Southwest 737 MAX 7 Seat Guide: What to Expect (2026)
Preview guide. This aircraft is not flying passengers yet (certified in August 2026; no passenger flights scheduled before spring 2027). Everything below is what the airline has announced or what has been reported, and we say which is which. There are no row numbers yet because no seat map has been published. We will add a row-by-row seat map to this page when the aircraft enters service.
✈️ Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 7, the smallest 737 MAX
Status: FAA-certified on 3 August 2026, with Southwest as launch customer. No passenger flights scheduled through March 2027.
Reported layout: about 148 seats, all economy, 3-3. Southwest has not published it.
Seat types: Extra Legroom (front rows and exit rows), Preferred and Standard
Power: USB-A and USB-C at every seat on Southwest’s new MAX interior
Replaces: the 737-700, Southwest’s smallest aircraft today
Where the MAX 7 stands
After nearly a decade of delays, the FAA certified the 737 MAX 7 on 3 August 2026, and Southwest is its launch customer. But certification is not the same as service. Southwest has said passenger flights begin three to six months after its first delivery, and its schedule through March 2027 has no MAX 7 flights. Expect to see it on sale for spring 2027 or later.
What the cabin will look like
Southwest has not published a MAX 7 seat map. Reports from 2024 put the layout at 148 seats, two fewer than the original plan, to make room for Extra Legroom rows. That compares with 137 seats on the 737-700 it replaces and about 175 on the 737 MAX 8.
| 737-700 today | 737 MAX 7 (reported) | 737 MAX 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 137 | About 148 | About 175 |
| Layout | 3-3 | 3-3 | 3-3 |
| Assigned seating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extra Legroom | Front rows and exit rows | Front rows and exit rows | Front rows and exit rows |
Since 27 January 2026 every Southwest seat is assigned and sold in three tiers: Extra Legroom in the front rows and exit rows, Preferred seats near the front, and Standard seats behind. Extra Legroom was planned at about 34in of pitch against about 31in for standard seats. Expect the MAX 7 to follow the same pattern.
Southwest fits a new interior to every new 737 MAX: Recaro R2 seats with both USB-A and USB-C power and a holder for your phone or tablet. The MAX 7 should arrive with it.
What to expect when you book
- Extra Legroom in the exit rows: as on every 737, the row in front of an exit row usually cannot fully recline. Check which side of the exit you are on.
- A shorter cabin: fewer rows than the MAX 8, so the rear rows are closer to the front. The last row will sit against the rear lavatories and galley, as on the 737-700.
- Same fare rules: the MAX 7 uses the same fares and seat tiers as the rest of the fleet.
We will publish the row numbers, exit rows and any windowless seats once the MAX 7 flies. Until then, the Southwest 737-700 guide is the closest match.
Frequently asked questions
When will Southwest fly the 737 MAX 7?
Not before spring 2027. The aircraft is certified, but Southwest has scheduled no MAX 7 flights through March 2027.
How many seats will the Southwest 737 MAX 7 have?
About 148, according to reports from 2024. Southwest has not confirmed the final number.
Does the Southwest 737 MAX 7 have Extra Legroom seats?
Expect so. Every Southwest aircraft now has Extra Legroom seats at the front and in the exit rows.
Is the 737 MAX 7 replacing the 737-700?
Yes. The MAX 7 is the newer, more efficient version of Southwest’s smallest aircraft.
Comparable guides
- Southwest 737-700 — the aircraft the MAX 7 replaces
- Southwest 737 MAX 8 — the larger MAX, with the same new interior
- Southwest assigned seating — how Extra Legroom, Preferred and Standard work
- Southwest 737 comparison — every Southwest 737 side by side
- WestJet 737-700 — another 737-700 operator