Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Southwest Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, but not every plane carries the same number of passengers. The smaller Boeing 737-700 has 137 seats, while the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 each have 175 seats. Southwest now uses assigned seating across its network, with Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seat choices inside a single 3-3 cabin.
Quick Answer
Southwest Airlines planes currently have either 137 or 175 passenger seats. The Boeing 737-700 has 137 seats, while the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 each have 175. All three use a single-cabin, 3-3 layout with assigned Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seats.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest’s 737-700 aircraft have 137 seats.
- The 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 are Southwest’s 175-seat aircraft.
- Southwest has one cabin with three seats on each side of a single aisle; it does not have a separate first-class cabin.
- Extra Legroom seats on the 175-seat aircraft have a 34-inch pitch, compared with 31 to 32 inches for Preferred and Standard seats.
- Southwest ended open seating and began operating assigned seating on January 27, 2026.
- Wi-Fi and personal-device entertainment are available where equipped, but power ports and other features can vary by aircraft.
How Many Seats Are on Each Southwest Plane?
Southwest currently operates three Boeing 737 variants. According to the airline’s official airplane specifications, their passenger capacities are 137 or 175 seats.
Southwest Fleet at a Glance
| Boeing 737-700 | 137 seats; 288 aircraft in the fleet as of June 30, 2026 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 175 seats; 192 aircraft in the fleet as of June 30, 2026 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 175 seats; 323 aircraft in the fleet as of June 30, 2026 |
| Total fleet | 803 aircraft, including 515 planes with 175 seats |
As of June 30, 2026, 515 of Southwest’s 803 aircraft—about 64% of the fleet—were configured with 175 passenger seats.
The fleet totals come from Southwest Airlines’ Form 10-Q filed on July 23, 2026. Fleet quantities can change as aircraft are delivered, retired, sold, or temporarily removed from service, but the seat capacities are the airline’s current standard configurations.
The Evolution of Southwest Airlines’ Fleet
Southwest was incorporated in 1967 and began carrying passengers in 1971. The airline built much of its operating model around the Boeing 737, allowing pilots, maintenance teams, ground crews, and schedulers to work with aircraft from the same general family.
The 175-seat aircraft are not a recent addition. Southwest received its first Boeing 737-800 in March 2012 and placed it into scheduled service on April 11, 2012. The airline said at the time that its 175-seat capacity was nearly 30% higher than the aircraft configuration then common in its fleet.
The first Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 entered scheduled service on October 1, 2017. It also carries 175 passengers, but it uses newer engines and aerodynamic improvements. Southwest reports that the MAX 8 is approximately 14% more fuel-efficient than its 737-800 on a comparable basis.
The 737-700 was previously associated with a 143-seat configuration. During Southwest’s cabin retrofit for assigned and Extra Legroom seating, six seats were removed, reducing the current capacity to 137.
Note: The Boeing 737 MAX 7 does not appear in Southwest’s operating-fleet table as of June 30, 2026. Southwest has placed orders for the model, but passengers currently encounter the 737-700, 737-800, or 737 MAX 8 on Southwest-operated flights.
The Features of Southwest’s 175-Seat Planes
The 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 share the same passenger capacity and basic cabin arrangement. Both have one aisle, three seats on the left, and three seats on the right. The cabin is divided into seat categories, but there is no wall or separate first-class section.
Seat Pitch and Width
On both 175-seat aircraft, Extra Legroom seats have a 34-inch pitch. Preferred and Standard seats have a pitch of 31 to 32 inches. Seat pitch is the distance from a point on one seat to the same point on the seat directly in front; it is not the same as the amount of open space in front of a passenger’s knees.
Southwest lists seat widths ranging from 15.5 to 17.8 inches on the 737-800 and MAX 8. The exact usable width can vary by seat location and where the measurement is taken.
Lavatories and Cabin Layout
The 175-seat planes have three lavatories: one at the front and two at the rear. By comparison, the 137-seat 737-700 has one forward and one rear lavatory.
Most aisle seats on the 737-800 and MAX 8 have movable aisle armrests. The main exception is the front bulkhead row. Exit-row seats have additional safety requirements, so not every passenger is eligible to sit there.
737-800 Versus 737 MAX 8
For passengers, the most important similarity is that both planes carry 175 people and use the same broad seat categories. The main differences are the aircraft generation, engines, age, and installed equipment.
Newly delivered MAX 8 aircraft include larger overhead bins and USB-A and USB-C power ports. Southwest is also adding these features to existing MAX 8 and 737-800 aircraft, but the retrofit remains an ongoing process. Travelers should not assume every 175-seat aircraft has power at every seat.
The Impact of 175-Seat Planes on Southwest’s Operations
A 175-seat aircraft allows Southwest to carry 38 more passengers than a current 137-seat 737-700 on a full flight. This can make a larger aircraft useful when demand is strong or when airport gates, departure slots, and crew schedules limit the number of flights the airline can add.
| More seats per departure | A full 175-seat aircraft carries 38 more passengers than a current 737-700. |
| Potential unit-cost benefit | Fixed flight costs can be spread across more available seats when demand supports the larger plane. |
| Airport flexibility | The larger aircraft can add capacity where gates or departure slots are constrained. |
| Tradeoff | More passengers can mean longer boarding, deplaning, and lavatory lines when a flight is full. |
Those benefits are not automatic. A larger aircraft is most efficient when Southwest can sell enough seats to support it. Maintenance needs, crew availability, weather, airport limitations, and the aircraft available at a station also influence daily assignments.
How Southwest Uses Its 175-Seat Aircraft
Southwest can schedule the 737-800 and MAX 8 on busy routes where a larger plane fits expected demand. They are also useful at airports where adding another departure may be harder than placing more seats on an existing flight.
That does not mean every major-city or vacation route will always receive a 175-seat plane. Southwest can substitute one 737 variant for another as schedules and operational needs change. A route served by a MAX 8 one day could use a 737-700 or 737-800 on another date.
The 737-800 historically helped Southwest add capacity and support longer flights. The newer MAX 8 offers the same number of seats with improved fuel efficiency, making it an important part of the airline’s fleet-modernization program.
Pro Tip: When comparing Southwest flights, open the seat map rather than relying only on the departure time. A 175-seat seat map indicates a 737-800 or MAX 8, while a 137-seat map indicates a 737-700.
Customer Experience on the 175-Seat Planes
Southwest’s passenger experience changed significantly in 2026. The carrier operated its last open-seating flight on January 26 and began assigned seating on January 27. Passengers now receive or select a specific seat before boarding instead of choosing any open seat after entering the plane.
Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard Seats
- Extra Legroom: Located near the front and in exit-row areas. On the 737-800 and MAX 8, these seats have a 34-inch pitch—about three inches more than many Standard seats.
- Preferred: Standard-legroom seats positioned closer to the front of the cabin.
- Standard: Standard-legroom seats generally located farther back.
These are seat categories inside one cabin. Extra Legroom is Southwest’s premium seating product, but it is not a traditional first-class cabin with wider recliner seats, curtains, or a separate onboard service team.
How Fare Type Affects Seat Selection
Southwest’s current fare bundles are Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Seat access is also affected by Rapid Rewards tier status and eligible credit-card benefits.
- Basic: A Standard seat is normally assigned at check-in unless the traveler has an eligible status or card benefit.
- Choice: Includes access to available Standard seats.
- Choice Preferred: Includes available Preferred or Standard seats.
- Choice Extra: Includes access to available Extra Legroom, Preferred, or Standard seats.
Travelers may also be able to purchase a different seat separately. Availability and prices can vary by flight.
Wi-Fi, Entertainment, and Power
Where available, Rapid Rewards members receive free Wi-Fi. Nonmembers may be able to purchase access. Southwest does not provide seatback entertainment screens or devices for rent; passengers use their own phones, tablets, or laptops.
On aircraft using Southwest’s traditional inflight entertainment portal, available content can include movies, television, live television, and a flight tracker. On Starlink-equipped aircraft, passengers can use the internet to stream from their own services instead. Availability can vary because of equipment, licensing, route, or technical limitations.
Power ports are not yet guaranteed on every aircraft. Newly delivered MAX 8 planes have USB-A and USB-C ports, and Southwest is adding power to more MAX 8 and 737-800 aircraft. Charging a device before leaving for the airport remains a sensible precaution.
Warning: Aircraft type, seat map, and installed amenities can change before departure because of maintenance, weather, scheduling, or another operational need. Treat the aircraft shown during booking as the planned aircraft, not an absolute guarantee.
How to Check Which Southwest Plane You Will Fly
During booking, Southwest displays a seat map after the passenger-information step. The number of available rows and seats can help identify the planned aircraft:
- A 137-seat map indicates a Boeing 737-700.
- A 175-seat map indicates either a Boeing 737-800 or Boeing 737 MAX 8.
The reservation details in the Southwest website or app may also show the planned aircraft type. Check again near departure because an equipment swap can change both the aircraft and available seat map.
If Southwest changes the aircraft after you select a seat, review the updated assignment in the app or under Manage Reservation. Contact a Southwest representative when a disability accommodation, family-seating need, or other essential requirement is no longer met.
Future Plans for Southwest’s 175-Seat Planes
The 175-seat fleet will continue to include both older 737-800 aircraft and newer MAX 8 aircraft. As of June 30, 2026, Southwest had 192 737-800s and 323 MAX 8s, making the MAX 8 the largest single group in its operating fleet.
Southwest is continuing to receive MAX 8 aircraft while retiring or selling some older planes. It is also installing power ports and larger overhead bins across more of the existing fleet. These upgrades will take time, so cabin equipment may remain inconsistent between otherwise similar 175-seat planes.
The airline also has orders for the smaller MAX 7. However, that model was not listed in Southwest’s operating fleet as of June 30, 2026. Until it enters service, passengers should expect one of the three current aircraft types covered in this guide.
The Future of Southwest Airlines’ Fleet
Southwest’s 175-seat planes are established parts of the fleet rather than a new experiment. The 737-800 has carried 175 passengers since 2012, and the MAX 8 has done so since 2017. Together, those aircraft made up about 64% of Southwest’s fleet at the end of June 2026.
For passengers, the most important distinction is straightforward: the 737-700 has 137 seats, while the 737-800 and MAX 8 have 175. All use a single 3-3 cabin, but legroom, lavatory count, power availability, overhead-bin design, and aircraft age can differ.
Southwest’s switch to assigned seating also means the old advice to check in early and choose any open seat after boarding is no longer current. Travelers should now review the seat map, fare benefits, selected seat category, and aircraft details before departure.
For the latest dimensions and capacities, consult Southwest’s official aircraft specifications. For current seat-selection rules, review the airline’s assigned-seating guide.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines Seat Specifications — current capacity, pitch, width, cabin layout, armrests, and lavatory details.
- Southwest Airlines Form 10-Q for June 30, 2026 — current fleet quantities and aircraft types.
- Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating — Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seat descriptions.
- Southwest Fare Types and Benefits — current fare bundles and seat-selection benefits.
- Southwest Onboard Experience and Wi-Fi — entertainment, Wi-Fi, seatback-screen, and power-port information.
- Southwest’s First Boeing 737-800 — introduction of the 175-seat 737-800 in 2012.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seats are on Southwest Airlines planes?
Southwest’s Boeing 737-700 has 137 seats. Its Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 each have 175 seats.
Which Southwest planes have 175 seats?
The Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 are Southwest’s current 175-seat aircraft. The smaller Boeing 737-700 has 137 seats.
What is the seating configuration on Southwest planes?
Southwest aircraft have one aisle and one single cabin with a 3-3 layout: three seats on each side of the aisle.
Does Southwest have first class?
No. Southwest does not have a separate first-class cabin. It offers Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seats within the same single cabin.
How much legroom is available on a 175-seat Southwest plane?
Extra Legroom seats on the 737-800 and MAX 8 have a 34-inch pitch. Preferred and Standard seats have a pitch of 31 to 32 inches.
Can Southwest passengers choose their seats?
Southwest now uses assigned seating. Available seat selection depends on the fare bundle, Rapid Rewards tier status, eligible credit-card benefits, and whether the passenger purchases a seat separately. Basic-fare passengers are generally assigned a Standard seat at check-in.
Is Business Select still a Southwest fare?
Southwest’s current fare bundles are Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Choice Extra provides access to an available Extra Legroom seat and other higher-tier benefits.
Do all Southwest 175-seat planes have charging ports?
No. Newly delivered MAX 8 aircraft include USB-A and USB-C ports, and Southwest is adding power to more MAX 8 and 737-800 aircraft. Installation is not yet guaranteed on every plane, so passengers should charge devices before boarding.
Can Southwest change the aircraft after booking?
Yes. Southwest may substitute another aircraft because of maintenance, weather, scheduling, or other operational needs. Check the app or Manage Reservation before departure for the latest aircraft and seat assignment.