KLM Cityhopper E190 Seat Selection Guide (2026)

Row 8 is the worst seat on the aircraft

KLM publishes something unusual about this cabin in its own specification: economy pitch on the E190 is 79 cm, except in rows 8, 9 and 10, where it drops to 76 cm. Those three rows are the tightest seats KLM sells on the type — tighter than anything on the 737s.

Row 8 then takes a second hit. 8A and 8F have no usable window view. There is glass in the fuselage, but it sits well behind the seat, so from a normal sitting position you are looking at wall. Tightest pitch in the cabin, and a window seat that is not one.

The extra-legroom rows with no view

Rows 5, 6 and 7 are the roomy band at the front of economy — roughly 34 inches of pitch, about three inches more than the cabin standard, which is what KLM sells as Economy Comfort. On any other aircraft these would be the obvious pick. Here, two of the three have a problem:

• 6A / 6F and 7A / 7F — extra legroom, and no usable window view. Same fault as row 8: the glass sits too far behind the seat.
• 5A / 5F — extra legroom, and a window offset behind the seat. Better than rows 6 and 7 — you can lean back and see something — but not a clean view.

Which leaves the aisles. 5C, 5D, 6C, 6D, 7C and 7D get the full extra pitch with nothing taken away, because an aisle seat never had a window to lose. On this aircraft the aisle is the better half of the good rows, which is the reverse of the usual advice.

The exit row

The mid-cabin doors sit between rows 10 and 11, which makes row 11 the exit row and row 10 the row in front of it:

• Row 11 — genuine extra legroom. 11C and 11D are the pick: full benefit, no window complication. 11A and 11F have the legroom but a window set forward of the seat.
• Row 10 — the trap row. Restricted recline because the exit path behind must stay clear, 76 cm pitch because it falls in the tight band, and a misaligned window. It takes all three penalties and pays none of them back.

Where the clean seats are

The middle of the cabin is the quiet, uncomplicated part of this aircraft. Rows 14 to 20 all have properly aligned windows and the standard 79 cm pitch, with no galley, lavatory or exit-row compromise anywhere among them. If you want a normal window seat on an E190, that is the block to book.

Further back, 21A/21F and 22A/22F return to a misaligned window, and rows 23 to 25 are clean again until the galley starts to intrude at row 25.

Seats to avoid

• Row 26 — the last row. No recline, immediately against the lavatory, beside the galley, and in the queuing traffic. The worst row on the aircraft.
• Row 25 — next to the galley. Noise and bright light during meal preparation.
• Row 8 — tightest pitch, no usable window.
• Row 10 — restricted recline, tight pitch, misaligned window.
• 6A / 6F / 7A / 7F — extra legroom, no usable window.

Power is a lottery on this type

KLM lists USB-A power on the E190, with an important caveat printed alongside it: some E190 aircraft do not yet offer power supply at all. The fitment programme has not covered the whole sub-fleet.

In practice that means you cannot plan around a socket on this aircraft. If your battery needs to survive the day, treat the E190 as if it has no power and be pleasantly surprised. There is no WiFi fitted regardless, so there is nothing to drain the battery on beyond whatever you brought with you.

Europe Business

Rows 1 to 4 hold the 16 Europe Business seats. In a 2-2 cabin there is no middle seat to block, so what you are buying is 84 cm of pitch against economy's 79 cm, the catering, and the first exit off the aircraft — not a wider or different seat. Row 1 has its tray table in the armrest, since there is no seatback in front to fold one out of, which narrows the seat slightly.

Cabin features

Quick picks by traveller

FAQ

Which is the worst seat on KLM's E190?

8A or 8F. Rows 8, 9 and 10 are the only part of the cabin at 76 cm rather than 79 cm, so they are the tightest seats KLM sells on the type — and 8A and 8F additionally have no usable window view, because the glass sits well behind the seat. You get the smallest seat and no compensation for it.

Which is the best seat?

5C or 5D. They sit in the extra-legroom band at the front of economy with roughly 34 inches of pitch, and because they are aisle seats they lose nothing to the window problems that spoil 5A, 6A and 7A. For a genuine window, book rows 14 to 20 instead and accept standard pitch.

Does the E190 have power outlets?

Sometimes. KLM lists USB-A on the type but states that some E190 aircraft do not yet offer power supply. Because you cannot tell which aircraft you will get, treat the E190 as an aircraft with no power and charge before you board. There is no WiFi fitted either way.

Is row 11 or row 10 the exit row?

Row 11. The mid-cabin doors sit between the two rows, so row 11 gets the extra legroom and row 10 gets the restricted recline that comes with sitting in front of an exit. Row 10 gets no legroom in exchange, and also falls in the 76 cm band, so it is a row to avoid rather than pay for.

Are there middle seats on the E190?

No. The cabin is 2-2 throughout, so every seat is a window or an aisle. Two people travelling together can take a full side of a row and have nobody else in it.

How many seats does KLM's E190 have?

100, across rows 1 to 26 with no row 13. Sixteen sit in Europe Business in rows 1 to 4, leaving 84 in economy.