Southwest - where to sit?

[cbsnyber1]

Okay, just got low A's (16-21) for our flight tomorrow (nonstop to MCO). I've never flown SW. Are some rows better than others?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes. The back of the plane touches ground first, making it the best place to sit.


Seriously - see seatguru.com.

 

[dburg30]

There really isnt going to be a huge difference in the seating. Pretty much anything inside the plane will work

The closer to the front you are (and unless it's a connecting flight and there are lots of people already on the plane) you could be very close with those numbers, you will be able to get off the plane faster. But if you checked in at t-24 or this was your check in time, looking at the time of your post, I would guess it's the first flight out in the AM, so you can pretty much pick any seat you want.

 

[DonnaL]

Don't know if you're flying with smaller children or not, but, keep in mind there is a restroom in the front and one in the back of all SWA planes. It seems when our kids and our grandson were little, we spent quite a bit of time walking the aisle to the restrooms! On the same note, with SW current boarding policy, medical preboards will go first, then A's, then family boarding, then B's and C's. If you are not traveling with children (and not meaning what I am about to say in a negative way.....I have kids and grandchildren....but sometimes want to travel without them) and really don't wish to be seated near a lot of families with smaller children, head toward the back of the plane. It's not a guarantee, but, most families will grab the first number of seats that work for them. This technique used to work even better when family boarding was before the A's, because an A boarder could get on and scope out where most of the smaller children were and make a decision where to sit. Above all, have a good trip.

 

[cbsnyber1]

We're six, with a ten year old (grandson). I think we'll end up in the front just so we can get to baggage claim a bit quicker. I am PRETTY sure there will be a bunch of kids on this flight (Saturday morning? Heading to Orlando/Disney? What are the chances, right?) but that's never bothered me. I can sleep through anything.

 

[HelenParr]

The decision you'll want to make ahead of time is whether you are doing 3 and 3 across, or one row behind the other. I've found when we don't discuss this ahead of time the adults seem to split and then its like herding cats while the people behind you moan at your seating indecisiveness (not that you should care -- you're on vacation!)

I agree with PPs -- stay to the front as much as possible. Nab whichever two rows are open (per the 3/3 or 3 behind 3 plan).

Front is close to lav, you get your juice and crakers first and easy off the plane. It's also quieter (less engine noise than the back).

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[onelilspark]

Personally, I like being in about the third row, aisle. But I generally travel by myself or just myself and my boyfriend. I like getting off the plane quickly!!! I'm on vacation! No time to waste!!

 

[Lewisc]

The front row are "bulkhead" seats. You don't have tray tables and you don't have room to stow anything in a seat in front of you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The front row are "bulkhead" seats. You don't have tray tables

Yes you do have tray tables. They are in the seat arms.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

It's always good to sit inside the plane,


haha just had to say it

 

[BillSears]

The front row are "bulkhead" seats. You don't have tray tables

Yes you do have tray tables. They are in the seat arms.

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I'm a paraplegic and the first row is easiest for me to get in and out of so I normally sit in that row. Sometimes there is a tray table and other times there isn't.

 

[Lewisc]

The front row are "bulkhead" seats. You don't have tray tables

Yes you do have tray tables. They are in the seat arms.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-300.php
Not according to seatguru or SW passenges who post on FT.

Do you have first hand knowledge of said tray tables on SW? If so contact seatguru so they can make a correction.

I've sat in the exit row seat which is missing a seat in the row in front of it. There is no tray table in the seat arms nor does SW have a "portable" tray table that can be clipped.

 

[cbsnyber1]

The decision you'll want to make ahead of time is whether you are doing 3 and 3 across, or one row behind the other. I've found when we don't discuss this ahead of time the adults seem to split and then its like herding cats while the people behind you moan at your seating indecisiveness (not that you should care -- you're on vacation!)

I agree with PPs -- stay to the front as much as possible. Nab whichever two rows are open (per the 3/3 or 3 behind 3 plan).

Front is close to lav, you get your juice and crakers first and easy off the plane. It's also quieter (less engine noise than the back).

Have a wonderful trip!!

Appreciate the advice! I think we're lucking out with weather this week - so far only some showers and three or four days hitting the 80's (it's 17 outside right now). We can't wait to get there!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Not according to seatguru or SW passenges who post on FT.

I stand corrected. Guess SWA is too cheap to provide for the comfort of bulkhead seat passengers.

 

[Lewisc]

Not according to seatguru or SW passenges who post on FT.

I stand corrected. Guess SWA is too cheap to provide for the comfort of bulkhead seat passengers.

My memory is tray tables in the armrest results in seats that are (slightly) narrower and armrests that can't be raised.

I guess it depends on how you define comfort.

I mentioned this "feature" so the OP could make an informed decision and not be surprised.

 

[BillSears]

Do you have first hand knowledge of said tray tables on SW? If so contact seatguru so they can make a correction.

I'm fairly certain that I have flown a flight with the fold up tray tables on SWA. I was pleasantly surprised to see them since I hadn't seen them on any other SWA flight. However this was years ago and only one flight. They may have gotten rid of them.

Or I could be mistaken and I'm remembering some other airline's bulkhead seat.

 

[alyssa810]

Like PPs mentioned, I think it also depends on who you're traveling with. Before my DS was 2, he was always a lap baby, so our thought was to head to the back of the plane in hopes that A- people are less apt to head to the back and thus B- would be less likely to sit in our row so that we'd get the extra room. Now that he's a ticketed passenger we head for the first available row: the faster we sit down, the faster the people behind us sit etc, and the faster everyone is seated and buckled in, the faster we all get to WDW!

 

[TDC Nala]

It's true that some SWA planes have fold-down tray tables in the arm rests and some don't. I like the one seat in the plane (exit row) that has no seat in front of it at all becuase that's where the exit door is. Most planes I've been on in that seat have a tray table that folds out of the arm rest, but some of them do not. I believe that is also true of the bulkhead seats because I have seen people there using the fold-down tray tables. am sure because it's on some of the planes and not others that it's not reflected in Seatguru, because you can never tell until you board whether you're on a plane that has them or not.

 

[Tammy32]

If it a pretty full flight do not sit in row 8 or 16 because they are the last rows for service in the flight attendants sections. If you want your drink first then sit in 1, 9, or 17. Some flight attendants do help and pick up a row from the other flight attendants but in most cases 8, 16, and of course the last row on the aircraft are the last to get drinks.

Also most families now sit toward the back of the plane because of the new boarding procedures. Besides if you are going to Disney World the plane is usually full of children no matter where you sit.

If you have a tray table in the bulkhead or in the one exit row sit with the really long leg room then you are very lucky. There are only a very few planes in the system with them. So you should just assume you have no tray table in these areas when you board. If there are, then bonus.

 

[puffkin]

We ALWAYS sit around row 18 or so. My reasons:

1. Less people. If your flight isn't full, often times you will have more room to spread out since everyone crowds into the front of the plane. On full flights better chance to get seats together.

2. Overhead room. More space generally in the overhead compartments.

3. Bathroom...close to the rear lav and less restrictions on this one (ie you can stand outside this one). Good if you have younger children but don't have to go in with them.

4. More engine noise towards the back but also makes it harder to hear if your kids get a little loud.

5. IMO I just feel safer towards the back of the plane. I also think it is less bumpy, but again just my opinion.

I don't really care about getting off the plane super fast. We always have to wait at baggage claim anyways so that isn't a huge deal to me (unless we didn't check bags).