We recently flew from Aruba (AUA) to Orlando (MCO) on a Southwest 737-700 that had clearly seen some miles—and years. Looking up the tail number (N480WN), we found out this aircraft first flew in 2005. That makes it 20 years old… and it felt like it.
An Aging Cabin That Shows Its Age
Southwest still operates a large fleet of 737-700s, but they’re usually assigned to shorter hops within the U.S. This particular plane isn’t often used for longer flights, such as our 3-hour trek from the Caribbean. And while the flight was smooth and the crew was great (as usual), the aircraft itself left a lot to be desired.
Here’s what stood out:
- The cabin had an older, dated interior with worn seats and tray tables
- No in-seat power or USB ports
- No phone holders or modern touches
- And those old overhead bins that force rollaboards in sideways, using up valuable space fast
It’s not just a cosmetic issue. With Southwest boarding being what it is, those overhead bins created a real bottleneck, slowing down the process for everyone behind.
Change Is Coming, but Slowly
We know the clock is ticking on these planes. According to Southwest’s fleet plan, the airline aims to retire its entire 737 Next Generation (NG) fleet, including all 700s, by 2031 and become an all-MAX operator. So while they’ll eventually need to update the interiors when they roll out new extra-legroom seating, it seems unlikely they’ll put much more money into these older aircraft in the meantime.
Then again, with all the changes Southwest is making lately—from new boarding policies to fare structure experiments—it’s hard to say for sure what’s coming next.
All in all, we got where we needed to go, but the experience felt more “vintage” than “reliable.” Hopefully, our next Southwest flight is on something a little newer—or at least has bins that fit bags without a game of luggage Tetris.
Some travelers say they prefer these older cabins for their extra padding or slightly more legroom, but there’s no denying that when it comes to tech, storage, and overall comfort, newer jets win out. What about you—do you mind flying on older aircraft, or do you try to avoid them when possible?
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