American Airlines 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
American flies two 787-9 layouts. This guide covers the 285-seat 787-9 with Super Diamond business seats. If your seat map shows 244 seats and two business cabins, you are on the 787-9P with Flagship Suites — see the American Airlines 787-9P guide.
✈️ Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 — 285 seats: 30 business, 21 Premium Economy, 234 Main Cabin (36 of them Main Cabin Extra)
Layout: business 1-2-1 (A | D H | L), rows 1–8 · Premium Economy 2-3-2 (A C | D E H | J L), rows 9–11 · Main Cabin 3-3-3 (A B C | D E H | J K L), rows 12–39
Version lottery: Yes — the 244-seat 787-9P has Flagship Suites with doors. 285 seats means this aircraft.
Best seats: business 1A, 1L (great windows), 8A, 8L · Premium Economy row 10 pairs · Main Cabin Extra 13B–13K, 14B–14K (about 35in) · economy 30A/L, 33A/L, 37L
Seats to avoid: 9A, 9L (9C, 9J with care) · rows 21–23 · 24A, 24L (exit door, no usable window) · 37B, 37C, 38D, 39D
Entertainment: Panasonic seatback screens · Wi-Fi: Viasat Ka-band satellite
The catch: two 787-9s
American sells both of its 787-9 layouts as “Boeing 787-9”. This one, with 285 seats, has 30 lie-flat Super Diamond seats with direct aisle access but no doors. The 244-seat 787-9P has 51 Flagship Suites with doors. The fastest tell is Premium Economy: row 9 here, row 15 on the 787-9P.
Business class (rows 1–8)
30 Collins Super Diamond seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone, all with direct aisle access. Row 8 is window seats only (8A, 8L). Two quirks: there is no privacy divider between the D and H centre seats, and there are no overhead bins above 1D, 1H, 2D and 2H, where the crew rest sits.
Best business seats
- 1A, 1L — the only business windows with a great view.
- 8A, 8L — the last row has only these two seats, with no centre pair alongside.
- 2A–4A, 2L–4L, 6A, 6L, 7A, 7L — clean window seats, all rated well.
- 3D/3H, 4D/4H, 5D/5H — centre pairs for two; with no divider, they suit couples, not strangers.
Business seats to watch
- 5A, 5L — the windows are misaligned, so you lean forward to see out.
- Any centre seat if travelling alone — no divider from the stranger beside you.
Premium Economy (rows 9–11)
21 recliners in 2-3-2 at about 38in of pitch. Row 9 is the bulkhead directly behind the mid-cabin business lavatories.
Best Premium Economy seats
- 10A/10C, 10J/10L — pairs clear of the lavatories and bassinets.
- 11A/11C, 11J/11L — pairs; the Main Cabin Extra bassinet is behind the centre of the row, not the sides.
Premium Economy seats to avoid
- 9A, 9L — rated avoid: next to the lavatory door, with a misaligned window. 9C, 9J are rated ‘be aware’ for the same lavatory door.
- 9D, 9E, 9H — lavatory traffic and the 9D bassinet.
- 11D, 11E, 11H — the 12D bassinet is directly behind.
Main Cabin Extra (rows 12–14 and 24)
36 seats sold as extra legroom. Rows 13 and 14 measure about 35in and are the best of them. Row 12 is the bulkhead, and row 24 is the exit row.
Best Main Cabin Extra seats
- 13B–13K, 14B–14K — about 35in, a seat in front, floor storage.
- 12C, 12J — bulkhead aisles with a partial wall, so extra room on one side.
Main Cabin Extra seats to avoid
- 24A and 24L — the exit door takes 80–85% of the seat width and there is no usable window.
- 24D, 24E, 24H — the lavatories are immediately ahead.
- 12D — the bassinet position.
Main Cabin (rows 15–39)
3-3-3 at about 31in. Four lavatories sit mid-cabin ahead of row 24 and one more at the back on the left, behind row 39. Row 23 is the centre block only; rows 38 and 39 are D, E and H only.
Best Main Cabin seats
- 30A, 30L, 33A, 33L, 26L — windows with a great view.
- 37L — a great window, and the rear lavatory is on the other side.
- Rows 16–20 — clean rows ahead of the lavatories.
Main Cabin seats to avoid
- Rows 21, 22 and 23 — the mid-cabin lavatories are directly behind. Row 22 is the worst row on the aircraft.
- 37A, 37B, 37C, 38D, 39D — the rear lavatory is directly behind.
- 15A, 15L, 22A, 22L, 25A, 25L, 32A, 32L — the window sits behind the seat.
Quick-pick summary
| Travelling as | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, business | 1A or 1L, then 8A / 8L | Great window; or the two-seat last row |
| Couple, business | 4D + 4H | Centre pair, no divider needed |
| Premium Economy | 10A + 10C or 10J + 10L | Pair, clear of lavatories |
| Legroom, economy | 13B–13K, 14B–14K | About 35in |
| Window, economy | 30A, 33A, 37L | Great view |
| Avoid | 9A/9L (9C/9J with care), rows 21–23, 24A/24L | Lavatories, door |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between American’s 787-9 and 787-9P?
The 787-9 has 285 seats with 30 business seats without doors. The 787-9P has 244 seats with 51 Flagship Suites with doors and a larger Premium Economy cabin. See the 787-9P guide.
Does the American 787-9 have lie-flat seats?
Yes. All 30 business seats are lie-flat with direct aisle access, but there are no doors.
Which rows are Main Cabin Extra on the American 787-9?
Rows 12, 13, 14 and 24. Rows 13 and 14 are the best, at about 35in.
Which seats should I avoid on the American 787-9?
Premium Economy 9A and 9L (and 9C/9J with care); Main Cabin rows 21–23; and 24A and 24L, where the exit door intrudes and there is no usable window.
Comparable guides
- American Airlines 787-9P — the 244-seat version with Flagship Suites
- American Airlines 787-8
- American Airlines 777-300ER
- United 787-9 — the rival with its own version lottery
- Air Canada 787-9 — the same Super Diamond seat