Starting next week, Southwest Airlines passengers will notice a slight change in how the cabin is prepared for landing, which will have some impact on passengers.

Southwest crews will prepare the cabin for landing earlier

As is common practice with almost every airline, flight attendants prepare the cabin for landing before arrival. This includes suspending flight service, asking passengers to store their belongings (including laptops), and asking passengers to put their seats and tray tables in the upright position.

Starting December 4, 2024, Southwest Airlines will instruct crews to prepare the cabin for landing earlier than before, as announced by View from the Wing. When this new procedure is implemented, the following will happen:

• At the end of the descent, the pilots make an announcement informing the flight attendants that the descent phase of the flight has begun
• Descending to 18,000 feet, the pilots sound a high, low tone signaling the beginning of the sterile flight deck; This is the cue for flight attendants to prepare the cabin for landing and sit in their jump seats

Previously, Southwest crews prepared the cabin for landing on a descent at 10,000 feet, so the operation will begin 8,000 feet higher. Although this will vary depending on the descent profile of a flight, you can expect that this will typically result in the cabin being prepared for landing approximately five minutes earlier than before.

As you’ve probably guessed, this means passengers have less time to use their laptops and crews also have less time to perform maintenance. On longer flights this should have no impact on service. However, on very short flights with beverage service, this could limit the crew’s ability to provide a full service.

Why Southwest is changing its cabin prep policies

Why are we seeing this policy change at Southwest Airlines? Well, the decision was made in consultation with TWU 556, the union that represents flight attendants. The airline claims that this policy change is the result of years of research as well as reports on the airline’s safety management system.

Based on thousands of data points from flight attendants and pilots, coupled with information from the Flight Data Analysis Program, it is estimated that this policy change will reduce flight attendant injuries by at least 20%.

While turbulence can occur at any altitude, there is of course a greater risk at lower altitudes, where turbulence is more common and you are flying through dense clouds.

Reducing injuries is of course a logical and fair goal. I would be interested to know what the total number of injuries to flight attendants during the descent phase is and how many of them are considered serious. Yes, something happens, but we’re talking about 20% of what number?

Southwest is not the first major U.S. airline to make this change, as United Airlines has a similar policy implemented last year. However, as far as I know, other US airlines are making final preparations at 10,000 feet. It is also common practice for many foreign airlines to prepare the cabin for landing right at the start of the descent.

Conclusion

Southwest Airlines crews will soon begin preparing cabins for landing at 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. This is intended to reduce injuries to flight attendants, as the risk of turbulence is increased at low altitudes. This is fairly minor, but passengers may still notice this policy change as it affects seat tilt, laptop usage, etc.

What do you think about Southwest changing its cabin landing procedures?