Oct 6, 2013, 5:04 pm
Last edit by: alggag
Southwest has added one row of seats to virtually all its aircraft, increasing the seat count from 137 to 143. The pitch is tighter, the seats are thinner and lower, and passengers taller than 6 feet are finding it uncomfortable.
Only a few older 737-300's and 500's have not been refitted. The 737-800's, were originally equipped with the thinner seats but at a larger pitch which most customers find sufficiently comfortable.
In this thread we discuss the wisdom of this decision, discuss whether it makes sense to switch carriers, commiserate, and celebrate our occasional successes in obtaining the suddenly much rarer seats with extra legroom.
Only a few older 737-300's and 500's have not been refitted. The 737-800's, were originally equipped with the thinner seats but at a larger pitch which most customers find sufficiently comfortable.
In this thread we discuss the wisdom of this decision, discuss whether it makes sense to switch carriers, commiserate, and celebrate our occasional successes in obtaining the suddenly much rarer seats with extra legroom.
[Wiki] Southwest's new "Evolve" interior adds 1 row, claims to preserve knee room
Jan 17, 2012, 12:08 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,194
Scheduling/Load management will be working overtime for the next several years over this.
We'll have 737-700's, 137, or 143 seats
737-500's with 122 seats
737-800's with 175 seats
and 717's with 117 seats
Hilarity will ensue with maintenance/equipment swaps when going from a larger to smaller fleet.
if 31" pitch is better than 32", and 2" recline is better than 3", then shouldn't it become 30" pitch, 1" recline, and 149 seats? Then fill in the love-seat, and you hit the magic 150 number. Exceeding that requires a 4th flight attendant.
We'll have 737-700's, 137, or 143 seats
737-500's with 122 seats
737-800's with 175 seats
and 717's with 117 seats
Hilarity will ensue with maintenance/equipment swaps when going from a larger to smaller fleet.
if 31" pitch is better than 32", and 2" recline is better than 3", then shouldn't it become 30" pitch, 1" recline, and 149 seats? Then fill in the love-seat, and you hit the magic 150 number. Exceeding that requires a 4th flight attendant.
Jan 17, 2012, 12:13 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Touché. I'll remain open minded about this new interior until I try it. The bins don't look any different though, despite what the article said...
Jan 17, 2012, 12:45 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,194
The current config is 22 rows of seats (23 including the front/bulkhead row).
Take away an inch of pitch from each to get 22 towards an extra row.
Since you need an extra 31" to add in a new row, that means 9 inches combined are being cut from the exit row seating and front row (bulkhead)
Take away an inch of pitch from each to get 22 towards an extra row.
Since you need an extra 31" to add in a new row, that means 9 inches combined are being cut from the exit row seating and front row (bulkhead)
Jan 17, 2012, 1:30 pm
#22
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I'd be perfectly happy if seats in domestic coach (and even domestic first class) didn't recline, so needless to say I do find limited recline to be a benefit.
Yet they're carrying more passengers than ever ...
Yet they're carrying more passengers than ever ...
Jan 17, 2012, 3:59 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: Frequent Flyer
Posts: 435
They are saying that will happen in March. The benefit in the interim is that 6 seats will stay empty on this plane until then. Jumpseaters and non-revers are prohibited from occupying one of these 6 seats until it's done.
Jan 17, 2012, 4:08 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
The next attempt will be met with:
Oops! Your departure date is invalid. Please enter it in the format of MM/DD/YYYY. (SW1080004)
Then:
Oops! No flights found. (SW110004)
Followed by:
Oops! Unable to close your flight due to an undefined error. If this error persists please call 1-800-IFLY-SWA..
And finally:
Oops! We are currently unable to complete your request due to an undefined error. Please try again later..
Jan 17, 2012, 5:17 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: Frequent Flyer
Posts: 435
I can just see it now. The ops agent boards all 143 people and they go to close the flight only to be met with: "Oops- unable to close your flight due to an undefined error. If this error persists please call 1-800-IFLY-SWA.
The next attempt will be met with:
Oops! Your departure date is invalid. Please enter it in the format of MM/DD/YYYY. (SW1080004)
Then:
Oops! No flights found. (SW110004)
Followed by:
Oops! Unable to close your flight due to an undefined error. If this error persists please call 1-800-IFLY-SWA..
And finally:
Oops! We are currently unable to complete your request due to an undefined error. Please try again later..
The next attempt will be met with:
Oops! Your departure date is invalid. Please enter it in the format of MM/DD/YYYY. (SW1080004)
Then:
Oops! No flights found. (SW110004)
Followed by:
Oops! Unable to close your flight due to an undefined error. If this error persists please call 1-800-IFLY-SWA..
And finally:
Oops! We are currently unable to complete your request due to an undefined error. Please try again later..
Jan 17, 2012, 5:40 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: United 1k ; SW A+ Preferred; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 634
"The cabin upgrade also allows us to create significant revenue opportunities without adding unwanted fees," said Southwest Executive Vice President Bob Jordan.
Hard to a believe a senior exective would make such a blatently moronic statement. Of course, Jordan was former VP of Technology at SW, so apparently, the fatsest way to get ahead at SW is to fail!
Hard to a believe a senior exective would make such a blatently moronic statement. Of course, Jordan was former VP of Technology at SW, so apparently, the fatsest way to get ahead at SW is to fail!
Last edited by ryerflyer; Jan 17, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Jan 17, 2012, 6:48 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,870
"The cabin upgrade also allows us to create significant revenue opportunities without adding unwanted fees," said Southwest Executive Vice President Bob Jordan.
Hard to a believe a senior exective would make such a blatently moronic statement. Of course, Jordan was former VP of Technology at SW, so apparently, the fatsest way to get ahead at SW is to fail!
Hard to a believe a senior exective would make such a blatently moronic statement. Of course, Jordan was former VP of Technology at SW, so apparently, the fatsest way to get ahead at SW is to fail!
Jan 17, 2012, 8:33 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
I am amazed at the lack of outrage here.
It seems there is nothing that current management will not do in the short term to increase revenue at the expense of passenger satisfaction.
It seems there is nothing that current management will not do in the short term to increase revenue at the expense of passenger satisfaction.