Air Premia 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
✈️ Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9, four layouts — 309, 320, 326 or 344 seats, all Wide Premium and economy, no business class
Layout: Wide Premium 2-3-2 (A B | D E F | H J) · economy 3-3-3 (A B C | D E F | G H J)
Version lottery: Yes — economy pitch is about 35in on the 309, 33in on the 320 and 326, and 31in on the 344
Best seats: Wide Premium 3A, 3J · economy: the door 3 exit row, 26B, 26H (or 27B, 27H on the 344)
Seats to avoid: 5A, 5J on the 344 (Wide Premium, no window) · 36A, 36J on the 309 (no window) · the rows backing onto the mid-cabin lavatories
Entertainment: seatback touchscreens (13in Wide Premium, 12in economy) · Wi-Fi: on some aircraft, paid after a free messaging hour
Power: AC and USB at every seat
The catch: four layouts, one booking
Air Premia sells itself on space: wider premium seats than most airlines’ premium economy, and economy legroom of “more than 33 inches”. On most of the fleet that is true. But Air Premia has grown by adding second-hand 787-9s, and they did not all arrive in the same shape. It now flies four layouts:
| Layout | Wide Premium | Premium pitch | Economy | Economy pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 309 seats | 56 seats, rows 1–8 | about 42in | 253 seats, rows 10–39 | about 35in |
| 320 seats | 56 seats, rows 1–8 | about 43in | 264 seats, rows 9–40 | about 33in |
| 326 seats | 35 seats, rows 1–5 | about 46in | 291 seats | about 33in |
| 344 seats | 35 seats, rows 1–5 | about 46in | 309 seats, rows 6–42 | about 31in |
Four inches separates the best economy on the 309-seat jet from the worst on the 344. That is the difference between a genuinely roomy seat and a standard long-haul one, and it can happen on the same route at the same fare. The 344-seat aircraft came from Norwegian and are being refitted to 326 seats, which brings their economy up to about 33in. Until that work is finished, any flight can still turn up with one.
There is a second trade-off. The 326 and 344 have fewer Wide Premium seats (35 rather than 56) but give each one far more legroom, about 46in. If you are paying for Wide Premium, the jets with the worst economy have the best premium seats.
How to tell which layout you are on
- Count the Wide Premium rows on the seat map. Eight rows (1–8) means the 309 or the 320. Five rows (1–5) means the 326 or the 344.
- Then look at where economy ends. Economy ending at row 39 is the 309. Ending at row 40, with short three-seat rows 9 and 10 at the front, is the 320. Ending at row 42 is the 344.
- The aircraft can change. Air Premia rarely shows the registration in advance, and a swap can move you between layouts. Re-check the seat map a day or two before you fly.
Wide Premium
Wide Premium (formerly Premia 42) is a 2-3-2 recliner with a leg rest and a 13in screen, at 42in of pitch or more. It is premium economy, not business class: there is no flat bed. On routes to the Americas it includes two 32 kg checked bags, two 10 kg carry-ons, two meals with alcohol, and priority check-in and boarding. E is the only middle seat, and the A–B and H–J window pairs are the best seats for a couple.
Best Wide Premium seats
- 3A, 3J — on the 309 and 320, the best window pairs in the cabin, mid-cabin and away from the lavatories.
- 7A, 7J — on the 320, the other clean window pair.
- 4A, 4J — on the 344, the best window seats in the smaller cabin, with about 46in of pitch.
Wide Premium seats to avoid
- 5A, 5J on the 344 — no window. A blank stretch of wall in the premium cabin.
- 1H, 1J — on every layout, a lavatory sits directly ahead. 1A and 1B share the problem on the 320 and 344.
- Row 1 generally — bulkhead legroom, but no floor storage for take-off and landing.
Economy
3-3-3, about 18in wide, with the pitch set by the layout. On routes to the Americas the Standard and Flex fares include two 23 kg checked bags and two meals; alcohol is paid. The Lite fare includes one bag and charges for seat selection. Lavatories sit in a block at door 3 and at the very back, so the rows backing onto them are the ones to avoid.
309 seats (economy about 35in)
Best economy seats
- 26B, 26H — the door 3 exit row: a long run of open floor ahead. Screens and trays fold out of the armrests.
- 10D, 10E, 10F — centre bulkhead, about 33in to the wall; 10A–10C and 10G–10J have about 31in. Bassinets mount at 10A, 10E and 10H, so families have priority here.
- 29A, 29J — the best-placed economy windows.
Economy seats to avoid
- 36A, 36J — no window.
- 26A, 26J — exit legroom, but the door curves in from 14–16in ahead.
- 26D, 26E, 26F — the lavatory block is directly ahead.
- Rows 24–25 and rows 37–39 — lavatories immediately behind.
320 seats (economy about 33in)
Best economy seats
- 26B, 26H — exit-row legroom with open floor ahead.
- 9A, 9B — extra legroom and open floor at the head of a three-seat section behind Wide Premium.
- 12A, 32A, 32J — the best-placed economy windows.
Economy seats to avoid
- 11G, 11H, 11J — a lavatory directly ahead.
- 26A, 26J — the door in the legroom; 26D–26F — lavatories ahead.
- Rows 24–25 and 38–40 — lavatories behind.
344 seats (economy about 31in)
Best economy seats
- 27B, 27H — the door 3 exit row, and on this layout the only real legroom in economy.
- 6G, 6H, 6J — extra legroom at the front of economy.
- 28A, 28J, 35A, 35J — the best-placed economy windows.
Economy seats to avoid
- 11G, 11H, 11J — a lavatory directly ahead.
- 27A, 27J — the door in the legroom; 27D–27F — lavatories ahead.
- Rows 25–26 and 40–42 — lavatories behind.
The 326-seat layout has the 344’s Wide Premium cabin and about 33in in economy. We do not yet have a seat-by-seat map of it; the same principles apply — the door 3 exit row for legroom, and nothing backing onto a lavatory.
Wide Premium or economy?
| Economy | Wide Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat | 3-3-3, about 18in wide | 2-3-2, about 19–20in wide, leg rest |
| Pitch | 31–35in by layout | 42–46in by layout |
| Screen | 12in | 13in |
| Checked bags (Americas) | 2 x 23 kg (Standard / Flex) | 2 x 32 kg |
| Meals (Americas) | 2 meals; alcohol paid | 2 meals; alcohol included |
| Seat selection | Paid on Lite; partly free on Standard | Partly free; free on Flex |
| Priority check-in and boarding | No | Yes |
If you would otherwise pay for an exit-row economy seat, price Wide Premium too: on a 344-seat jet it is the difference between 31in and 46in.
Quick-pick summary
| Travelling as | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Couple, Wide Premium | 3A + 3B or 3H + 3J | Window pair, mid-cabin |
| Solo, Wide Premium | Any D or F aisle | Aisle without a lavatory queue at row 1 |
| Legroom, economy | 26B / 26H (27B / 27H on the 344) | Exit row with open floor |
| Window, economy | 29A or 29J on the 309 | Best-placed glass |
| Avoid | 5A/5J (344), 36A/36J (309), rows behind the lavatories | No window, or queues beside you |
Frequently asked questions
Does Air Premia have business class?
No. Every Air Premia 787-9 has two cabins: Wide Premium (premium economy) and economy. There is no lie-flat seat.
How much legroom does Air Premia economy have?
It depends on the aircraft: about 35in on the 309-seat layout, about 33in on the 320 and 326, and about 31in on the 344. The airline advertises more than 33 inches; the 344s are being refitted to reach it.
Where does Air Premia fly in the US?
From Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newark, Washington Dulles and Honolulu.
Which Air Premia seats have no window?
On the 344-seat layout, Wide Premium 5A and 5J. On the 309-seat layout, economy 36A and 36J.
Is food included on Air Premia?
On routes to the Americas, yes: two meals in both cabins on most fares. Alcohol is included in Wide Premium and paid in economy. On shorter Asian routes, economy meals may be paid.
Comparable guides
- ZIPAIR 787-8 — Japan’s low-cost long-haul airline, with lie-flat seats and everything else extra
- French bee A350-900 — low-cost long-haul with premium economy, across the Atlantic and to Tahiti
- French bee A350-1000 — the same model on a bigger aircraft
- Korean Air 787-9 — the full-service alternative from Incheon
- Asiana A350-900 — Incheon to the US with business class and Economy Smartium