If you’ve spent any time at a Southwest gate lately, you’ve seen it. That slightly shorter, stubbier plane that seems to be everywhere from Love Field to LAX. That’s the -700. While the newer MAX 8 gets all the headlines for its quiet engines and fancy mood lighting, the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 700 interior is where the real "everyday" flying happens for millions of passengers. It’s the backbone of the operation. Honestly, it’s a bit of a time capsule, but in a way that feels familiar rather than dated.
Most people don't realize that Southwest was actually the launch customer for the 737-700 back in the late 90s. They’ve been flying these things for decades. Because of that, the interior experience can vary wildly depending on whether you’ve stepped onto a plane that just got a refresh or one that’s still rocking the older "Evolve" seats.
The Reality of the Cabin Layout
The -700 is smaller than its siblings, the -800 and the MAX. You’re looking at 143 seats in a standard 3-3 configuration. It’s tight. There is no first class. There are no "preferred" sections other than the exit rows. If you’re used to the extra legroom sections on United or Delta, the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 700 interior might feel a bit democratic—or cramped, depending on your perspective.
Seat pitch usually hovers around 31 inches. That’s the industry standard for low-cost carriers, but because the seats are relatively slim, it feels okay for a two-hour hop. If you’re tall, you’re going to want to aim for Row 1 or the exit row at Row 11. But keep in mind, Row 11 seats don't recline because they are in front of another exit row. It's a trade-off. You get the legroom, but you’re sitting bolt upright for the whole flight to Phoenix.
The overhead bins are the older style. They don’t "pivot" down like the Boeing Sky Interior (BSI) bins on the newer planes. They’re just shelves. If you’re in one of the later boarding groups (C-group folks, I’m looking at you), finding space for a roller bag in a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 700 interior is basically a blood sport. The bins are smaller, and they fill up fast.
The Evolution of the "Heart" Interior
Southwest has been slowly rolling out the "Heart" interior across the fleet. It’s named after their branding, obviously. This update brought in the blue synthetic leather seats and the "sculpted" sidewalls.
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I’ve noticed that the newer seats feel thinner. Southwest claims they are "ergonomic," but after ninety minutes, your lower back might disagree. They use a bottom seat cushion that’s a bit firmer than the old plush navy blue cloth seats from ten years ago. Those cloth seats are almost entirely gone now, replaced by the Evolve and Heart designs.
Power and Connectivity (Or Lack Thereof)
Here is the kicker: most of the -700s still don't have power outlets. It’s 2026, and we are still tethered to portable power banks. Southwest is currently in the middle of a massive retrofit program to bring USB-A and USB-C ports to the fleet, but the -700s are often the last in line.
- WiFi: It’s there, usually. It costs $8 for the day.
- Entertainment: You use your own device. There are no screens in the seatbacks.
- Live TV: This is actually a bright spot. You can stream live TV to your phone or iPad for free.
If you happen to catch a -700 that hasn't been through the latest maintenance cycle, the windows might look a little scratched, and the plastic molding around the tray tables might show some yellowing. It’s a workhorse. These planes fly six or seven segments a day. They get beat up.
The Infamous Middle Seat
Because Southwest doesn't assign seats, the interior of a 737-700 becomes a psychological experiment. The middle seat is 17.8 inches wide. That is not a lot of space. The -700 cabin feels narrower than the MAX because it lacks the recessed sidewalls that give you an extra half-inch of shoulder room.
If you find yourself in the middle, the armrests are shared. Standard unwritten rule of the sky: the middle person gets both armrests. In the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 700 interior, those armrests are plastic and narrow. You'll likely be rubbing shoulders with your neighbor.
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The tray tables are standard fold-down affairs. They’re large enough for a tablet or a small laptop, but don't expect to set up a full workstation. The "indent" for a drink is shallow. One bit of turbulence and that ginger ale is in your lap.
Galley and Lavatory Limitations
There are two lavatories on this aircraft. One in the front, one in the back. That’s it. For 143 people. If you’re sitting in the middle of the cabin, getting to the bathroom involves a long walk down a very narrow aisle.
The galleys are small too. This is why you’ll only ever get a bag of pretzels or a small snack mix on Southwest. There simply isn’t room in the -700 galley to prep anything substantial. The flight attendants work out of a space that's roughly the size of a walk-in closet. It’s impressive they get the drinks out as fast as they do.
Why the -700 Still Matters
You might think I’m being hard on the -700. I’m not. There’s a certain charm to it. It’s a simpler era of flying. You get on, you find a seat, you fly. There are no complicated upgrades to worry about or "Basic Economy" vs "Main Cabin" distinctions.
The air conditioning on these older 737s can be... aggressive. It’s often either freezing or slightly stuffy until the engines really get going. And the noise level? It’s loud. Without the advanced serrated edges (chevrons) on the engine nacelles like you see on the MAX, the 737-700 interior is a noisy place. Noise-canceling headphones aren't just a luxury here; they’re a survival tool.
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Maintenance and Safety
People often ask if these older interiors mean the plane is less safe. Absolutely not. The FAA and Southwest’s own maintenance crews are meticulous. The interior might look a bit tired, but the bones are solid. The Boeing 737-700 has one of the best safety records in aviation history.
What you're seeing in the cabin is purely aesthetic wear and tear. A carpet snag or a loose magazine pocket doesn't mean the engines aren't in top shape. It just means the plane has had a busy month.
Pro-Tips for Your Next -700 Flight
If you see on your boarding pass or the Southwest app that your equipment is a 737-700, here is how you handle it:
- Check the tail number if you can. If the plane has the "Heart" livery on the outside, there's a much better chance the interior has been refreshed recently.
- Bring a battery pack. Don't count on having a plug. Even if you're on a plane that's supposedly been retrofitted, sometimes the ports don't work.
- Sit toward the front if you have a tight connection. The -700 only has one door for deplaning. If you're in Row 24, it's going to take you 15 minutes to get off that aircraft.
- Download the Southwest app before you board. You can't access the free movies or TV without it, and the onboard WiFi is sometimes too slow to download the app once you’re in the air.
The Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 700 interior is a testament to the "bus in the sky" philosophy. It isn't luxury. It isn't cutting-edge. But it's reliable. It gets you from point A to point B without the pretension of more expensive carriers. Just pack your own snacks, charge your phone, and hope for an A-group boarding position so you can snag that elusive exit row.
Actionable Insights for Travelers
- Measure your carry-on: If your bag is even slightly over-stuffed, it might not fit in the older -700 bins. They are shallower than the "Space Bins" found on newer aircraft.
- Monitor the seat map: Use sites like AeroLOPA to see the specific layout of the -700. Unlike SeatGuru, AeroLOPA provides more accurate interior dimensions for the newer seat types.
- Hydrate early: With only two bathrooms and 143 passengers, the line can get long quickly, especially after the first drink service.
- Dress in layers: The temperature control on the older 737-700 models is notoriously inconsistent compared to the newer 737-800 or MAX 8 fleets.