Arajet Boeing 737 MAX 8 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8 — four cabin plans: two at 185 seats (8 front cabin + 177 economy), two at 189 (all economy)
Version lottery: Yes — the exit rows, the windowless seats and the front of the cabin all change between plans. No count by plan is published
Best economy row: row 16 on three plans · row 17 on the 189-seat plan with no row 13
Lottery-proof window: 5F — rated green on all four plans
Seats to avoid: 11A, 11F (185 seats) or 12A, 12F (189 seats) — no window · the last two rows on every plan
Lavatories: three on every plan — one forward, two aft
IFE: none · Wi-Fi: none
Four plans, one aircraft type
Arajet has built its 737 MAX 8 fleet quickly, and not every aircraft came out the same. There are four cabin plans in service. The differences look small on paper — four seats one way or the other — and they move the rows that matter most.
| 185 — A | 185 — B | 189 — has row 13 | 189 — no row 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front cabin | 8 seats, 2-2, rows 1–2 | 8 seats, 2-2, rows 1–2 | None | None |
| Row 13 | No | No | Yes | No |
| Exit rows | 15 and 16 | 15 and 16 | 15 and 16 | 16 and 17 |
| Best economy row | 16 | 16 | 16 (B–E) | 17 |
| No window | 11A, 11F | 11A, 11F | 12A, 12F | 12A, 12F |
| First economy row | Row 3: half green, half yellow | Row 3: 50cm (20in) to the wall | Row 1 (A–C) and 2D–2F | Row 1 (A–C) and 2D–2F |
| Extra-pitch seats up front | None; rows 9–14 tighter | None | 3D–6F and 4A | None |
How to tell which one you are on
Open the seat map when you book or check in, and ask two questions.
1. Are the first two rows four seats wide? If rows 1 and 2 are a 2-2 front cabin, you are on one of the 185-seat plans. The row numbers below apply to both A and B, and the only seats that differ between them are row 3, 1D and 1F, and row 33 — so treat row 3 as a risk and everything else as known.
2. If the whole map is 3-3, does it have a row 13? If the rows go 12, 13, 14, you are on the 189-seat plan with a row 13, and row 16 is your exit row. If they jump from 12 to 14, you are on the 189-seat plan without one, and every row from 14 back is numbered one higher — row 17 is your exit row.
The trap: row 16
On the MAX 8, the two overwing exit rows have the same legroom and only the second one reclines — the first has to keep a clear path for the row behind. That makes the second exit row the best economy row on the aircraft.
On three of Arajet’s four plans, the exit rows are 15 and 16, so row 16 is the one to book. On the 189-seat plan with no row 13, the missing number shifts everything back by one: the exit rows are 16 and 17, and row 16 is the one that cannot recline.
| Seat | 185 A | 185 B | 189 with row 13 | 189 no row 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15C | Exit row, no full recline | Exit row, no full recline | Exit row, no full recline | Ordinary row, no full recline |
| 16C | Exit row, full recline — green | Exit row, full recline — green | Exit row, full recline — green | Exit row, no full recline |
| 17C | Ordinary row | Ordinary row | Ordinary row | Exit row, full recline — green |
If you have booked 16C and the aircraft changes, check the map again. The seat number survives the swap; the seat does not always.
One more detail on the 189-seat plan with a row 13: 16A and 16F have the window set behind the seat and are rated yellow. The four seats between them are green.
The 185-seat plans: front cabin and row 3
Both 185-seat plans put an eight-seat, 2-2 front cabin in rows 1 and 2, lettered A C | D F, so no seat has a middle neighbour. On plan A, 1A, 1C, 1D and 1F lead the cabin and are rated green. On plan B, 1D and 1F have the forward galley in front of them and drop to yellow, leaving 1A and 1C as the front-row picks.
Row 3 is the first economy row and the biggest difference between the two:
| Plan | Row 3 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 185 — A | 3A, 3D, 3F have extra legroom and are green; 3B, 3C, 3E have no underseat storage and the tray in the armrest | Half a good row |
| 185 — B | All six sit 50cm (20in) from the wall, with no underseat storage | The tightest row on the aircraft |
Because you cannot tell A from B on a booking map, do not pay extra for row 3 on a 185-seat aircraft.
On plan A, rows 9 to 14 are also drawn tighter than the rest of the cabin — about 28in, two inches under the standard. Rows 16 onward are the roomier half of economy on that plan.
The 189-seat plans: the front of the cabin
On both all-economy plans, row 1 is three seats, 1A, 1B and 1C, and the right side starts at 2D, 2E and 2F. All six are bulkheads with extra legroom, no underseat storage and the tray in the armrest, and all six are rated yellow.
The plan with a row 13 has a genuine bonus behind them: 3D, 3E, 3F, 4A, 4D, 4E, 4F, 5D, 5E, 5F, 6D, 6E and 6F are marked at 31–33in, up to four inches more than the cabin standard, and all thirteen are rated green. The plan without a row 13 has no such block.
Seats to avoid on every plan
The windowless pair. On the 185-seat plans, 11A and 11F have a blank wall where the window should be. On the 189-seat plans the same position is numbered 12A and 12F. All four are rated red, and the move between them is another reason to recheck the map after a swap.
The back rows. Two lavatories stand behind the last row on every plan, and the last two rows carry the penalty. On the 185-seat plans row 33 is three seats, 33A to 33C, none of which reclines. On the 189-seat plans the last two rows are red across the board: 31 and 32 with a row 13, 32 and 33 without.
Seats that hold up across all four
If you do not know which aircraft you will get, 5F is rated green on every one of the four plans — a well-aligned window near the front, not a bulkhead and not an exit row. 20A and 20F are green on three of the four — every plan except the 189-seat one with no row 13.
What is on board
There are no seatback screens and no Wi-Fi on Arajet’s 737 MAX 8s. Bring downloaded content and a charged device.
Quick-pick summary
| Travelling as | 185-seat plans | 189 with row 13 | 189 without row 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legroom first | 16C or 16D | 16C or 16D | 17C or 17D |
| Window | 5A, 5F, 8A or 8F | 4A, 5F or 6F | 4A, 5F or 17A |
| Legroom without an exit row | Front cabin | 4D–6F | 2D–2F, no bag space |
| Avoid | 11A, 11F, row 3, row 33 | 12A, 12F, rows 31–32 | 12A, 12F, row 16, rows 32–33 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best economy seat on the Arajet 737 MAX 8?
Usually row 16 — the second exit row, with extra legroom and a full recline. On the 189-seat plan with no row 13, the exit rows are 16 and 17, and row 17 is the one to book.
How do I know which Arajet 737 MAX 8 layout I have?
Check the seat map. A 2-2 front cabin in rows 1 and 2 means a 185-seat plan. An all-3-3 map with a row 13 is the 189-seat plan with exit rows 15 and 16; one that jumps from row 12 to row 14 is the 189-seat plan with exit rows 16 and 17.
Which seats on the Arajet 737 MAX 8 have no window?
11A and 11F on the 185-seat aircraft, and 12A and 12F on the 189-seat aircraft. Both pairs have a blank wall where the window should be.
Does Arajet have business class on the 737 MAX 8?
Some aircraft have an eight-seat 2-2 front cabin in rows 1 and 2, with no middle seats. Others are all economy with 189 seats.
Is there a seat that is good on every Arajet 737 MAX 8?
5F is rated green on all four cabin plans.
Does Arajet have Wi-Fi or seatback screens?
No. Arajet’s 737 MAX 8s have neither.