EgyptAir 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2025)

EgyptAir's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the airline's flagship long-haul aircraft, featuring modern Collins Super Diamond lie-flat Business Class and a large 3-3-3 Economy cabin. It operates key routes from Cairo to Europe, North America and Asia, including London Heathrow, Paris, New York JFK and Washington Dulles.

EgyptAir is a dry airline (no alcohol served), but the 787-9 hard product – especially in Business – can still offer strong value if you choose the right seat.

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Quick Verdict

• Best Business Class seats: Window seats 12K, 13A/K, 14A/K – quiet mid-cabin positions with maximum privacy (avoid 12A if you care about windows).
• Best Economy seats overall: Rows 21–24 (A/K) – forward Economy, standard pitch but better service timing and less noise.
• Best legroom in Economy: Row 20 (bulkhead) and Row 37 (exit row) if you accept restrictions.

Seats to Avoid

• Business: Row 10 (galley/lav noise), Row 16 (directly in front of lavatories), 12A (only one window).
• Economy: Row 20 centre seats, Row 36, Row 37 middle seats and rows 49–52 (last rows, limited recline, lavatory/galley noise).

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EgyptAir 787-9 Overview

EgyptAir currently operates six 787-9 Dreamliners, all in the same 30J/279Y layout.

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Seat Map Summary

Cabin Flow Front to Back

• Forward lavatory near cockpit (often crew-only)
• Rows 10–16: Business Class
• Galley and two lavatories behind Business (sometimes restricted to J pax)
• Rows 20–36: Forward Economy section
• Mid-cabin lavatory block
• Rows 37–52: Rear Economy section
• Rear galley and lavatories

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Business Class (Collins Super Diamond with Doors)

EgyptAir's 787-9 Business Class uses Collins Super Diamond in a 1-2-1 layout:

• Fully flat beds (~80" length)
• Sliding doors at every seat for added privacy
• 18" HD touchscreen IFE
• Large table sliding out beneath the monitor
• Multiple storage spaces (side console + window shelf)
• AC + USB power, reading lights, massage function
• Wired/wireless audio connectivity

A nice touch: each seat has "wake-up" stickers ("wake me for meal", "do not wake for meal" etc.), helpful on overnight flights.

Best Business Class Seats – Solo Travellers

Top picks: 12K, 13A, 13K, 14A, 14K (avoid 12A due to poor window alignment)

Why these are best:

• Mid-cabin position: Away from forward galley/lavatory activity near row 10. Away from lavatory/galley block behind row 16.
• Window seats: Herringbone angle faces the fuselage, maximising privacy. Direct control of window shades for sleep / light management.

Best Business Class Seats – Couples

Top picks: 12D/12G, 13D/13G, 14D/14G

Centre seats (D/G):

• Retractable privacy divider for conversation or separation
• Both passengers keep direct aisle access
• Easy to dine together with divider lowered
• Centre pair "window" panel can be opened/closed for more or less light

Row 10 – First Row Caution

Row 10 is the first Business row.

Pros:

• Slightly more space and "flagship" feel
• First to be served meals

Cons:

• Very close to forward galley and lavatory (also used by crew)
• More light and noise, especially during boarding and service

Recommendation: Avoid 10A/D/G/K if you're a light sleeper or want a quiet flight.

Row 16 – Last Row Caution

Row 16 is the last Business row, directly ahead of the mid-cabin galley/lavs.

Pros:

• Furthest from forward galley and boarding door
• Potentially calmer during boarding/taxi

Cons:

• Immediately in front of lavatories serving Business (and sometimes Economy overflow)
• More foot traffic and door noise
• Last to be served during meals

Recommendation: Avoid 16A/D/G/K if you dislike lavatory noise.

Important: Seat 12A Window Issue

Avoid seat 12A if you care about views:

• Only one window instead of the usual two
• Feels darker, with more limited outside visibility
• Choose 12K or other mid-cabin windows instead

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Economy Class Seat Recommendations

EgyptAir does not offer Premium Economy on the 787-9. The 279-seat Economy cabin runs from rows 20–52 with a standard 3-3-3 layout.

Key features:

• Pitch: ~31" (on the tighter side for long-haul)
• Width: ~18" (good for 3-3-3)
• 12" HD touchscreens at each seat
• Universal AC and USB power at every seat
• Articulating seat pan (seat base slides forward as you recline)
• Footrest at every seat

Legroom caution: At 31" pitch, taller passengers (6'+) often report knees touching the seat ahead. The footrest can be a mixed blessing – when down it can reduce knee space; when up, shins may bump against it.

Front Economy (Rows 20–24)

Best overall standard Economy: Window or aisle seats 21–24 (A/K). You get decent quiet, good service timing, and you're far from the lav blocks.

Mid-Economy (Rows 25–36)

• Standard rows with regular pros/cons
• Row 36 is directly in front of the mid-cabin lavatories → expect higher noise and foot traffic

Good choices if front rows are gone: 25–33 (A/K). Avoid row 36 if you're sensitive to lavatory noise.

Rear Economy (Rows 37–52)

Best rear-cabin legroom: Row 37 (exit row) – great legroom if you accept exit-row restrictions.

Worst rear-cabin seats: Rows 49–52 – least recline, most noise, last off the aircraft.

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Seats to Avoid (Summary)

Business Class

Economy Class

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Best Seats by Traveller Type

Solo Business Traveller

Best seats: 13A, 14A, 13K, 14K

• Mid-cabin window seats
• Maximum privacy thanks to herringbone design and doors
• Balanced distance from both galleys

Couples in Business

Best seats: 12D/12G, 13D/13G

• Centre pairs with retractable divider
• Easy conversation and shared mealtimes
• Still early enough in service; not too close to galleys

Families in Economy

With infants needing bassinets: Row 20 is likely your only viable bulkhead row – confirm with EgyptAir when booking.

With older children: Rows 21–24 in configurations like 21ABC or 21HJK keep everyone together, with decent quiet and early service.

Avoid last rows and lavatory-adjacent seats with young kids.

Tall Travellers

EgyptAir's 31" Economy pitch is tight for tall passengers. Best options:

• Business: Any seat (80" bed – the easy choice if budget allows).
• Economy bulkhead (Row 20): Extra legroom but armrest trays and no under-seat storage.
• Exit row (Row 37): Excellent legroom with standard exit restrictions.
• Aisle seats in general: More opportunity to stretch one leg into the aisle when safe.

Light Sleepers

Business: 12K, 13A/K, 14A/K – mid-cabin windows away from galleys and lav blocks (avoid 12A for window reasons).

Economy: Rows 21–24 (A or K) – away from lav clusters and not in the very rear.

Avoid: Row 10 (galley), Row 16 (lav block), Row 36, and Rows 49–52 (lav/galley noise).

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How to Confirm You're on a 787-9

EgyptAir's 787-9 flies many flagship long-haul routes, but some are still operated by older 777-300ERs with very different cabins.

Check for:

• Route: Cairo to Washington, New York, London, Paris and select Asian destinations.
• Seat count: 309 seats total – 30J / 279Y.
• Business cabin: 1-2-1 layout with Collins Super Diamond and doors.
• Economy cabin: Single large 3-3-3 cabin with no Premium Economy section.
• Booking display: Aircraft type shown as "Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner".

If your flight shows a 777-300ER, you'll likely have an older 2-3-2 Business product without full flat beds – this guide won't apply.

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EgyptAir Service Notes

A few EgyptAir-specific points that affect your seat choice and expectations:

• Dry airline: No alcohol is served onboard. In practice, some passengers bring their own, but you should not rely on cabin crew to provide/handle alcohol.
• Meal timing: On some overnight flights, the main meal may be served closer to arrival rather than immediately after take-off – use the "wake-up" stickers accordingly.
• Entertainment: IFE selection is more limited than major Gulf or European carriers; some content may be edited or censored.
• Wi-Fi: Generally available but data-capped and relatively expensive; often a small free allowance (e.g. 10MB) then paid tiers.
• Lavatory policy: The two lavatories behind Business may be kept for Business passengers only, which helps keep them cleaner and reduces J-cabin noise.

Despite some soft-product limitations, the hard product on the 787-9 – especially the Super Diamond Business cabin – can be excellent value on competitive fares or award tickets.

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FAQs

Does EgyptAir serve alcohol on the 787-9?

No. EgyptAir is a dry airline – no alcoholic beverages are served onboard.

Which Business Class seat should I avoid if I want views?

Avoid seat 12A – it has only one window instead of two, making it darker with limited visibility.

Is Economy comfortable on EgyptAir's 787-9?

At 31" pitch it's tight for long-haul, especially for taller passengers. The 18" width and footrests help somewhat. Try to book rows 21–24 for the best standard Economy experience.

Does EgyptAir have Premium Economy on the 787-9?

No. The aircraft is configured with only Business Class (30 seats) and Economy (279 seats).

Which rows should I avoid for a quiet flight?

In Business, avoid row 10 and row 16. In Economy, avoid row 36 and rows 49–52 which are closest to lavatories and galleys.

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Comparable Aircraft

If you're comparing EgyptAir's 787-9 to similar aircraft, these guides are a good next read:

• Qatar Airways 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2025)
• Ethiopian Airlines A350 Seat Selection Guide (2025)
• Saudia 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2025)
• Royal Jordanian 787-8 Seat Selection Guide (2025)

See all aircraft seat guides →