Air Canada 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
✈️ Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 — 298 seats: 30 Signature Class, 21 Premium Economy, 247 economy
Layout: Signature 1-2-1 reverse herringbone (A | D G | K), rows 1–8 · Premium Economy 2-3-2 (A C | D E G | H K), rows 12–14 · economy 3-3-3 (A B C | D E G | H J K), rows 18–46
Version lottery: No — one 787-9 layout. The lottery is between the 787-9, the smaller 787-8 and the new 787-10.
Best seats: Signature 1K, 8A, 8K · Premium Economy rows 13–14 pairs · economy 18D/18E/18G (29in to the wall), 33A/K, 37A/K, 41A/K
Seats to avoid: row 12 outboard (lavatory ahead) · rows 28–30 · 31A, 31K, 43A, 43K, 30A (no usable window) · rows 44–46
Entertainment: Panasonic eX3 seatback screens · Wi-Fi: 2Ku satellite
Part of the Air Canada 787 guide, which compares the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10. Sister guides: Air Canada 787-8 and Air Canada 787-10.
The catch: make sure it is the 787-9
Air Canada sells all three Dreamliners as “Boeing 787”. The 787-9 is the one you want over the 787-8: a bigger Signature Class cabin, a private two-seat row 1, a far better economy bulkhead and three rows of perfectly aligned economy windows. The 787-8’s worst surprise — two Signature seats with no window — does not exist here. The 787-10 is different again: newer suites with doors.
How to tell: 298 seats is the 787-9; 255 is the 787-8 and 332 the 787-10. On the seat map, a Signature cabin of eight rows with only 1A and 1K in row 1 is the 787-9.
Signature Class (rows 1–8)
30 Collins Super Diamond seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone, every one with direct aisle access: about 21in wide, a 79in flat bed, an 18in screen, 110V AC, USB-A and USB-C. No doors. A and K angle toward the window and work as solo seats; D and G form centre pairs.
Best Signature Class seats
- 1K — row 1 has only two seats, so there is no centre pair beside you, and the window lines up perfectly. The best seat on the aircraft.
- 8A, 8K — the other perfectly aligned windows, at the back of the cabin away from the forward galley.
- 2A, 2K, 3A, 3K, 4A, 4K, 7A, 7K — clean solo seats.
- 3D/3G, 4D/4G — the best centre pairs for couples.
Signature seats to watch
- 1A — the same private row as 1K, but beside the 2D bassinet position.
- 5A, 5K, 6A, 6K — badly aligned windows; 6A and 6K are the worst.
Premium Economy (rows 12–14)
21 Recaro recliners in 2-3-2 at about 38in of pitch, with a leg rest. Row 12 is the bulkhead directly behind the mid-cabin lavatories.
Best Premium Economy seats
- 13A/13C, 13H/13K, 14A/14C, 14H/14K — two-seat pairs clear of the lavatories.
- 13D, 13G — centre-block aisles.
Premium Economy seats to avoid
- 12A, 12C, 12H, 12K — immediately next to the lavatories: noise and a standing queue.
- 12D, 12E, 12G — lavatory traffic and the 12E bassinet; 14D, 14E, 14G have the economy bassinet behind.
Economy (rows 18–46)
3-3-3 at about 31in. Note the letters: the centre block is D E G, not D E F. Three lavatories sit mid-cabin ahead of row 31 and two more behind row 46.
Best economy seats
- 18D, 18E, 18G — the centre bulkhead has about 29in of clear floor to the wall, far more than a normal bulkhead. 18E is the bassinet.
- 18C, 18H — the wall only covers a quarter of the seat, so you get stretch room and the aisle.
- 33A/33K, 37A/37K, 41A/41K — the three rows with perfectly aligned windows.
- Rows 19–23 — clean rows near the front; the windows look over the wing.
- 31B, 31C, 31H, 31J — exit-row legroom without the door, though the lavatories are just ahead.
Economy seats to avoid
- Row 29 (B–K), all of row 30, and 28H, 28J, 28K — the mid-cabin lavatories are directly behind. 30A has no window at all.
- 31A and 31K — the exit door curves into the legroom and there is no usable window.
- 31D, 31E, 31G — about 30in of bulkhead legroom, but the lavatory is immediately ahead.
- 43A and 43K — no usable window.
- Rows 44, 45 and 46 — the rear lavatories. Row 45 has no A or K seat; row 46 is centre only.
- 24A/24K, 28A/28K, 32A/32K, 36A/36K, 40A/40K, 44A/44K — the window sits behind the seat. The pattern repeats every four rows.
Quick-pick summary
| Travelling as | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, Signature | 1K, then 8A or 8K | Private row, perfect window |
| Couple, Signature | 3D + 3G or 4D + 4G | Centre pair, clear of both galleys |
| Premium Economy | 13A + 13C or 14H + 14K | Pair, away from row 12 lavatories |
| Legroom, economy | 18D / 18E / 18G | 29in to the wall |
| Window, economy | 33A, 37A, 41A (or K) | Perfectly aligned windows |
| Avoid | Rows 28–30, 31A/K, 43A/K, rows 44–46 | Lavatories or no window |
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Air Canada flight is a 787-9?
Count the seats: 298 is the 787-9, 255 the 787-8 and 332 the 787-10. A Signature cabin of eight rows with only two seats in row 1 confirms the 787-9.
What is the best business class seat on the Air Canada 787-9?
1K. Row 1 has only two seats, the window lines up perfectly and, unlike 1A, it is not beside the bassinet position.
Which seats on the Air Canada 787-9 have no window?
30A has a blank wall; 31A, 31K, 43A and 43K have no usable view because the window sits well behind the seat. None of the Signature Class seats is windowless.
Is the Air Canada 787-9 exit row worth it?
Only the B, C, H and J seats in row 31. The window seats lose most of the legroom to the door and have no usable window, and the centre seats face a lavatory.
Does Air Canada’s 787-9 have business class seats with doors?
No. The Super Diamond seat has no door. Air Canada’s doored suites are on the 787-10.
Comparable guides
- Air Canada 787 guide — the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 compared
- Air Canada 787-8 — 255 seats and two Signature seats with no window
- Air Canada 787-10 — 332 seats, suites with doors
- United 787-9 — the version lottery on the main US rival
- WestJet 787-9 — the same Super Diamond seat on Canada’s other 787-9