Starting 4, Southwest Airlines is making a small yet noticeable adjustment to its inflight experience. Cabin preparations for landing will start at 18,000 feet instead of the prior 10,000 feet. That’ll correlate with a 10-minute sooner request to raise tray tables,

Holiday travel is breaking records, with the TSA screening nearly 3.1 million passengers on Dec. 1, the busiest day in its history. Meanwhile, airlines are rolling out significant changes.

“The change in procedures is designed to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries for our crew members and customers,” a Southwest spokesperson said in a press statement. “It is the result of the airline’s close collaboration with its labor partners and a robust approach to safety.”

Southwest Airlines will start landing procedures at a higher altitude, requiring travelers to fasten their seatbelts and put away laptops and tray tables earlier in the flight.

Fliers on Southwest Airlines might notice a change to the usual cabin service this week. Starting Wednesday, Southwest Airlines flight attendants will prepare the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,

Southwest Airlines is introducing a bevy of changes in the coming months, with the most significant being the elimination of its longstanding open seating policy in 2026. Starting tomorrow, however, every Southwest flight is going to operate a little differently.

A big change is coming to Southwest Airlines' snack and drink service this week. The airline says it is ending cabin service earlier on flights, requiring passengers to do the usual pre-landing procedures such as ensuring their seatbelts are fastened and returning their seats to an upright position earlier than before.