Qatar Airways Airbus A320 Seat Selection Guide (2026)

Row 8 is not the legroom row

On a booking map, row 8 is the first row of Economy with nothing in front of it. It reads as the bulkhead row, and bulkhead rows normally mean stretch-out space. On both versions of Qatar's A320 it means the opposite.

The distance to the wall ahead of row 8 measures 16in on the 320H and 14in on the 320L — in both cases closer than a typical bulkhead, not further. On top of that there is no underseat storage, so your bag goes in the bin for the whole flight, and the tray table and screen live in the armrest, which eats into the seat width. On the 144-seat version row 8 gets no extra-legroom credit at all.

If legroom is what you are paying for, the exit rows are the answer: 14 and 15 on the 320H, 11 and 12 on the 320L. On the 320H those come in at about 34in against a cabin norm of about 31in.

The two aisle seats in row 8 — 8C and 8D — are the least bad of the six, because the bulkhead ahead of them is partial rather than full and leaves some diagonal room to one side. It is a consolation, not a reason to book.

Version lottery: one of these jets has no WiFi

Both configurations carry exactly twelve Business seats in a 2-2 layout across rows 1 to 3. That is where the similarity stops.

The 132-seat version (Qatar's own cabin code is 320L) has the Collins Parallel Diamond seat in Business — angled rather than square-on, and occupying roughly 40% more cabin length per row than the seat on the other jet. It also has Panasonic eXConnect Ku-band satellite WiFi and ambient mood lighting, and it carries twelve fewer Economy passengers.

The 144-seat version (the 320H) has an un-angled recliner in a noticeably shorter pitch, twelve extra Economy seats squeezed in behind, and no WiFi at all — the sub-fleet is recorded as having none, not as having a paid or patchy service.

There is no trade-off to weigh here. On this aircraft type the smaller-cabin jet is better in Business, better in Economy and better connected. If your itinerary offers a choice of flights, the 132-seater is the one to take.

How to tell which version you're on

Open the seat map and look at the last row of the aircraft:

• Last row is 30 → the 144-seat 320H. Exit rows are 14 and 15. No WiFi.
• Last row is 28 → the 132-seat 320L. Exit rows are 11 and 12. WiFi fitted.

Both cabins letter Business A C · D F and Economy A B C · D E F, both start Economy at row 8, and neither has a row 13. The Business cabin is rows 1–3 either way, so the row numbers up front tell you nothing — it is the back of the aircraft that gives it away.

Business Class — 144-seat version (320H)

Rows 1–3, lettered A C · D F. There is no B or E. Twelve un-angled recliners.

Book 1A or 1F. Both get two windows and the most room ahead at the bulkhead of any seat in the cabin.

Avoid 1D. It is the front-row aisle seat on the right, it looks like the pick of the cabin on a booking map, and the forward galley sits directly ahead of it — noise and bright light through every meal service. 1C is the identical seat on the other side of the aisle without the galley, and it is the one to take if you want an aisle in row 1.

Rows 2 and 3 are unremarkable and quiet. 2A and 2F get two windows each; row 3 drops to one, and backs onto the Economy bulkhead.

Business Class — 132-seat version (320L)

Rows 1–3, lettered A C · D F, in the Collins Parallel Diamond. Every seat is angled, and the row pitch is far greater than on the other jet — this is the reason the aircraft carries twelve fewer passengers.

Book a window: 1A, 1F, 2A or 2F. All four get two windows, and unlike the 320H there is no galley penalty on any seat in this cabin. Row 3 keeps the same pitch as rows 1 and 2, so if the front rows are gone you lose nothing structural by sitting further back.

One thing the angling does not buy you: both seats in a pair lean the same way, so a window passenger still steps past the aisle passenger to get out. Direct aisle access is zero in this cabin. If that matters more to you than the seat itself, take 1C, 1D, 2C, 2D, 3C or 3D.

Economy — 144-seat version (320H)

Rows 8–30, 3-3, no row 13. About 31in of pitch as standard.

Book the exit rows, 14 and 15. Both run at about 34in. Row 15 is the better of the two for a window seat — 15A and 15F get two windows where 14A and 14F get one. Nothing may be stowed at your feet during take-off and landing in either row.

Two window pairs are quietly defective. At 9A, 9F, 11A and 11F the window sits behind the seat rather than beside it, so you have to lean back to see out of it. 10A, 10F, 12A and 12F are one row away in each case and properly aligned.

The best windows in the cabin are 24A/24F, 26A/26F and 28A/28F. All six have great alignment and all six stay clear of the rear lavatory bank. 28A and 28F are the last good window seats before the cabin turns bad.

Avoid rows 29 and 30 entirely. Twelve seats, all of them against the rear lavatory bank. 30A and 30F are the sting: the window alignment there is genuinely good, and it is spent on the last row of the aircraft with limited recline and a queue at your shoulder.

Economy — 132-seat version (320L)

Rows 8–28, 3-3, no row 13. The same 3-3 seat, but twelve fewer people sharing the cabin and its lavatories.

Book the exit rows, 11 and 12. They sit at the same point in the fuselage as rows 14 and 15 on the other jet — the numbering differs only because the Business cabin ahead is longer. Row 12 is the better window choice, with two windows against row 11's one.

The best windows are 22A/22F, 24A/24F and 26A/26F. Great alignment, well clear of the tail. Note that these are physically the same three positions as 24/26/28 on the 320H — if you have flown the other version and remember booking 26A, the equivalent seat here is 24A.

Unlike the 320H, no window seat in this cabin is misaligned. Rows 9 through 21 are unremarkable in the best sense.

Avoid rows 27 and 28. Both back onto the rear lavatories, and 28C and 28D have the galley behind them as well — bright light and noise through meal preparation on top of the queue. As on the other jet, the last row's good window alignment at 28A and 28F is wasted.

Cabin features compared

	144-seat · 320H	132-seat · 320L
Business seat	Un-angled recliner	Collins Parallel Diamond, angled
Business seats / rows	12, rows 1–3	12, rows 1–3
Economy seats / rows	132, rows 8–30	120, rows 8–28
Exit rows	14 and 15 (~34in)	11 and 12
Bulkhead row 8 wall	16in ahead — no legroom credit	14in ahead
Misaligned windows	9A, 9F, 11A, 11F	None
Best windows	24, 26, 28 (A and F)	22, 24, 26 (A and F)
Lavatory rows to avoid	29 and 30	27 and 28
IFE	Panasonic eX2, gate to gate	Panasonic eX2, gate to gate
WiFi	None	Panasonic eXConnect Ku-band
Mood lighting	Not recorded	Yes

Quick-pick summary

You are…	144-seat 320H	132-seat 320L
Solo in Business	1A or 1F; 1C if you want the aisle	1A, 1F, 2A or 2F
A couple in Business	1A/1C or 2A/2C	1A/1C or 2A/2C
Solo in Economy	24A, 26A or 28A (or the F equivalents)	22A, 24A or 26A (or the F equivalents)
A couple in Economy	A/B or E/F pair in rows 17–28	A/B or E/F pair in rows 15–26
Family of three	A full A–C or D–F side, rows 17–26	A full A–C or D–F side, rows 15–24
Legroom above all	15A or 15F; any seat in rows 14–15	12A or 12F; any seat in rows 11–12
You need to work online	Not on this aircraft — there is no WiFi	Anywhere; 10–40 Mbps satellite
Paying as little as possible	Rows 16–28, avoiding 8, 9A/9F, 11A/11F	Rows 14–26, avoiding row 8

FAQ

Does the Qatar A320 have WiFi?

Only on one of the two versions. The 132-seat 320L has Panasonic eXConnect Ku-band satellite WiFi in the 10–40 Mbps class. The 144-seat 320H has no WiFi fitted at all. Check the last row on your seat map: 28 means WiFi, 30 means none.

Is row 8 an extra-legroom row?

No, despite being the bulkhead row. The wall is 16in ahead on the 320H and 14in on the 320L, tighter than a normal bulkhead. You also lose underseat storage and some seat width to the armrest tray. The exit rows are where the legroom is.

Which rows are the exit rows?

Rows 14 and 15 on the 144-seat version, rows 11 and 12 on the 132-seat version. They are the same physical position in the fuselage — the numbers differ because the 132-seater's Business cabin takes up more length. On both, the second of the pair has two windows and is the better window booking.

Is Qatar's A320 Business class a flat bed?

No. Both versions are short-haul Business seats in a 2-2 layout with no middle seat. The 132-seater's Collins Parallel Diamond is angled and noticeably roomier than the recliner on the 144-seater, but neither goes flat, and neither gives the window passenger a way out without passing their neighbour.

Where is row 13?

It does not exist on either version, so Economy runs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14. This is not an error on the seat map.

Is this the same as Qatar's A321neo?

No. The A321neo is a separate type, entered service in October 2025, and it flies in a single-class 236-seat all-Economy layout with no Business cabin at all. Nothing in this guide applies to it.