theory. It is REAL and is going to destroy America. The social engineering to accomplish it has been going on for decades now, since the Clinton years. The newest invader into rural America is the promotion of Land Trusts to the small rural areas who are completely unaware of the real dangers of it. They just dangle a little money in front of land owners to entice them to sign their land away forever!
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:02pmWhen I was a kid, trying not to pollute the environment was a no brainer. Now you Einsteins have turned it into a wedge issue.
You believe the bible is real so you think that man can not impact the environment because that‘s not God’s plan. meanwhile, nearly every expert in the world is onboard with the human impact on the environment.
You immediately discount 98% of the WORLD‘S scientists yet if ONE moron claims Obama’s birth certificate is a fake you whole heartedly believe it.
You guys are a walking talking joke factory. You’ve killed the republican party. Have fun losing to Obama.
Report Post »madasblazes
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 5:46pmOne World Order is what we are seeing in the air transportation industry. It’s quiet and not “news worthy”.
ATA became “Airlines for America” the day after American Airlines filed for a very unnecessary bankruptcy re-organization.
AA has given many of it international routes to foriegn airlines and created the One World Airline/Alliance.
Southwest got the first letter ever from their CEO that everyone now will have to make sacrifices.
A merger of AA is inevitable. Why would Gerard Arpey and Tom Horton buy 400 new planes then file bankruptcy? Horton said, “We want to grow big and fast”…then files?
Do any of you see the Socializing of the Transportation industry?
One World/ One Airline= New World Order..Agenda 21.
Don’t call me names and tell me to shut up until you research what is actually happening. AA has over 4billion in cash and stopped the pensions of it employees; a majority are near retirement. The money promised Bain Capitol to do the thinking of 52 AA Executives is staggering. (research).
You are now no longer FREE to move around the country.
Yes, I am very much a Conservative; you must see how fishy this whole airline business is. Obama has a plan and it isn’t for the betterment of airline employees…or private unions.
Wake up and smell the airline coffee! This is the Nationalization of the Transportation Industry (Communist Manifesto).
Report Post »Mark my words.
longun45
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 2:10amWhen do they implement the standing policy. You can have a seat for extra $$.
Another reason to not fly – ever.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:47amin other words, we never plan to fly commercial again. obama has destroyed the AMERICAN airline companies not just by the T&A brownshirts at the gate but by so many regs they must make flying even MORE uncomfortable for us. higher gasoline prices for our vehicles, more uncomfortable experiences flying, the threat of being sexually assaulted by the T&A at rail stations and bus stations and walking down the street, “staycations”…… we are being forced into GETTING USED TO ‘staying put’ …. we are seeing obama installing 1930s Germany under HITLER, RIGHT HERE in AMERICA.
Report Post »RaymondA
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:05pmI think you are totally right in this reguard. We have people trying to restrict our movements as much as possible. Once, the great thing about Americans was mobility. Able to go to state to state without passports, able to travel and be “free” in our movements without government mandates. Now with so many appointed positions that are not governed by time or people who elect them our freedoms are being lessened every time we turn around.
Report Post »ChartreuseMuse
Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:57pmWait a minute. I thought free enterprise and companies maximizing their profit margin was capitalism and the American way??? Over there on the other page people are falling over themselves to defend a florist’s business practices in not delivering to an atheist girl, saying business has the right to practice as they wish and refuse business to anyone they please. Now you guys are here decrying a business for not catering to you because you’re larger than their seat space??
You still have a choice- there’s Amtrak, quite comfy, and would be convenient if we hadn’t sacrificed our passenger rail system early on at the behest of some other totally American corporations and scions.
Report Post »You can also learn to fly and buy your own damned plane. GA needs all the support it can get!
DaveOregon
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:26amTotal B.S. Southwest – it’s $$$$ – and that is all it’s about. If I can afford more – not flying you – EVER
Report Post »jzs
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:50amSorry Southwest, we’re not buying the “green” angle. You cutting the weight of your aircrafts to save fuel costs. Nobody is buying the “green” part of that, but, as capitalists, we all understand the profit part of this. Less weight, less fuel, less cost, same revenue (most people won‘t notice or don’t care). Good for them, I’ll still fly Southwest. But not because they’re “green” because that’s nonsense.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:27amBetter get used to the thinner seat cushions. I encountered these on Lufthansa (Frankfurt-Rome) this spring, and they were really quite nice on a brand new A321. They were not uncomfortable at all.
Carry on bags, no checked luggage, thinner seat cushions, no big deal. As far as I can tell it’s probably cheaper than it used to be if one figures in inflation and the cost of fuel. It’s just a means of getting from one place to another, and if you don’t expect the service from 50 years ago, you won’t be disappointed. Of course, if one doesn’t have anything to compare the current service level to, then you are more likely to adapt without being snarky about the changes.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 4:14pmThanks JZS,
See how that works in the real world?
The prospect of more profit has prompted an “evil” corporation to use more sustainable materials,(good for the planet), and to burn less “fossil” fuels, (also good for the planet).
And government did not have to stick their grubby little hands in to the equation.
WOW……..Imagine that.
Have you ever read “I. Pencil”
Report Post »thetommyhawk
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:14amF southwest …….. I’ll drive or better yet, I’ll stay home!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 1:51am@thetomm.. that is exactly what obama wants you to get used to… staying put in your house. it is all psych, designed to make you complacent to a world of being told what to do. everything he has done in 3 years is recreating 1930s Germany in today’s America. ….. obama has destroyed the airlines and flying…. and he raised the gasoline prices ..but we CAN still DRIVE ourselves where we need to go !!! drive, baby, drive!!
last May, to bury a US Combat Veteran, what used to be a $250 in gasoline back ‘home’ in 2006, cost us $875. doesn’t that say what obama has done to America —deliberately.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:52pmEnvironment my ass… , you wanna make more money .
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:45pmPerhaps they will soon upholster the seats with fabric woven from hemp.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 12:10amThe smoking lamp is litttttt
Report Post »RestoreCapitalism
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:43pmAnd of course they will always lose your luggage, but now it will cost extra if you want it back. Rudeness on the phone is still standard.
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:40pm1 inch per seat will allow them one more row of seats, plus they could give a sheet about the environment, less seat weight will save fuel and that will add to there bottom line that’s what they care about, and that’s ok just stop hiding behind the GREEN LIES governments like green to take away peoples rights, business likes green because they make money at the same time they fool the simpletons into thinking that the company cares about the planet.
Report Post »ZeroOff4impact
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:39pmCarbon dioxide levels will increase in the cabin as those global warming humans inhale and exhale in greater numbers. The carbon credits will require higher fees for the compliance of EPA Regulations.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:36pmLong as i don’t have to sit next to Michael Moore…he’ll have to travel in cargo..
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:22pmThe free market will decide….Economy vrs Comfort …you can always pay for first class or choose another air lines
Report Post »NeoKong
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:21pmJust flew Jet Blue recently. Nice plane. Leather seats. Pretty roomy.
Report Post »They cut their costs by eliminating the 1st class cabin and squeezed in more seats. They only serve inexpensive snacks and beverage. Nothing hot. If you want better then you need to pay for it. Cheese plates and booze. No magazines. They left on time and arrived early. They charge more for extra luggage. Bags heavier than fifty pounds cost extra.
They ran a tight ship.
USAMEDIC3008
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:11pmIts an old one but here goes……….
2013 Chevy Volt,will not have seats or steering wheel.
Report Post »For all of us thats lost our @$$ and have nowhere to turn…
Suchiazski
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:06pmMy ass can’t wait for my next multiple-hour flight!
Report Post »Free_Thinker
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:06pmThis is just to get one more row of seats on the plane, I‘m 6’5″ and barely fit in the stupid seats now…..
Report Post »applehill
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:01pmI continually notice that so many companies are implementing cost saving measures under the term environmental saving. I stay in a lot of hotel and they are really bad about it. We won’t wash your sheets to help save the environment. Hang your towels up so we can save the polar bears…
Report Post »READRIGHTHERE
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:41pmBut that is the only way to actually create change in the way we do things, money talks, and drives, and steers. Is it better for business and smarter? Sounds like it. If you want 4 hours of comfort, go to a spa and pay whatever price suits you, if you want to get from point A to point B as inexpensively as possible, plan ahead and fly Southwest.
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:00pmSouthWest can go to…… I am driving.
Report Post »bratty mcbratten
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:59pmWho is John Galt?
Report Post »txjb
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:59pmCut everything except the ticket price.
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:58pmK… Can these seats still be used as floatation devices?
Report Post »Kirsten
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:34amNo, but maybe they are edible???
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on January 22, 2012 at 5:21pmOh, gross–not some of the seat‘s I’ve had to sit in!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:44pmSardines baby… Sardines !
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:49pmBetween the TSA and the “sardine cans” they expect you to fly in .. I am happy to drive wherever I want to go. Keep pushing and others will refuse to fly also … my son is 6′4 and “all legs” .. I doubt he could even get his legs into the new plane “legroom” … hopefully they will lose a lot of business.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:41pmYou have got to be kidding!!!! Green? NO! Stuffing more sardines in the can.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 21, 2012 at 8:41am.
Report Post »Green? Yes, as in green backs.