Summary Southwest Airlines is transitioning to standard seat assignments in 2025 due to customer preference for assigned seats. Across its 737 variants, Southwest's best seats are those with extra legroom. The worst seats are in proximity to loud areas like the galley and/or lack any recline.
Passengers have different preferences when choosing airline seats. Some prefer a quiet flight, away from the hustle and bustle common around the plane’s lavatories or galley. Others dream of catching picture-worthy shots from the air.
Nervous passengers just want a smooth ride. Most travelers look for seats that provide as much extra legroom as possible . Although Southwest Airlines has traditionally used an open-seating policy, the airline will be transitioning to standard seat assignment next year.
Travelers looking to fly with the leading US low-cost airline should examine the various seating arrangements used on its 737s to determine which best fits their travel needs. Across all three 737 variants flown by Southwest, the best seats tend to be those with the most legroom. On the 737-700, this is seat 12A.
On the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8, these seats are 16A and 16F. The worst seats vary depending on travel preferences, but many passengers dislike the last row in the airplane due to its proximity to loud cabin areas and lack of seat recline. On Southwest’s 737-700s, this is row 24.
On its 737-800s and MAX 8s, the final row is row 30. Southwest's move to allocated seating Southwest Airlines has long been considered the pioneer of the low-cost airline business model. Since beginning operations in 1971, the airline has employed a variety of strategies to keep ticket prices low while still earning profits.
One major strategy used by Southwest is its decision to fly a simplified fleet of just one aircraft type: the Boeing 737 . According to ch-aviation , Southwest’s fleet currently contains 789 active aircraft of just three 737 variants, the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8. Another way the airline maintained low ticket prices was its decision to use a unique open seat selection.
Unlike most other airlines, Southwest passengers were not assigned seats or given the option to choose seats when purchasing tickets. Instead, boarding was based on check-in time, and passengers were free to choose any available seat when they boarded the plane. This July, however, Southwest announced an end to its five-decade model.
Beginning in 2025, the airline will switch to conventional assigned seating. According to the airline’s statement , the decision was made based on extensive customer polling and research. Southwest’s research shows that 80% of the airline’s current customers and 86% of potential customers prefer an assigned seat.
Additionally, open seating was cited as the top reason customers elected to stop flying with Southwest and chose another airline instead. Southwest believes the updated seating model will increase revenue and better meet customer preferences. Bob Jordan, Southwest’s president and CEO, told the New York Times , “This is the right choice — at the right time — for our customers, our people, and our shareholders.
” While these changes will likely be met with positive reactions from airline travelers, they also mean booking travel with Southwest will look very different from years past. By examining the airline’s fleet and seating for each aircraft type, customers can try to land the perfect seat for their flight—no matter their check-in time. Southwest's move to assigned seating sparks mixed reactions.
Loyalists voice concerns, while many welcome less check-in stress and added comfort. Read here to learn the best tips for making the most of your next long-haul flight. Best and worst seats on the 737-700 The smallest and most popular 737 variant in Southwest’s fleet is the 737-700 .
This aircraft seats 143 passengers in a 3-3 arrangement. Until the airline implements its new premium, extended-legroom modifications, all 143 seats belong to a single economy class. Each seat has a width of 17 inches and a pitch of 31 inches.
AeroLOPA lists the seat recline at 2”. Best 737-700 seats Depending on your flight preferences, some seats on Southwest’s 737-700s might be more desirable than others. Several seats offer additional legroom, while others are missing a window or floor storage.
For taller passengers or those who simply like having extra room for their legs, Southwest’s 737-700s offer several preferred seating options. The most coveted seat for additional legroom on this aircraft is 12A. This window seat is behind the exit row and doesn’t have a seat in front of it, allowing passengers to stretch their legs out completely.
Additional seats with extra legroom include those in row 12 and those in the exit row (row 11). The five seats in row 11 offer more space due to their exit row status and provide possibly ideal seating for couples (11B & 11C). However, row 11 seats have some drawbacks.
According to SeatGuru , these seats are less padded than others and can be very cold for temperature-sensitive passengers. Further, they may have restricted reclining abilities. The seats at the front of the cabin in row 1 also offer extended legroom.
However, these seats do not have tray tables or floor storage for carry-on items. Additionally, the overhead bins above this row tend to be used for equipment storage on many flights. Seat/Row Pros Cons Row 1 • Extra legroom • No tray table • No floor storage • Limited overhead space 7A & 8F • Missing or misaligned windows Row 10 • Misaligned windows • Limited seat recline Row 11 • Extra legroom • Less seat padding • Limited seat recline • Possibly colder temperatures 11B & 11C • Extra legroom • Only 2 seats in row • Less seat padding • Limited seat recline • Possibly colder temperatures 12A • Most legroom Row 12 • Extra legroom Row 24 • Proximity to galley & lavs • No seat recline Worst 737-700 seats Only a handful of seats on Southwest’s 737-700s can be considered worse than others.
For passengers hoping to catch views of the skies in flight, seat 8F should be avoided. As explained by Upgraded Points , this seat is missing a window, and passengers will have to lean forward to look out the window placed between rows 7 and 8. Seat 7A also has a misaligned window set slightly forward.
Row 10, directly in front of the exit row, may not fully recline. This row also has misaligned windows, although it still isn’t impossible to see the sky beyond the airplane. The last row, row 24, is also considered undesirable by many passengers.
The seats’ proximity to the galley and lavatories makes frequent noise and interruptions likely, and they often cannot recline at all. Best and worst seats on the 737-800 & MAX 8 Southwest’s 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s are configured similarly, so examining the best and worst seats on these aircraft types is best done jointly. Like the airline’s 737-700s, these two variants are arranged in a 3-3 seating configuration with a single economy class.
The larger aircraft can seat an increased total of 175 passengers. The seats on both the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 have a seat pitch of 32-33” and are “pre-reclining.” Each seat features a 4-way adjustable headrest.
The 737-800’s seats are 17”, while the MAX 8 features a seat width of 17.8”. Best Seats on the 737-800 & MAX 8 Like the 737-700, some seats on Southwest’s 737-800s and MAX 8s stand out for their extra legroom.
However, on these aircraft types, two seats make the cut for the best location. On both variants,16A and 16F are window seats without a seat in front of them. Due to the exit row in front, the additional four seats in row 16 also offer extra legroom.
However, it isn’t nearly as much space as provided by the two coveted window seats. The seats in rows 14 and 15 also offer additional legroom due to their proximity to the exit rows. Seats in row 15 are also configured 2-2, which could make them ideal for couples traveling together.
However, the seats in both rows may have limited recline. Like the 737-700, Southwest’s 737-800s and MAX 8s offer passengers extra legroom at the front of the cabin. On these larger aircraft, however, the best seats are in rows 1 (1D, 1E, & 1F) and 2 (2A, 2B, & 2C).
Unfortunately, these seats do not offer floor storage for takeoff and landing, and armrests are immovable because they contain the trays. Seat/Row Pros Cons 1D, 1E, & 1F • Extra legroom • No floor storage • Immovable armrests 2A, 2B, & 2C • Extra legroom • No floor storage • Immovable armrests 9A & 10F • Missing or misaligned windows Row 13 • No seat recline Row 14 • Extra legroom • Limited seat recline Row 15 • 2-2 seating • Extra legroom • Limited seat recline 16A & 16F • Most legroom Row 16 • Extra legroom Row 30 • Proximity to galley & lavs • No seat recline Worst Seats on the 737-800 & MAX 8 There are several seats that passengers might wish to avoid when booking a flight on Southwest’s 737-800s or MAX 8s. Travelers preferring a window seat for the view should refrain from choosing either 9A or 10F on the 737-800.
SeatGuru lists these seats as missing a window or having one severely misaligned, hindering passenger views. The seats in row 13 do not recline due to the exit row behind them. However, it’s not all terrible for passengers in these seats.
The window seats in this row offer two windows (albeit misaligned) looking out over the aircraft’s wings. Row 30, the very last row, is considered undesirable by many passengers hoping for a quiet flight. These seats are directly in front of the galley and lavatories, ensuring the area is full of noise and potentially sees high traffic.
These seats also do not recline. How does the location of the seat in relation to the aircraft's engines, bathrooms, and galleys affect how peaceful a journey might be?.
