Air Europa 737-800 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
✈️ Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 — 186 seats (Air Europa) or 189 seats (Air Europa Express), all in one 3-3 cabin
Layout: 3-3 (A B C | D E F); business is the front rows with B and E blocked, behind a curtain that moves with demand
Version lottery: Minor — the 189-seat jets add a short row 32 at the back; everything else is the same
Best seats: business 1A, 1F · economy 15A–15F (exit row, about 38in, full recline)
Seats to avoid: 10A, 11A, 11F (no window) · row 14 (exit legroom, limited recline) · the last two or three rows (lavatories)
Entertainment: no seatback screens; free streaming to your own device · Wi-Fi: only on newer 737-800s
Pitch: about 31in in business and the front rows, 30in behind, 38in in the exit rows; every seat 17in wide
Sister guide: Air Europa 737 MAX 8 — the same seats and the same pitch, on a newer aircraft.
The catch: business class is the empty seat beside you
Air Europa sells business class on the 737-800, and it is the European kind: the same economy seat as everyone else, with the middle seat left empty. The airline’s own figures give business 31in of pitch against 30in in economy — one inch. What you are paying for is the empty middle seat, priority, lounge access where offered, and the meal and service, not a bigger seat.
That makes the exit rows the best seats on the aircraft for space. Row 15 has about 38in of legroom — seven more than business — and reclines fully. Row 14, in front of it, has the same legroom but does not fully recline, because row 15 is also an exit row. Row 13 also has limited recline.
186 seats or 189?
Air Europa’s own 737-800s carry 186 seats in rows 1–31. The 737-800s of its regional arm, Air Europa Express, carry 189: identical to row 31, then a short row 32 of three seats (A, B, C) against the rear lavatories. The 189-seat cabin is the same layout as the Air Europa 737 MAX 8.
On the 186-seat aircraft, rows 30 and 31 back directly onto the two rear lavatories, row 29 gets the queue, and row 31 does not recline. On the 189-seat aircraft, the lavatories sit behind the short row 32: 32A, 32B and 32C are narrower than standard and do not recline, and 31C–31F have the galley behind.
Business class
Usually rows 1–3, but the curtain moves forward or back with demand, so business can be a row or two longer or shorter. The seat is the standard 3-3 economy seat with B and E blocked. Row 1 has open floor ahead, but no seat in front, so the tray is in the armrest and there is no floor storage.
Best business seats
- 1A, 1F — first row, first off, with open floor ahead.
- 2A, 2F, 3A, 3F — window seats with storage under the seat in front.
Economy
Best economy seats
- 15A–15F — the second exit row: about 38in with a full recline. Air Europa sells it as an XL seat.
- 14A–14F — the same legroom, but limited recline. 14A and 14F have the window ahead of the seat.
- Rows 4–9 — about 31in, the extra inch over the rear cabin, and nearest the front door.
Economy seats to avoid
- 10A, 11A, 11F — no window. A blank wall just ahead of the exit rows.
- Row 13 — limited recline, because the exit row is behind.
- Rows 29–31 on the 186-seat aircraft; row 32 and 31C–31F on the 189 — lavatories or galley behind, and the last row does not recline.
- 5A, 5F, 8A, 8F — the window sits behind the seat.
737-800 or 737 MAX 8?
| 737-800 (186) | 737-800 Express (189) | 737 MAX 8 (189) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rows | 1–31 | 1–32 | 1–32 |
| Business | Blocked middle | Blocked middle | Blocked middle |
| Pitch | 31in front, 30in rear | 31in front, 30in rear | 31in front, 30in rear |
| Exit rows | 14 and 15 | 14 and 15 | 14 and 15 |
| Windowless seats | 10A, 11A, 11F | 10A, 11A, 11F | 10A, 11A, 11F |
| Last row | Row 31, six seats, no recline | Row 32, A–C only | Row 32, A–C only |
The seats and the spacing are the same. The MAX is newer, quieter and has larger overhead bins. Wi-Fi is fitted only on the newer 737-800s, so on an older -800 expect to stream only what is on board.
Quick-pick summary
| Travelling as | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Business | 1A or 1F | First off, open floor ahead |
| Legroom | 15A–15F | About 38in and a full recline |
| Window | 2A–9F (not 5A, 5F, 8A, 8F) | Ahead of the wing, extra inch of pitch |
| Avoid | 10A, 11A, 11F, row 13, last rows | No window, limited recline, lavatories |
Frequently asked questions
What is Air Europa business class like on the 737-800?
An economy seat with the middle seat blocked, at about 31in of pitch against 30in in economy. You get the empty seat, priority and the service, not a bigger seat.
Which Air Europa 737-800 seats have the most legroom?
The exit rows, 14 and 15, with about 38in. Row 15 reclines fully; row 14 does not.
Which seats have no window?
10A, 11A and 11F.
Does the Air Europa 737-800 have screens?
No. Films and TV stream free to your own device. Wi-Fi is fitted only on the newer 737-800s.
Is the Air Europa 737 MAX 8 better than the 737-800?
Marginally. The seats, pitch and exit rows are the same; the MAX is quieter and newer. See the Air Europa 737 MAX 8 guide.
Comparable guides
- Air Europa 737 MAX 8 — the same cabin on the newer aircraft
- Iberia A321XLR — a narrowbody with lie-flat business from Madrid
- Iberia A320neo — the other blocked-middle business class from Madrid
- Copa 737-800 — the 737-800 with a real business seat
- Aeromexico 737-800 — another 737-800 with exit-row recline traps