Qantas A350-1000ULR Seat Map & Best Seats (2026)

Heads-up (June 2026): Qantas's A350-1000ULR isn't flying yet. The first frame is now due in April 2027, with the inaugural Sydney–London nonstop expected in late 2027 and Sydney–New York to follow. The layout below reflects the cabin product Qantas has finalised and published; exact galley/lavatory positions and the precise Economy Plus row boundaries may shift slightly before entry into service.

✈️ Quick Verdict

Qantas's A350-1000ULR carries just 238 seats — the lowest density of any A350-1000 in the world — in a single, identical Project Sunrise config across all 12 aircraft. No version lottery: what you book is what you fly.

Best seats: First 1A/1K; Business even-row windows (12A, 14A, 16A, 20A, 22A & K); Economy 42A/K, 49A/K, 52A/K. Avoid Economy row 56 (last row, narrowed tail), poor-window rows 41, 44, 51, 54, and all middle seats.

At a Glance

Aircraft	Airbus A350-1000ULR (ultra-long-range)
Fleet	12 on order, all identical — built for Project Sunrise
Total seats	238 — the lowest density of any A350-1000 in the world
Configuration	6 First / 52 Business / 40 Premium Economy / 140 Economy (40%+ premium)
Layouts	First 1-1-1 · Business 1-2-1 · Premium Economy 2-4-2 · Economy 3-3-3
Version lottery?	No — every frame is the same. What you book is what you fly
Best seats	First 1A/1K · Business even-row windows (12A, 14A, 16A…) · Economy 42A/K, 49A/K, 52A/K
Seats to avoid	Economy row 56 (last row, narrowed tail) · poor-window rows 41/44/51/54 · all middles
IFE	Panasonic Astrova, on-demand; 13.3" screens in Premium Economy; Bluetooth audio
Power	USB-C fast charge + AC power at every seat
WiFi	Viasat Ka-band — free across all cabins
Signature feature	Onboard Wellbeing Zone with hydration station and guided stretch program

No Version Lottery — A Rare Win for Qantas Flyers

On most Qantas widebodies (the A330 and 787 in particular) the seat you get depends heavily on which sub-fleet operates your flight. The A350-1000ULR is the opposite: all 12 aircraft are being delivered in a single, identical Project Sunrise configuration. There are no retrofit variants, no legacy cabins, and no high-density version lurking in the schedule. Whatever the seat map shows when you book is exactly what you'll board.

That consistency matters because this is the most premium-heavy Qantas cabin ever — more than 40% of the 238 seats are First, Business or Premium Economy, and the whole aircraft carries roughly 100 fewer passengers than a typical A350-1000. Every cabin is more spacious than the airline-industry norm for the type.

Cabin-by-Cabin Analysis

First Class — 6 suites, rows 1–2 (1-1-1)

Six fully enclosed suites, each with an 80-inch memory-foam flat bed plus a separate reclining armchair, and a dining/work surface large enough for two. With only six suites in a 1-1-1 layout, there's no bad choice here.

✅ Best First picks

1A / 1K — forward window suites, first to be served, quietest. 1A has the best window alignment in the cabin.
2A / 2K (window suites) and 1E / 2F (centre suites) for travellers who don't mind being off the window.

Watch: Row 2 sits a little closer to the galley/cabin transition behind First — negligible, but row 1 is marginally quieter.

Business — 52 suites, rows 11–23 (1-2-1)

Business is a staggered 1-2-1 suite with a sliding privacy door, 80-inch flat bed and generous storage. Because the cabin is staggered, window seats alternate position by row:

Even rows (12, 14, 16, 20, 22): the window seat sits against the wall ("true window"), with the side table between you and the aisle — the most private, best for solo sleepers.
Odd rows (11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23): the window seat sits beside the aisle, with the table on the window side — easier aisle access, slightly more exposed.
Centre pairs (E–F): sit closer together on odd rows (best for couples travelling together) and further apart on even rows, where an adjustable divider gives solo travellers more separation.

✅ Best Business picks

Solo / best sleep: any even-row window — 12A, 14A, 16A, 20A, 22A (and the K equivalents). 15A / 15K have the single best window alignment in the cabin.
Couples: an odd-row centre pair such as 11E/11F or 13E/13F — seats are closest together with a lowerable divider.

🚫 Avoid / be aware: 17A/17K and 23A/23K sit next to the mid-cabin Wellbeing Zone/bar and the rear galley respectively; 18A/18K are immediately behind the Wellbeing Zone and see the most foot traffic in the cabin.

Premium Economy — 40 seats, rows 31–35 (2-4-2)

A spacious 40-inch-pitch Premium Economy with a 13.3-inch touchscreen, winged adjustable headrest, and calf/leg rest. Layout is 2-4-2: A/K are windows, B/J the outer-pair aisles, D/G the centre aisles, and E/F the true middles.

✅ Best Premium Economy picks

31A / 31K — bulkhead windows with the most legroom in the cabin. 32A/K and 33A/K for a standard window with good alignment.
Couples: the A–B pairs (e.g. 32A/32B) give a private two-seat unit with no middle neighbour.

🚫 Avoid: 34A / 34K — windows here are poorly aligned, so you mostly face cabin wall. All E/F middle seats, and row 35 (backs onto the galley, so more noise and aisle traffic).

Economy — 140 seats, rows 41–56 (3-3-3)

Economy is a roomy 33-inch-pitch 3-3-3 cabin (windows A/K, aisles C/D and F/H, middles B/E/J), with the front section branded Economy Plus — 42 seats at a 34-inch pitch with priority boarding and overhead-locker access. Every economy seat gets an adjustable headrest, calf rest and Bluetooth audio.

✅ Best Economy picks

Alignment + space: 42A/42K, 49A/49K and 52A/52K — best window alignment in the cabin, and 49/52 sit by extra-space breaks.
Legroom: the front Economy Plus rows (around rows 41–45 ⚠️ confirm exact boundary) at 34-inch pitch — worth the small upcharge on a 20-hour flight.
Aisle lovers: C and D / F and H in the mid-cabin (rows 45–48) are clear of galley traffic.

🚫 Seats to avoid

Row 56 — the last row in the narrowed tail; reduced recline, missing window seats on the right, and right against the rear galley/lavatories. The worst seats on the aircraft.
Row 55 — rear cabin, galley/lav noise and traffic.
Poor-window rows 41, 44, 51, 54 (A/K) — these window seats sit out of line with the windows.
Row 41 bulkhead — extra legroom, but bassinet positions mean baby traffic, and the windows are poorly aligned.
All B/E/J middle seats.

Cabin Features at a Glance

Cabin	Seats	Layout	Pitch / Bed	Screen	Power	Standout
First	6	1-1-1	80" flat bed + separate recliner	Large HD	USB-C + AC	Fully enclosed suite, dining for two
Business	52	1-2-1	80" flat bed	HD	USB-C + AC	Sliding door, adjustable centre divider
Premium Economy	40	2-4-2	40" pitch	13.3"	USB-C + AC	Winged headrest, calf + leg rest
Economy Plus	42*	3-3-3	34" pitch	Astrova HD	USB-C + AC	Priority boarding & lockers
Economy	140 (total)	3-3-3	33" pitch	Astrova HD	USB-C + AC	Bluetooth audio, calf rest

*Economy Plus is the front sub-section of the 140-seat Economy cabin, not a separate cabin.

Quick-Pick Summary

You are…	Book this	Why
Solo, want the best sleep	Business even-row window (12A, 14A, 16A…)	Seat sits against the wall — most private
A couple in Business	Odd-row centre pair (11E/F, 13E/F)	Seats closest together, divider down
Premium Economy couple	An A–B window pair (32A/32B)	Two-seat unit, no middle neighbour
Economy, legroom matters	Economy Plus front rows (34")	Extra pitch + priority boarding
Economy, best window	42A/K, 49A/K or 52A/K	Best window alignment in the cabin
Travelling with a baby	Bulkhead row 41	Bassinet positions (accept the baby traffic)
Anyone	Avoid row 56	Last row, narrowed tail, no recline, galley/lavs

Comparable Guides

FAQ

When will Qantas's A350-1000ULR start flying?▼

The first aircraft is now scheduled for delivery in April 2027 (pushed back from late 2026). The inaugural Project Sunrise route, Sydney–London nonstop, is expected to launch in the second half of 2027, with Sydney–New York to follow. Qantas has 12 of the type on order.

Does Qantas have more than one version of the A350-1000?▼

No. Unlike the airline's A330 and 787 fleets, all 12 A350-1000ULRs are being delivered in one identical Project Sunrise configuration — 238 seats across four cabins. The seat map you see at booking is exactly what you'll fly.

What are the best seats in Economy?▼

For the view and space, choose window pairs 42A/K, 49A/K or 52A/K, which have the best window alignment. For legroom, the front Economy Plus rows offer 34-inch pitch plus priority boarding. Avoid the last row (56) and the poorly aligned window rows 41, 44, 51 and 54.

Is the WiFi free?▼

Yes. The A350-1000ULR uses Viasat Ka-band WiFi offered free of charge across all cabins — essential on flights pushing 20 hours.

What is the Wellbeing Zone?▼

A dedicated stretch-and-move space between cabins with sculpted wall panels, integrated stretch handles, a guided on-screen movement program, a hydration station and premium refreshments — designed to help passengers stay comfortable on ultra-long-haul sectors.

Why does a 350-seat aircraft only carry 238 passengers?▼

Project Sunrise flights are the longest commercial routes in the world, so Qantas traded seat count for space and weight: more premium cabins, wider personal space, the Wellbeing Zone, and a lighter payload to enable the nonstop range. The result is the lowest-density A350-1000 flying anywhere.

Seat ratings and recommendations reflect SeatCompare's own cabin analysis. Layout is provisional pending the aircraft's 2027 entry into service.