Delta Airbus A220-100 & A220-300 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Delta's Airbus A220 is the most popular narrowbody in the sky — and for good reason. Originally ordered as the Bombardier C Series, this clean-sheet aircraft offers the widest economy seats in Delta's fleet, only one middle seat per row, enormous windows, seatback IFE screens at every seat, free Wi-Fi, and some of the quietest engines flying today. If you're assigned an A220, you've already won the aircraft lottery.
Delta operates two variants: the A220-100 (109 seats, 45 aircraft) and the A220-300 (130 seats, 36+ aircraft with 64+ on order). They share the same cabin product and seat types — the -300 is simply a stretched fuselage with more Comfort+ and Main Cabin rows. This guide covers both.
ℹ️ Important: The A220 is not an A320 or a 737. The entire economy cabin uses a 2-3 layout — two seats on the left, three on the right — meaning there is only one middle seat per row instead of two. This is the A220's signature advantage.
Quick Verdict
- No version lottery on either variant. All A220-100s are identical; all A220-300s are identical.
- Seatback IFE at every seat — 13.3" screens in First, 10.1" in Comfort+ and Main Cabin. Plus free Wi-Fi (Delta Sync, nearly fleet-wide).
- Best First Class (both): 2A/2D or 3A/3D — mid-cabin, away from bulkhead restrictions.
- Best Comfort+ (both): 10A/10B — first C+ row with massive legroom and no hard bulkhead ahead.
- Best Economy (A220-100): 15A/15B (exit row pair) or 16E (single seat with unlimited legroom — no seat ahead).
- Best Economy (A220-300): 17B (single exit seat — arguably the best economy seat in Delta's entire fleet) or 18D/18E.
- Avoid: Row 1 in First (bulkhead — restricted foot room, 1A missing a window). Last row on either variant (29 on the -100, 33 on the -300).
Delta A220 at a Glance
| Variant | Code | First Class | Comfort+ | Main Cabin | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A220-100 | 221 | 12 | 15 | 82 | 109 |
| A220-300 | 223 | 12 | 30 | 88 | 130 |
Fleet size (as of early 2026): 45 A220-100 (deliveries complete) + 36+ A220-300 (with 64+ more on order). Delta is the world's largest A220 operator.
How to Identify This Aircraft
On Delta.com and the Fly Delta app, the A220-100 shows as "Airbus A220-100" (code 221) and the A220-300 as "Airbus A220-300" (code 223).
| Indicator | A220-100 | A220-300 | Not an A220 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta.com code | 221 | 223 | 319, 320, 321, etc. |
| Total seats | 109 | 130 | 132 (A319), 150 (A320) |
| Economy layout | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3-3 on A320/737 |
| First Class rows | 3 rows | 3 rows | Varies |
| Windows | Noticeably larger | Noticeably larger | Standard |
Quick tell: If your seat map shows a 2-3 economy layout, you're on an A220. No other Delta narrowbody uses this configuration.
Seat Map Summary
A220-100 (109 seats)
| Cabin | Rows | Layout | Pitch | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 1–3 | 2-2 (A, B | D, F) | 37" | 12 | Collins MiQ recliners. Not lie-flat. |
| Gap | 4–9 | No rows exist | |||
| Comfort+ | 10–12 | 2-3 (A, B | C, D, E) | 34" | 15 | Row 10 has extra legroom — no hard bulkhead |
| Main Cabin | 13–29 | 2-3 | 30–32" | 82 | Exit rows at 15/16 |
Exit row layout (A220-100): The overwing exits are at rows 15–16, but the configuration is asymmetric. Row 15 has seats A and B only (left side, 2 seats) with generous legroom. Row 16 has a full 5-seat row (A, B, C, D, E) but only 16E gets true "unlimited" legroom as there is no seat directly in front. Seats 15C/15D appear adjacent to the exit but are tight — they are not exit row seats despite their location.
Last row: Row 29. Accessible lavatory behind row 29 (CDE side).
A220-300 (130 seats)
| Cabin | Rows | Layout | Pitch | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 1–3 | 2-2 (A, B | D, F) | 37" | 12 | Identical product to A220-100 |
| Gap | 4–9 | No rows exist | |||
| Comfort+ | 10–15 | 2-3 (A, B | C, D, E) | 34" | 30 | Double the C+ of the -100 |
| Main Cabin | 16–33 | 2-3 | 30–32" | 88 | Exit rows at 17/18 |
Exit row layout (A220-300) — This is where it gets interesting. The exit rows use a unique 1-2 configuration instead of the standard 2-3:
- Row 17: Only seat 17B exists — a single seat on the port (left) side. This is the legendary "best economy seat in the fleet."
- Row 18: Seats 18D and 18E only (two seats on the starboard side). Both have excellent legroom.
Seats in row 16 have limited recline due to the exit row behind them. Seats in row 17/18 have smaller windows than the rest of the cabin due to the emergency exit door design.
Last row: Row 33. Accessible lavatory behind row 33 (CDE side).
First Class (Rows 1–3, 2-2) — Both Variants
First Class on the A220 uses the Collins Aerospace MiQ recliner — it's a comfortable domestic seat but not lie-flat. There's no separate cabin curtain between First and the economy cabin — a soft divider separates the cabins.
Key features:
- 37" pitch, 20.5" width
- Recliner with winged headrest (good for sleeping)
- 13.3" seatback IFE screen
- Individual AC power outlet + individual USB-A port
- Bi-fold tray table from outer armrest (18" × 10.5")
- Bottle holder between seats
- Seatback pocket + inner armrest storage for iPad/book
Best Seats — First Class
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 2A, 2D | Mid-cabin windows, away from Row 1 bulkhead restrictions, full overhead bin access, two windows per seat |
| Also excellent | 3A, 3D | Rear of First — quietest position, slightly further from galley |
| Best for couples | 2A+2B or 2D+2F | Adjacent pairs with armrest storage between |
Seats to Avoid — First Class
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1A, 1B, 1D, 1F | Bulkhead row — significantly restricted foot room with no cutout for legs. The IFE screen is slightly smaller. 1A specifically has only one window instead of two. Multiple passenger reports confirm this is noticeably more cramped than rows 2–3. |
| Row 3 (minor) | Last row before economy — no privacy separation behind. Minor issue compared to Row 1 problems. |
Tall traveller tip: If you're over 6'2", rows 2–3 are fine. Row 1 is a problem. Several FlyerTalk reports note that Comfort+ row 10 can actually feel more spacious than First Class Row 1 for very tall passengers, since row 10 has no hard bulkhead ahead.
Delta Comfort+ — A220-100 (Rows 10–12) / A220-300 (Rows 10–15)
Comfort+ on the A220 is standard economy seating with 34" pitch — 2–4" more than Main Cabin. The seats themselves (Collins Pinnacle) are the same model used throughout Main Cabin. The upgrade is legroom and boarding priority, not the seat itself.
Key features:
- 34" pitch (vs 30–32" in Main Cabin)
- 18.6" width — wider than any A320 or 737 economy seat
- 10.1" seatback IFE screen
- USB-A port per seat, shared AC power outlet (1 per pair on left side, 2 per three seats on right side)
- Complimentary premium snacks and expanded drink selection
Best Seats — Comfort+
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best legroom | 10A, 10B | First row of Comfort+ — no hard bulkhead separating it from First Class, so you can stretch your legs under Row 3 ahead. Pitch is effectively much greater than the stated 34". |
| Hidden gem | 10C | Single best Comfort+ seat for left-leg room — the aisle shifts at the transition from First's 2-2 to economy's 2-3, giving 10C dramatically more left-side space. Some passengers rate this above First Class Row 1. |
| Best pair (A220-100) | 11A, 11B | Second row of C+ on the -100, standard 34" pitch, two-seat side for couples. |
| Best mid-cabin (A220-300) | 12A, 12B or 13A, 13B | Mid-Comfort+ on the -300, away from both the First Class transition and Main Cabin boundary. |
Seats to Avoid — Comfort+
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| 10A–10E (minor) | Armrest-mounted tray tables (IFE screens fold into armrest) — these reduce effective seat width slightly and mean no tray table at takeoff/landing. The legroom advantage usually outweighs this. |
| Row 12 (-100) / Row 15 (-300) | Last Comfort+ row — adjacent to the non-C+ cabin. Functionally fine but you're at the boundary. Very minor. |
Main Cabin (Rows 13–29 on -100 / Rows 16–33 on -300)
The A220 economy cabin is widely considered the best narrowbody economy experience in the US domestic market. The 2-3 layout means only one middle seat per row. Seats are 18.6" wide — roughly 1–1.5" wider than comparable seats on any 737 or A320. The windows are enormous. The cabin pressure is lower (~6,000 ft equivalent vs ~8,000 ft on older aircraft), meaning less fatigue. And the PW1500G engines are among the quietest in commercial aviation — even the back rows are noticeably quieter than a 737.
Key features:
- 30–32" pitch, 18.6" width
- 2-3 layout throughout (seats A, B on left; C, D, E on right)
- 10.1" seatback IFE screen at every seat
- USB-A per seat, shared AC power outlets
- Oversized overhead bins — rarely need to gate-check bags
- Lavatory with window on port side rear (a fan favourite)
A220-100 Exit Rows (Rows 15–16) — Best Seats
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best exit pair | 15A, 15B | Port-side exit row — two seats only, both with generous legroom. Perfect for couples wanting exit row space. No side-wall armrest though, and window shade doesn't fully retract. |
| Best single seat | 16E | Starboard side — there is no seat directly in front of 16E due to the exit door, giving unlimited legroom. Often cited as the single best economy seat on the A220-100. |
| Also good | 16A, 16B | Full row 16 seats on the left side, standard exit-row legroom. |
A220-300 Exit Rows (Rows 17–18) — Best Seats
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| THE seat | 17B | The legendary single seat. Row 17 has only this one seat on the port side — it's a 1-seat row with massive space all around. No neighbour on either side, unlimited legroom. The best economy seat in Delta's entire fleet. Downside: smaller exit windows, and you're solo (which for most people is the upside). |
| Best pair | 18D, 18E | Starboard-side exit seats with excellent legroom. Two seats only — no middle seat here either. |
Seats to Avoid — Exit Rows
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| A220-100: 15C, 15D | Adjacent to the exit but are not exit row seats — they appear tight, possibly more cramped than standard economy. Don't assume exit-adjacent means extra legroom here. |
| Row 14 (-100) / Row 16 (-300) | Row directly ahead of exit — limited or no recline. |
Best Seats — Standard Main Cabin
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall (A220-100) | 13A, 13B | First Main Cabin row behind Comfort+ — no recline from passengers ahead if in the last C+ row. |
| Best overall (A220-300) | 16A, 16B | First Main Cabin row — same benefit, though limited recline since exit row is behind. |
| Best for views | Any A seat (left side) | A220 windows are 11" × 16.5" — the largest on any single-aisle aircraft. Window seats on this plane are a genuine experience. |
| Best mid-cabin | Rows 19–23 A/B (-100) / Rows 22–27 A/B (-300) | Mid-cabin left side (2-seat row), away from lavatories. |
Seats to Avoid — Standard Main Cabin
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| Row 29 (-100) / Row 33 (-300) | Last row — limited or no recline, directly adjacent to rear lavatories and galley. Noise, foot traffic, lav queues. Worst row on the aircraft. |
| Row 28 (-100) / Row 32 (-300) | Second-to-last — similar issues but slightly less severe. |
Known Quirks & Practical Tips
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Only one middle seat per row | The 2-3 layout means seat C is the only middle seat. On the left side, it's just A and B — a window-aisle pair. This alone makes the A220 the best domestic narrowbody. |
| Shared power outlets | AC outlets are shared: 1 per pair on the left side, 2 per three seats on the right. USB-A ports are individual at every seat. First Class has individual AC outlets. |
| No USB-C | The A220 fleet pre-dates USB-C adoption. Bring an adapter if needed. |
| Lavatory with a window | The port (left) side rear lavatory has a window — a rarity in narrowbody flying. Worth visiting if you haven't experienced it. |
| Cabin pressure | ~6,000 ft equivalent vs ~8,000 ft on most narrowbodies. You'll arrive feeling noticeably less fatigued on flights over 2 hours. |
| Engine noise | PW1500G geared turbofans are among the quietest in aviation. The rear seats are not appreciably louder than the front — unusual for a narrowbody. |
| Overhead bins | Rotating overhead bins with significantly more capacity than 737/A320. Gate-checked bags are rare even on full flights. |
| Free Wi-Fi | Delta Sync Wi-Fi is free for SkyMiles members on nearly all A220s. Just log in with your SkyMiles number. |
| Seatback IFE | All A220s have seatback screens — 300+ movies, TV shows, live satellite TV, podcasts, games. This is NOT streaming-only. A major advantage over competing airlines. |
| Windows | 11" × 16.5" — the largest on any narrowbody. Every window seat gets a real view. |
| A220-100 vs A220-300 | Same cabin product, same seat types, same IFE. The -300 simply has more rows. Key difference: the -300 has double the Comfort+ seats (30 vs 15), making C+ upgrades more likely to clear. |
| Bases | A220 flights primarily originate from New York (LGA/JFK), Salt Lake City (SLC), Seattle (SEA), with Minneapolis (MSP) being added in 2026. |
Best Seats Summary Table
A220-100 (109 seats)
| Cabin | Best | Why | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 2A, 2D, 3A, 3D | Mid-cabin, away from bulkhead | Row 1 (cramped footwell, 1A missing window) |
| Comfort+ | 10A, 10B, 10C | Extra legroom — no hard bulkhead to First | Minor: armrest tray tables reduce width |
| Main Cabin (exit) | 15A/15B (pair), 16E (solo) | Exit row legroom. 16E = no seat ahead | 15C/15D (tight despite exit-adjacent) |
| Main Cabin | 13A/13B, mid-cabin A seats | 2-seat side, great windows | Row 29 (last), row 28 (near-last) |
A220-300 (130 seats)
| Cabin | Best | Why | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 2A, 2D, 3A, 3D | Same as -100 | Row 1 (same issues) |
| Comfort+ | 10A, 10B, 10C | Same advantage — stretches under Row 3 | Minor: armrest tray tables |
| Main Cabin (exit) | 17B (solo), 18D/18E (pair) | 17B = single seat with massive space on all sides. Best economy seat in fleet. | Row 16 (limited recline ahead of exit) |
| Main Cabin | 16A/16B, mid-cabin A seats | 2-seat side, quietest section | Row 33 (last), row 32 (near-last) |
FAQs
Is there a version lottery on the A220?
No. All A220-100s have the same 109-seat layout; all A220-300s have the same 130-seat layout. There is no version lottery on either variant.
How do I know if I'm getting the -100 or -300?
Check the aircraft type on Delta.com or the Fly Delta app. The A220-100 (code 221) has 109 seats; the A220-300 (code 223) has 130. The cabin product is identical — the -300 just has more rows of Comfort+ and Main Cabin.
Is First Class lie-flat?
No — First Class on both A220 variants is a recliner (Collins MiQ). For lie-flat domestic service, you'll need Delta One on a widebody or a transcon route.
Does the A220 have seatback screens?
Yes — every seat has a seatback IFE screen (13.3" in First, 10.1" in C+ and Main). This is a major differentiator vs American Airlines' domestic fleet, which has removed seatback screens from most narrowbodies.
Is Wi-Fi free?
Yes. Delta Sync Wi-Fi is free for SkyMiles members (free to join) on nearly all A220 aircraft. Simply log in with your SkyMiles number after boarding.
Why do people love the A220 so much?
It's the combination of: 2-3 layout (one fewer middle seat per row), widest economy seats in the fleet (18.6"), largest windows on any narrowbody (11" × 16.5"), seatback IFE screens, free Wi-Fi, lower cabin pressure for less fatigue, and the quietest engines in commercial aviation. Every one of these features individually is good; together they make the A220 genuinely pleasant.
Is it worth trying to get an A220 over a 737 or A320?
Absolutely. If two Delta flights serve your route and one is an A220, choose the A220 every time — especially if you're sitting in economy. The experience difference is substantial.
More Seat Guides for This Airline
- Delta A321neo Seat Selection Guide (2026)
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- Delta A330-900neo Seat Selection Guide (2025)
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Comparable Aircraft
- American Airlines A321 Seat Selection Guide (2026) — AA's domestic narrowbody workhorse for comparison
- United Airlines 737 MAX 8 Seat Selection Guide (2026) — United's primary domestic narrowbody
- Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 Seat Selection Guide (2026) — Alaska's first class competitor