LATAM 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
LATAM operates 29 Boeing 787-9s in three completely different cabin configurations. Business class ranges from brand-new Recaro suites with sliding doors to a dated 2-2-2 recliner layout — on the same aircraft type, often on the same route. This guide covers all three, row by row.
✈️ Quick Verdict
- Fleet: 29 aircraft — 30J/277Y (2), 30J/273Y (27), 30J/273Y retrofit (rolling out)
- Business layouts: 2-2-2 · 1-2-1 staggered · 1-2-1 suites with doors
- Economy: 3-3-3 on all three
- Best business: 2A, 2L, 4A, 4L, 6A, 6L (2026 suites) · 1A, 3A, 5A, 7A, 7L (2019) · 2D, 2H, 3D, 3H (2015)
- Best economy: Row 12 on the 2026 cabin · 12C, 12J, 34A, 34L, 37A, 37L on the 2019 cabin
- Avoid: 41A and 41L on every version (no window at all), rows 26–27, row 44
- IFE / power: Panasonic eX3 — 18in business, 12in economy (9in on the 2015 cabin); 110V AC + USB-A throughout, USB-C on the 2026 cabin; paid WiFi fleetwide
⚠️ Refit alert — a three-way cabin lottery
Three different business class products wear the same paint. Confirm which one you're on before you pay for a seat: five rows of business means the 2015 cabin, eight rows means 2019 or 2026, and only the 2026 suites have sliding doors.
The Version Lottery: Three 787-9s Wearing the Same Paint
Version 1 — the 2015 cabin (2 aircraft)
The original pair. Business class is a 2-2-2 Zodiac Aura Lite recliner-style flat bed across five rows. It goes flat, and the 75in pitch is generous, but only the two centre seats in each row have an aisle on either side. In a window seat you are climbing over your neighbour every time you want to move. Economy is 277 seats with 9in screens. Total: 307 seats. This is the one to avoid if you're paying for business.
Version 2 — the 2019 cabin (27 aircraft — you'll probably get this one)
The fleet workhorse. Business class is Thompson Vantage XL in a 1-2-1 staggered layout across eight rows. All 30 seats have direct aisle access, the bed is fully flat, and there's a proper 18in screen. No privacy door, but for most travellers this is a solid, competitive business class. Economy drops to 273 seats and gets 12in screens. Total: 303 seats.
Version 3 — the 2026 cabin (retrofit in progress)
The new one. Recaro R7 suites with sliding doors, still 1-2-1 and still 30 seats, plus USB-C and Bluetooth audio pairing throughout the aircraft. LATAM is spending around $360 million retrofitting 24 Dreamliners in total — 10 787-8s and 14 787-9s — with completion targeted for the second half of 2026. Retrofitted aircraft are based in Santiago and were rolled out first on Bogotá, Mexico City and Miami, then extended to Easter Island, Madrid, New York JFK and Los Angeles. Total: 303 seats. If you can pick this one, do.
Which is better?
For business class the ranking is unambiguous: 2026 suites > 2019 Vantage XL > 2015 recliners. The gap between the 2015 cabin and the other two is large enough to be worth actively rebooking around.
For economy the differences are smaller but real. The 2026 cabin has the best bulkhead row (a genuinely spacious 29in to the wall at row 12, versus a cramped 20in on the 2019 cabin), USB-C, and a six-way adjustable headrest. The 2015 cabin has four more seats crammed in and the smallest screens.
Business Class
2026 cabin — Recaro R7 suites
Thirty suites in 1-2-1 across rows 1–8, 42in pitch, 21in wide, sliding privacy door at every seat, 18in HD touchscreen, USB-A and USB-C, Bluetooth pairing, dedicated shoe compartment. The layout alternates row by row, and it changes what you get:
- Even rows (2, 4, 6) — window suites sit closest to the window, with an 81in bed. The two centre suites are separated by a console, the best centre option if you're travelling alone.
- Odd rows (1, 3, 5, 7) — window suites sit closer to the aisle, with a 76in bed. The two centre suites pair up side by side in a honeymoon arrangement.
✅ Best picks — 2026 suites
- 2A, 2L, 4A, 4L, 6A, 6L — true window suites, longest bed, maximum privacy. The seats to target.
- 7A and 7L — best window alignment in the cabin if the view matters more than 5in of bed.
- 8D and 8H — last row, separated centre pair, quietest seats in the cabin.
- Couples: any odd-row centre pair — 1D/1H, 3D/3H, 5D/5H, 7D/7H — side by side with an 81in bed.
🚫 Seats to be aware of — 2026 suites
- 1D, 1H, 2D, 2H — no overhead bin. The crew rest compartment sits directly above these four seats.
- 1H and 1L — forward lavatory alongside. Expect traffic through the night.
2019 cabin — Thompson Vantage XL
Thirty seats in 1-2-1 staggered across rows 1–8, 44in pitch, 23in wide, 180° flat bed, 18in touchscreen, 110V AC and USB-A. No door. Every seat has direct aisle access — this cabin scores 100% on that measure. Same alternating logic, different letters:
- Odd rows (1, 3, 5, 7) — window seats are lettered A and L and sit furthest from the aisle. Centre pair is E and F, sitting together.
- Even rows (2, 4, 6) — window seats are lettered C and J and sit closer to the aisle. Centre pair is D and H, separated by a console.
✅ Best picks — 2019 Vantage XL
- 1A, 3A, 5A, 7A, 7L — true window seats, furthest from the aisle. 1A and 7A/7L have the best window alignment.
- 2D, 2H, 4D, 4H, 6D, 6H — separated centre seats, the solo traveller's pick.
- 8D and 8H — last row, separated pair, quietest position.
- Couples: 1E/1F, 3E/3F, 5E/5F, 7E/7F sit side by side.
🚫 Seats to avoid — 2019 Vantage XL
1L — the forward lavatory is immediately alongside. The one genuinely poor seat in an otherwise strong cabin.
2015 cabin — Zodiac Aura Lite
Thirty seats in 2-2-2 across rows 1–5, 75in pitch, 23in wide, flat bed at 6ft 7in, 15.6in screen. The pitch and bed length are the best of the three configurations — but the layout undoes it. Only D and H (the centre pair) have an aisle on both sides. Window seats A and L require stepping over the person in C or J. On a 12-hour overnight to Madrid that matters more than the extra inches.
✅ Best picks — 2015 cabin
- 2D, 2H, 3D, 3H, 4D, 4H, 5D, 5H — centre pair, aisle both sides, no climbing over anyone.
- 2L, 3L, 4L — best window alignment, if you'll trade aisle access for the view.
🚫 Seats to avoid — 2015 cabin
- 1J and 1L — forward lavatory immediately ahead.
- 1D and 1H — no overhead bin above; the crew rest sits there.
- All A and L seats — you're trapped behind a neighbour for the whole flight.
Economy
All three configurations run 3-3-3 Collins Pinnacle seats (Recaro CL3710 on the 2026 cabin), 17.1in wide, 31in standard pitch.
One letter change to watch
The 2015 and 2019 cabins letter the centre block D-F-H. The 2026 cabin letters it D-E-H. If you're comparing a seat number against an older booking or an old screenshot, check the letter before you assume it's the same seat.
LATAM+ extra legroom
LATAM+ is extra-legroom economy at 35in pitch versus the standard 31in — a meaningful jump on an overnight sector. It comes with priority boarding and deplaning.
| Cabin | LATAM+ seats | Rows |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 54 | 12–17 |
| 2019 | 57 | 12–17 plus 18D/F/H |
| 2026 | 57 | 12–17 plus 18D/E/H |
The bulkhead row is not equal across versions
Row 12 is the LATAM+ bulkhead on every version, but the wall distance differs sharply:
- 2026 cabin: roughly 29in to the wall across the row — the roomiest row on the aircraft and the standout economy pick.
- 2019 cabin: 12D, 12F and 12H have only about 20in to the bulkhead. 12C and 12J get extra foot room from a partial wall.
- 2015 cabin: 12J, 12K and 12L are the tight ones at about 19in. 12A–12C are fine.
On all versions, row 12 has no seat in front, so there's no underseat storage and the tray table lives in the armrest, which narrows the seat slightly.
Best economy seats
- 2026 cabin: row 12 across the board (bar the middles), plus 13L, 31A and 31L for the best window alignment.
- 2019 cabin: 12C and 12J for bulkhead aisle with extra foot room; 34A, 34L, 37A, 37L for perfect window alignment in the rear cabin.
- 2015 cabin: 12C and 12J; 13A, 38A, 38L, 42A, 42L for the best windows.
🚫 Seats to avoid in economy — every version
- 41A and 41L — no window at all. Solid wall. The single worst seat pair on the aircraft.
- Rows 26 and 27 — forward-cabin lavatories sit directly behind: queues, noise and odour. On the 2015 cabin this extends to row 28, a partial row with no J/K/L seats.
- Row 44 — last row, no recline, galley and lavatories behind. On the 2026 cabin rows 42–44 D/E/H also have no overhead bin (crew rest above).
Row 30 — the exit row trap
Row 30 has extra legroom, which makes it look attractive on a seat map. It isn't straightforwardly good:
- 30A — exit door L3 protrudes into roughly 85% of the seat width ahead of you.
- 30L — exit door R3 protrudes into roughly 75–80%.
- 30D, 30F/E, 30H and 30J — a lavatory sits immediately in front: legroom, plus a queue standing over you.
- 30B and 30K — middles with nowhere to put anything at your feet.
The honest read: take row 30 only if legroom is your single overriding priority and you're happy with the trade-offs.
Cabin notes
The 787-9's windows and seat rows drift in and out of phase down the cabin. Rows where the window sits behind the seat, forcing you to lean back to see out, vary by version — they're marked in amber on the seat maps above.
Cabin Features Compared
| 2015 cabin | 2019 cabin | 2026 cabin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft | 2 | 27 | Retrofit in progress |
| Total seats | 307 | 303 | 303 |
| Business layout | 2-2-2 | 1-2-1 staggered | 1-2-1 suites |
| Business seat | Zodiac Aura Lite | Thompson Vantage XL | Recaro R7 |
| Direct aisle access | 33% of seats | 100% | 100% |
| Privacy door | No | No | Yes |
| Business pitch / width | 75in / 23in | 44in / 23in | 42in / 21in |
| Bed length | 6ft 7in | Flat | 76in or 81in |
| Business screen | 15.6in | 18in | 18in HD |
| Economy seats | 277 | 273 | 273 |
| Economy screen | 9in | 12in | 12in HD |
| Economy centre letters | D-F-H | D-F-H | D-E-H |
| LATAM+ seats | 54 | 57 | 57 |
| Row 12 bulkhead space | 19–35in (uneven) | 20in centre | 29in across |
| USB-C | No | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth audio | No | No | Yes |
| Economy recline | 6in | 6in | 5in (7in LATAM+) |
Quick-Pick Summary
| Traveller | 2026 cabin | 2019 cabin | 2015 cabin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo, business | 2A / 2L / 4A / 4L | 1A / 3A / 5A / 7A | 2D / 3D / 4D |
| Couple, business | 3D+3H or 5D+5H | 3E+3F or 5E+5F | 2D+2H |
| Solo, economy, legroom | 12C or 12J | 12C or 12J | 12C or 12J |
| Solo, economy, view | 13L, 31A, 31L | 34A, 34L, 37A, 37L | 13A, 38A, 38L, 42A, 42L |
| Couple, economy | 12A+12B or any A/B pair forward | Same | Same |
| Family of three | A-B-C block, rows 14–22 | A-B-C block, rows 14–22 | A-B-C block, rows 14–22 |
| Budget, avoid extras | Rows 32–39, aisle seats | Rows 32–39, aisle seats | Rows 32–39, aisle seats |
| Never book | 41A, 41L, row 27, row 44 | 41A, 41L, row 27, row 44 | 41A, 41L, rows 27–28, row 44 |
How to Tell Which Version You're On
- Count the business class rows on the airline's seat map. Five rows = the 2015 cabin. Eight rows = 2019 or 2026.
- Check the business seat letters. Rows alternating A/L and C/J windows means the 2019 Vantage XL cabin; A and L on every row means the 2026 suites.
- Check the economy centre block. D-E-H means the 2026 retrofit; D-F-H means 2015 or 2019.
- Route and base. Retrofitted aircraft are Santiago-based and concentrated on Bogotá, Mexico City, Miami, Easter Island, Madrid, New York JFK and Los Angeles.
FAQ
Does the LATAM 787-9 have power and WiFi?
Yes to both. Every seat has a 110V AC outlet and USB. The 2026 retrofit cabin adds USB-C and Bluetooth audio pairing so you can use your own headphones with the entertainment system. WiFi is available fleetwide and is paid.
How many seats does the LATAM 787-9 have?
It depends on the configuration. The two 2015-cabin aircraft have 307 seats (30 business, 277 economy). The 27 aircraft in the 2019 cabin and the retrofitted 2026 cabin both have 303 seats (30 business, 273 economy).
Which LATAM 787-9 business class is best?
The 2026 Recaro R7 suites, with sliding doors and 1-2-1 access. The 2019 Thompson Vantage XL is a close second. The 2015 2-2-2 recliner cabin is the one worth rebooking around.