i too had a look at the other side this past weekend, tho it was a different other side...

i flew three segments -- two on southwest, and one on AA. all segments were about 90 minutes long, and on all segments, i took a standard (non-exit, non-bulkhead) coach window seat, and had an empty middle seat next to me.

ranking the flights for comfort, AA's MRTC MD-80 comes in second.

since i last flew southwest, they've reconfigured their 737-300's with very comfortable leather seats. the pitch is 33", but the seats are slimline, and are shaped perfectly for the 33" they get. i was able to fully straighten my legs under the seat in front of me, or cross them comfortably. there is no wasted space under the seat, so i had plenty of room for my legs.

i was floored. i will no longer rule out southwest on comfort.

so could AA learn a thing or two from its competitors? heck yeah! southwest is moving towards more comfort in coach, and we all know which direction AA is going.

(southwest's 73G was not quite as comfortable as either the 733 or AA's MRTC -- the seats were not slimline, and i couldn't quite get my legs under the corner. but when AA removes MRTC, their MD80 will be worse than either of southwest's larger 737 types.)

edited to add: in 90 minutes, southwest does two drink services. AA does one.