SW Exit Row Reclining?

[inkkognito]

A question for SW gurus:
The exit rows in the middle of the plane are configured with three seats with lots of legroom on the ABC side and two seats with regular legroom on the other side with three seats w/lots of legroom behind them. Do the two seats recline? Do the seats in front of them recline, since I think the 2-seater is considered an exit row? I know they usually don't when they're in front of an exit, but I've been on planes where they do recline a little. I took the C exit seat in the three-row on my last flight; I don't think the person in front of me, in a regular triple row, was able to recline (I assume that me seat could have reclined if I wanted it to, but I didn't need it because I found a comfortable nap position without doing so). The two-seater might be nice for my husband and I unless we can't recline and the people in front of us could...that would not be good!
Barb

 

[inkkognito]

Bumping up!

 

[valeriekc]

After looking around a little I noticed no info around on the internet about seating charts on SWA. Hmmm a little suspicious. I am thinking like you are...that some first-hand experience is going to be needed here from the SWA frequent flyer club. However considering the demographic that lurks around here (families, fun-loving couples etc...) I'm sensing most of them aren't ending up sitting alone in the exit rows. Maybe thats why nobody is posting helpful information.
I did find this however, although not completely relevant to your question;

Airline: Southwest
Aircraft: Boeing 737-200
Best Seats: 11C, D
Worst Seats: 10B, E; 18B
Aircraft: Boeing 737-300
Best Seats: 2F
Worst Seats: 11B, E; 22E
Comments: This airline still has planes with seats facing backward in a "lounge" configuration -- our pick for worst seats. Every inch counts, so the plane to avoid is the 737-200, which has a seat pitch of only 31 inches, compared to 32 inches on the slightly longer 737-500 and 32.6 inches on the the newer 737-700.

Hope this helps...or something.

p.s. It's rare to see you venturing outside the Cruise boards. Kinda living on the wild side these days?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Barb --

I went onto Seatguru.com... I know they don't have Southwest, but I checked out other 737's... It would appear as if both the two seater, and the 3 seats in front of it have "limited recline" on all the other airlines. My best guess is that Southwest would be the same.

 

[inkkognito]

Thanks, Tyler! I might give the two-seater a try someday, as long as the ones in front of it probably have limited recline.
Yep,valeriekc, I'm hanging out at Transportation a lot more now that my husband and I are traveling so frequently to/from Orlando. I was an expert on ATA, but now that they are bye-bye, I'm finding out everything I need to know about SW here.
Barb

 

[dcandmc]

Comments: This airline still has planes with seats facing backward in a "lounge" configuration -- our pick for worst seats. Every inch counts, so the plane to avoid is the 737-200, which has a seat pitch of only 31 inches, compared to 32 inches on the slightly longer 737-500 and 32.6 inches on the the newer 737-700.

I'm pretty sure that Southwest no longer has any -200s in its inventory.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

From Southwest.com

Fleet:
Southwest currently operates 417 Boeing 737 jets (as of January 31, 2005).

TYPE NUMBER SEATS
737-300 194 137
737-500 25 122
737-700 198 137

• The Company's fleet has an average age of about 9 years.
• The average aircraft trip length is 576 miles with an average duration of more than one and one-half hours for 2004.
• Southwest aircraft fly an average of about 7 flights per day, or about 12.5 hours per day.
• Southwest was the launch customer for the Boeing 737-700 in 1997. Southwest was also a launch customer for the Boeing 737-500 and -300 series aircraft.
• Southwest is updating its traditional gold, red and orange paint scheme by adding canyon blue. All new aircraft will have the updated colors and interior. Existing aircraft will be retrofitted in 2005.
• Performance-enhancing Blended Winglets have been added to approximatley 92 percent of our fleet of 737-700s. The installations on the remaining 737-700s will be completed in 2005. All new 737-700 aircraft now arrive from Boeing with Blended Winglets installed.

 

[jetfxr69]

OK, here you go. The row in front of the two seat assembly on the right side overwing exit row (10 DEF) do NOT recline. They cannot recline because they would obstruct the egress through the overwing exit. The two seats at 11 DE do not recline either. The best spot is row 12F. It reclines and there is no seat in front of you. You can literally extend your legs straight out.

Either way, the seat pitch(space between rows) is the largest in the industry right now. unless you are 7 foot tall, you will be quite comfortable in any seat.

 

[inkkognito]

Thanks! That's just what I needed to know.
I am relatively short, so legroom is not such a big deal to me. But I do like exit rows because I prefer a window but often take the aisle because I usually need to visit the "facilities" at least once and hate to climb over people who might be sleeping or trying to use their tray tables. When I'm flying with my husband, the two seat might be good for us because that will eliminate climbing over someone else.
Other than my one exit row experience, we've mainly sat in row 4 or 5. As you say, the SW seat pitch is not bad. I usually have to recline a little to get comfy, but last flight I didn't need to do it at all, even though I was napping.
Barb