3 New Things Southwest Airlines Planes Desperately Need

Southwest Airlines has some serious catching up to do.

Southwest Airlines

While we absolutely love a good deal on airfare, it’s hard not to notice that other major carriers are making some pretty significant upgrades that are leaving Southwest in the dust. From elevated in-flight dining to genuinely helpful app features, the competition is raising the bar in ways we didn’t even know we needed. Here’s what we think Southwest needs to add to keep up with the rest of the pack.

Better In-Flight Meals

Listen, we know Southwest isn’t exactly known for being a full-service airline, and we’re not asking for white tablecloths at 30,000 feet. But when you look at what some other airlines are doing with their in-flight food programs right now, it’s honestly a little hard to go back to a bag of pretzels.

©Southwest Airlines

Delta, for example, recently announced a full meal program featuring breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus curated by a James Beard award-winning chef. We’re talking dishes like braised beef short rib with smoky BBQ sauce and creamy polenta, stuffed piquillo peppers with goat cheese and mushroom filling, and a Spanish-style chicken thigh with sherry sauce and roasted vegetables. On top of that, they’re rolling out a thoughtfully curated wine program to go with it all. That’s an actual dining experience happening in the sky.

©Delta Airlines

Now, we’re not saying Southwest needs to go out and hire a world-famous culinary genius tomorrow. But could we get some meal options that feel a little more intentional? Even on longer flights, real food options that go beyond packaged snacks would go a long way toward making the whole experience feel a little more elevated. People are spending real money on flights, and a proper meal at altitude shouldn’t feel like a luxury.

Serious App Upgrades

If you’ve flown on United lately, you might have noticed that their app has gotten a pretty impressive glow-up. We’re talking features that actually make the chaos of travel feel a little more manageable, and honestly, we’d love to see Southwest take some notes.

©United Airlines

United recently rolled out a Virtual Gate feature that gives you live boarding updates and a progress bar showing how many passengers have already boarded. There’s a bag tracker that follows your luggage in real time, similar to a package delivery tracker, so you’re not standing at baggage claim just hoping for the best.

They’ve also added a Club Recommendation Tool that tells you which lounge is closest to your specific gate and how crowded it is. And for travelers with connections, the app also offers step-by-step directional maps to get you from one gate to the next, which is genuinely a game-changer when you’re sprinting through an unfamiliar airport.

©United Airlines

Southwest’s app works fine for booking and checking in, but it’s pretty bare bones compared to what United is offering. The more information travelers have access to during their trip, the less stressful the whole experience becomes, and that’s something every airline should be prioritizing right now.

Premium Options

This one might be the biggest gap between Southwest and its competitors, and it’s tough to ignore. Southwest doesn’t have upgraded cabins, no first class, and no airport lounges. Everyone’s on the same playing field, which has a certain charm to it, but it also means there’s simply no option to upgrade your experience, even if you’re willing to pay for it.

©Southwest Airlines

Most major airlines now offer some version of a premium cabin with wider seats, extra legroom, better meals, and dedicated service. Many also have airport lounges where members can decompress before a flight with a real meal, a quieter space, and actual amenities. For frequent flyers or anyone doing a long travel day, having that option is a pretty big deal.

A Southwest airplane’s interior.

We get it, Southwest has built its whole brand around being the no-frills, approachable airline, and that’s worked really well for them. But at a certain point, not giving customers premium options starts to feel like a limitation rather than a feature. Even adding a few additional perks would be a step in the right direction. Southwest, we’re rooting for you, we really are. But the competition isn’t standing still, and neither should you!

We’ll be keeping an eye out for more all the latest air travel news, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

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What would you want to see Southwest add? Let us know in the comments!