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Southwest Airlines has completed the installation of extra-legroom seats on all its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which are used for flights to and from Hawaii. This development is part of a broader effort by the Dallas-based airline to reconfigure its entire fleet with more spacious seating before it introduces assigned seating in late January 2026.
Currently, Southwest continues to operate under its open seating policy. As a result, passengers who board early have the opportunity to select these extra-legroom seats at no additional cost. The new configuration is not limited to Hawaii routes; as of September 8, nearly half—about 47%—of Southwest’s planes have been retrofitted with the upgraded seating arrangement.
In addition to increased legroom, the revamped cabins feature in-seat power outlets and larger overhead bins on all MAX 8 jets serving longer routes. On retrofitted MAX 8 and Boeing 737-800 planes, there are now five rows with extra legroom at the front and three additional rows near the mid-cabin emergency exit. These remain standard coach seats but offer more space for travelers.
