Flyers are scratching their heads at Southwest Airlines’ bizarre takeoff policy: ‘Making stuff up as they go’

Passengers say a new rule in the friendly skies has them stashing more than just their tray tables.

Confused flyers are sounding off online after a traveler claimed flight attendants on a recent Southwest Airlines trip announced that nothing — not even a Kindle or phone — could be placed in the seat-back pocket during takeoff or landing.

The baffled passenger shared the experience on Reddit after flying from Harry Reid International Airport to Denver International Airport, saying the rule caught them completely off guard.

According to the traveler, flight attendants reportedly warned passengers not to stash items in the front seat pockets and even walked the aisles to check for violations.

“I always have my kindle, snacks, and phone out of my bag before taking off and put them in the pocket so they’re accessible,” the poster wrote in r/SouthwestAirlines, explaining that digging into a backpack under the seat can be nearly impossible once fellow passengers are settled in.

The Post reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.

The unusual announcement quickly sparked debate among fellow travelers, many of whom said they’d never heard of such a restriction.

“Never heard that one before. Have travelled six times in the past 2 months…..this is just getting out of control. They are just making stuff up as they go, I guess,” one commenter wrote.

Others suggested the airline’s safety rules appear increasingly unique compared with competitors.

“Southwest sure has a lot of ‘safety’ problems that no other airline has,” another user quipped.

Some Redditors joked the growing list of alleged rules — from staying in assigned seats to limited overhead space — sounded downright surreal.

Still, a few travelers chimed in to say the pocket crackdown may not have been a one-off.

“We heard the same on a flight last week. Nothing in the seat back pocket allowed and they came by to check,” another passenger claimed.

As these frustrated travelers have discovered, Southwest Airlines is shaking up its boarding rules after years of complaints about chaotic boarding and carry-on nightmares.

In a January letter, the airline promised to “continue refining” its procedures — including tweaks to overhead bins after passengers vented about the cramped new setup, according to The Points Guy.

Tony Roach, the airline’s chief customer and brand officer, wrote: “We’ve already made several enhancements and will continue refining the experience to reward your loyalty.”

Whether it’s a misunderstood safety protocol or simply a one-flight fluke, the debate shows one thing: when it comes to airline rules, passengers are keeping a close eye on the fine print — and their seat-back storage.

Southwest is still feeling the heat from furious travelers over its ditch of open seating — a system it used for 54 years — with some calling the change a “disaster.”

Frustration is also spilling over into the airline’s new booking system, as Southwest officially ended open seating on Jan. 27.

Passengers can no longer pick any seat when boarding, and some must pay extra for legroom or preferred spots — a move that hasn’t exactly won fans.

Scores of travelers are pleading with the airline to reverse course, while some continue to wrestle with the new booking system, posting Reddit complaints like “Now it’s extortion.”