southwest. Distance between seats lap child?

[zumbergc]

OK, not looking for opinions of lap child or use your car seat debate.

I'm wanting to know what the distance is between the back of the seat where you sit to the back of the seat in front of you.
This way I can get an idea at home how close we are going to be.

We flew at 6 months, and he wasn't able to grab and bother the seat back in front of him. He is now much bigger so I'm wanting to the know the distance, so I can get a handle on what to expect in a few months when we fly again.

TIA

 

[backyardponder]

You are looking for the seat pitch. I'm not sure why they call it pitch since, to me, pitch is an angle...but anyway.

I google'd "southwest seat pitch" and got between 32 and 33 inches, depending on the version of the 737 you are on. This is the distance between the back of one seat to the back of the other. It doesn't take into account the thickness of the back-pad, which I assume is 2 to 3".

Hope this helps.

 

[zumbergc]

thank you

 

[Lewisc]

Southwest is changing the seats. Basically reducing the padding. They're going to fit an extra row of seats, reducing the pitch to around 31". By the end of next year the entire fleet should be reconfigured. It's your responsibility, if necessary, to hold your child so he can't kick the seat in front of you. I hope I'm not reading too much into your post but it sounds like you think there might be a problem.

This is an internet discussion board. Infants are safer, and tend to do better, in a car seat. Years ago parents had a shot of getting use of a free seat. Flights to Orlando tend to be full and have a lot of kids. Most Southwest GA won't let parents bring a car seat on the plane (without a paid seat) unless the flight is so empty there are more then enough seats for all parents of lap babies. This information isn't intended for the OP but for others reading this thread.

 

[MdmMim]

And the person in front of you may decide to recline the seat, thus reducing the open space between you and that seat.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

And the person in front of you may decide to recline the seat, thus reducing the open space between you and that seat.

Good point. That would be one uncomfortable ride with a lap child.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

In my experience, Southwest was generous in allowing you to install and use car seats for an un-ticketed lap child (if they had empty seats on the flight). You can always gate-check it.

See this thread and story for reasons to use car seats not related to safety.

 

[ccgirl]

I have flown several times with a lap baby on SW. I had no problem with my son not reaching for the seat in front of me even with it reclined. If I didn't think he would sit still, I would have purchased him a seat to buckle him in to.

Just keep the tray table down as long as possible and he would not be able to reach the seat in front of you then.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I fly a lot and routinely see SW gate agents forcing parents to gate check the car seat they brought to the gate "just in case" So don't assume they will let you bring in it on "just in case" (And realistically, it's pretty rare for there to be empty seats anymore...)

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I fly a lot and routinely see SW gate agents forcing parents to gate check the car seat they brought to the gate "just in case" So don't assume they will let you bring in it on "just in case" (And realistically, it's pretty rare for there to be empty seats anymore...)

For what it's worth, my experience was/has been the opposite, but none of the SW flights have been to/from Orlando.

That being said, gate-checking is a decent idea for other reasons, as it eliminates one of the places checked-luggage can be misdirected.

 

[DebbieB]

I have flown several times with a lap baby on SW. I had no problem with my son not reaching for the seat in front of me even with it reclined. If I didn't think he would sit still, I would have purchased him a seat to buckle him in to.

Just keep the tray table down as long as possible and he would not be able to reach the seat in front of you then.

Having a kid bang the tray table is just as irritating.

 

[zumbergc]

i just wanted to know the distance so i can see how much space there is when hew is sitting on my lap.

i really doubt we would get him his own seat . he screams sometimes when in his car seat, so its much easier to hold him, and quieter for other passengers.

 

[ccgirl]

Having a kid bang the tray table is just as irritating.

I get that. My thinking was that if the table was down he would probably be playing with something on it and keep himself occupied.

 

[ccgirl]

i just wanted to know the distance so i can see how much space there is when hew is sitting on my lap.

i really doubt we would get him his own seat . he screams sometimes when in his car seat, so its much easier to hold him, and quieter for other passengers.

SW, I was fine. Plenty of room. AirTran would be a different story.

 

[rwdavis2]

And the person in front of you may decide to recline the seat, thus reducing the open space between you and that seat.

If that happens don't even think about putting down the seat tray. It won't fit.

 

[bumbershoot]

I finally understand the question...

I took DS when he was 17 months old as a lap child. It was AWFUL. He's tall and strong and always has been, and it was a fight the ENTIRE trip to keep him from reaching all around and getting into the space of other people. He wanted to touch seatbacks, the tray tables, the heads of the people in front, wanted to launch himself *behind* me into those people.... My arms were quivering spaghetti by the end of the flight, trying to keep him contained.

Kicking the seat in front was the *least* of my concerns, because he never wanted to actually sit down on my lap....

 

[ccgirl]

When we went when my DS was a lap child, I sat next to DD and put DH in the seat in front of me/my son so that if he did hit the seat it was just my DH.

 

[NHdisneylover]

When we went when my DS was a lap child, I sat next to DD and put DH in the seat in front of me/my son so that if he did hit the seat it was just my DH.

That is a great way to handle it if you are not confident that you can keep a child from bothering the seat in front of them (lap child or not)