Southwest Seats That Don't Recline
Southwest operates 3 Boeing aircraft types, and each has a specific set of rows where the seat won't move. Exit rows, the rows in front of them, and the last row of each plane are the ones to know. Here's the complete breakdown.
Last updated: March 2026
Why do some seats not recline?
Exit rows: FAA rules require those seatbacks to stay upright so the exit path stays clear. This is non-negotiable and applies to all airlines.
Rows directly in front of exit rows: When exit row seats don't recline, the rows immediately in front of them often also have restricted recline — because the seat can't go back into the space that needs to stay clear for the exit.
Last row: The rearmost seats on most aircraft can't recline because the wall (or galley partition) behind them blocks the seatback from moving.
Boeing 737-700
137 seats · rows 1–27 · 11 seats that don't recline
Row 14
B, C, D, E, F
Near exit row. Seatbacks fixed to keep exit aisle clear.
Row 27
A, B, C, D, E, F
Last row area. Seatbacks fixed against rear galley/bulkhead wall.
Boeing 737-800
175 seats · rows 1–30 · 24 seats that don't recline
Row 12
A, B, C, D, E, F
Near exit row. Seatbacks fixed to keep exit aisle clear.
Row 13
A, B, C, D, E, F
Near exit row. Seatbacks fixed to keep exit aisle clear.
Row 14
A, B, C, D, E, F
Exit row. Extra legroom, but seatbacks do not recline.
Row 30
A, B, C, D, E, F
Last row area. Seatbacks fixed against rear galley/bulkhead wall.
Boeing 737 MAX 8
175 seats · rows 1–30 · 16 seats that don't recline
Row 13
A, B, C, D, E, F
Near exit row. Seatbacks fixed to keep exit aisle clear.
Row 14
A, B, C, D, E, F
Exit row. Extra legroom, but seatbacks do not recline.
Row 15
B, C, D, E
Exit row. Extra legroom, but seatbacks do not recline.
Does it actually matter?
On short flights (under about 2 hours), recline usually isn't a big deal. On longer Southwest routes — think Oakland to Orlando, or Chicago to Las Vegas — 3+ hours in a fixed-back seat gets uncomfortable, especially if you're over 6 feet tall or have lower back issues.
The exit rows are a special case. Many travelers prefer the extra legroom and don't mind the no-recline trade. If you're tall, the 3 extra inches in rows 14–15 makes more difference than recline does. But if you're hoping to lean back and nap in an exit row, you'll be disappointed.
The rows to always avoid
The worst no-recline seats aren't the exit rows — those at least have extra legroom as compensation. The worst are the rows immediately before exit rows (no legroom bonus, no recline) and the last rows of each aircraft (no recline, near the lavatory, last off the plane).
See recline status for every seat
Each seat map shows exactly which seats have limited recline, exit row status, and a 1-10 score with notes.