Southwest Airlines Unveils Modernized Cabins Amidst Baggage Policy Shifts

Modern airplane cabin interior with new seats and lighting.

Southwest Airlines is rolling out a significant cabin refresh across its fleet, featuring new seats, enhanced amenities, and a modernized aesthetic. This comes as the airline navigates changes to its long-standing "bags fly free" policy, sparking discussion among travelers about value and convenience.

Key Takeaways

  • Southwest has introduced a new cabin design with updated seats, larger overhead bins, and power outlets.
  • The "bags fly free" policy has been altered, though certain customer segments and booking methods retain free checked baggage.
  • Travelers can still access free checked bags by booking vacation packages that include a rental car.

A New Look for Southwest

Southwest Airlines has debuted its first aircraft featuring a completely redesigned interior. This "major milestone" includes new seats from Recaro, offering improved lumbar support, a tray table with dual cup holders, and a personal device holder. Additionally, passengers will benefit from dual USB-A and USB-C power outlets at every seat and larger overhead bins. The airline plans to retrofit existing Boeing 737-800 jets with these new seats and is updating its entire fleet with extra legroom rows ahead of an assigned seating policy launch in January 2026.

Navigating Baggage Policy Changes

While the airline has ended its "bags fly free" policy for most passengers, a workaround exists for those seeking to avoid checked bag fees. Customers who book flight and car rental packages through Southwest Getaways still receive two free checked bags. This option is valid for cash bookings only and requires a roundtrip purchase. Notably, this method cannot be combined with the Companion Pass benefit, and the points earned do not count towards Companion Pass qualification.

Enhanced In-Flight Experience

The cabin modernization extends to other amenities. All Southwest planes will eventually feature power outlets at each seat. Furthermore, the airline is enhancing its inflight Wi-Fi, offering it for free to all Rapid Rewards members starting October 24th. The introduction of assigned seating in early 2026 will also see extra legroom seats transformed into a premium product, including complimentary beverages and upgraded snacks.

Sources

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