China Eastern A320neo Seat Selection Guide (2026)
✈️ Quick Verdict
Aircraft: Airbus A320neo, three delivery batches
Configuration: 8 Business / 150 or 156 Economy = 158 or 164 seats
Layout: Business 2-2 (A C | J L); Economy 3-3 (A B C | J K L)
Version lottery: Yes — three batches, and two of them look identical
Best seats: Row 38 for legroom; 32A/32L for a window
Seats to avoid: Row 31 (cramped bulkhead); row 55 J/K/L; row 56 on the latest batch
Row numbering: Business 6–7, then Economy from 31. No D, E, F, H or I
Wi-Fi: None fitted
China Eastern has taken the A320neo in three batches, and they are not the same aeroplane. The third is easy to spot and easy to prefer. The first two are the interesting problem: same rows, same 158 seats, same everything a booking screen will show you — and a meaningfully different experience if you are sitting by a window.
The three batches
| Batch 1 | Batch 2 | Batch 3 (latest) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 158 | 158 | 164 |
| Economy rows | 31–55 | 31–55 | 31–56 |
| Exit rows | 38, 39 | 38, 39 | 38, 39 |
| Poorly-rated seats | 12 | 12 | None |
| Well-aligned windows | Fewest | Eight more than batch 1 | Most |
| Published fleet count | Not published | Not published | 22 aircraft |
Only the third batch has a published fleet count — 22 aircraft. There is no count for the first two, so there is no honest way to tell you how likely you are to be on any one of them. Use the identification tells below instead of playing odds.
How to tell which batch you are on
⚠️ You can spot batch 3. You cannot spot the difference between batches 1 and 2.
Look for row 56. If the seat map runs to row 56, you are on the latest batch. If it stops at row 55, you are on one of the first two — and nothing on a seat map, a booking screen or a boarding pass will tell you which. The two are identical in layout; they differ only in where the windows sit relative to the seats, which is not published anywhere you can check before you board.
The practical answer: if the map stops at row 55, pick a seat that is good on both batches. The list further down does exactly that.
What actually differs between batches 1 and 2
Eight window seats — 7A, 7L, 32A, 32L, 34A, 34L, 50A and 50L — have the glass squarely beside the seat on batch 2 and an ordinary offset view on batch 1. Two more pairs, 36A/36L and 52A/52L, are misaligned on batch 1 and fine on batch 2. And row 37 cannot fully recline on batch 1, where on batch 2 it can.
Batch 1 wins in exactly one place: 54A and 54L keep a usable window, where batch 2’s are misaligned. Both sit beside a lavatory either way, so it is not much of a consolation.
Business: rows 6 and 7
- 7A and 7L — the best pair in the cabin. Window squarely beside the seat on the later batches, and clear of the galley.
- 6A — extra legroom at the front row, with a good window.
- 6J and 6L — the front row on the right, but the galley is alongside. Expect noise and light during the service.
Economy: best seats
- Row 38 — the first exit row, at about 34" pitch, four inches above the standard cabin. On batches 2 and 3 every seat in it rates well.
- Row 39 — the second exit row, about 33" pitch.
- 32A, 32L, 34A, 34L, 48A, 48L, 50A and 50L — the well-aligned windows. On batch 1, 32, 34 and 50 are ordinary rather than bad; 48 is good on all three.
Economy: seats to avoid
- Row 31 — the economy bulkhead. The wall sits closer than a typical bulkhead, there is no underseat storage and the tray is in the armrest. All six seats rate poorly on every batch.
- 55J, 55K and 55L — the rear galley is alongside. 55A is fine.
- Row 56 — latest batch only. It is the extra row, and it is the last row: no recline, lavatories immediately behind, galley alongside.
- Rows 54 and 40 — misaligned windows at A and L on at least one batch.
Quick picks
| If you are… | Book | Because |
|---|---|---|
| After legroom | 38A / 38L | 34" pitch and good on every batch |
| After a window on any batch | 48A / 48L | Well aligned on all three |
| Flying Business | 7A or 7L | Best window, clear of the galley |
| Travelling as a pair | A and B, rows 41–47 | Mid-cabin, away from both galleys |
| Getting off first | 31C or 31J aisle | First economy row — accept the bulkhead |
| Avoiding surprises | Anything from row 41 to 47 | Identical on all three batches |
If you only remember one thing
Check whether the seat map has a row 56. If it does, you are on the newest and best of the three — just do not sit in row 56 itself.
Comparable guides
- China Eastern 737-800 seat guide
- China Eastern C919 seat guide
- China Southern A321neo seat guide
- China Eastern A330-300 seat guide
Frequently asked questions
How many versions of the A320neo does China Eastern fly?
Three. Two seat 158 and run to row 55; the latest seats 164 and runs to row 56. Only the latest batch has a published fleet count, at 22 aircraft.
Which China Eastern A320neo batch is best?
The latest one. It is the only batch with no poorly-rated seat anywhere on board, and it has the most well-aligned window seats. The trade is that it adds row 56, a last row that does not recline with the lavatories behind it.
Can I tell which batch I am flying before I book?
Partly. If the seat map shows a row 56, it is the latest batch. If it stops at row 55, it is one of the first two and there is no way to tell which — they are identical in layout and differ only in window alignment.
Where are the exit rows?
Rows 38 and 39 on all three batches. Row 38 sits at about 34" pitch and row 39 at about 33", both well above the standard cabin.
Is there wi-fi?
No. None of the three A320neo batches is fitted with wi-fi.