Royal Jordanian 787 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Royal Jordanian flies the Boeing 787 from Amman to London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and across the Middle East. As of August 2026 there are two completely different aircraft doing that work, and which one you get changes the flight more than the route does.
The 787-8 carries a 2-2-2 Crown Class cabin where the window passenger has to climb over their neighbour to reach the aisle. The 787-9, which entered service in April 2026, carries 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone suites with sliding doors, where all 32 seats reach the aisle directly. Same airline, same routes, two different decades of business class.
This guide covers both. The 787-8 comes first because it is still the aircraft you are most likely to be booked on.
✈️ Quick Verdict
On the 787-8: Crown Class 3D / 3G, Economy 25C / 25G. On the 787-9: Crown Class 4A / 4K / 7A / 7K, Economy 30A / 30K. Avoid 4A/4K on the 787-8 and 5A/5K on the 787-9 — no window at all.
1. Quick Verdict
| Boeing 787-8 | Boeing 787-9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet | 7 aircraft | 2 aircraft, 6 on order |
| Configuration | 24J / 246Y (270 seats) | 32J / 280Y (312 seats) |
| Crown Class layout | 2-2-2, rows 1–4 | 1-2-1 suites, rows 1–8 |
| Direct aisle access | Centre seats only (8 of 24) | All 32 seats |
| Privacy doors | No | Yes |
| Economy layout | 3-3-3, rows 5–20 and 25–37 | 3-3-3, rows 11–26 and 29–44 |
| Economy seat letters | A-B-C | D-E-F | G-H-K | A-B-C | D-E-F | H-J-K |
| Best Crown Class seats | 3D, 3G, 2D, 2G | 4A, 4K, 7A, 7K |
| Crown Class to avoid | 4A, 4K (no window), row 1 | 5A, 5K (no window), 1A, 1K |
| Best Economy seats | 25C, 25G (exit); 27A, 27K, 31A, 31K | 30A, 30K; 11D, 11F |
| Economy to avoid | Rows 19, 20, 37; row 5 | Rows 25, 26, 43, 44; 41A, 41K |
| IFE | Thales Avant, 17in / 10.6in | Panasonic on-demand |
| Power | 110V AC + USB-A in Crown; USB-A only in Economy | AC + USB in both cabins |
| Wi-Fi | None | Viasat Ka-band, roughly 10–40 Mbps |
| Air vents | Yes, at every seat | Yes, at every seat |
2. The Version Lottery
⚠️ Two different aircraft, two different decades of business class
This is the single most important thing to know before you pick a seat on Royal Jordanian. Seven 787-8s fly a 2-2-2 Crown Class with no Wi-Fi; two 787-9s fly 1-2-1 suites with doors and Ka-band Wi-Fi.
2.1 What you might get
The 787-8 (seven aircraft). Collins Diamond Parallel seats in 2-2-2. Fully flat at 180 degrees, 20.6in wide, a 78in bed and a 17in screen — but the two window passengers in each row have to step over the person on the aisle to get out. There is no Wi-Fi. This is the aircraft on the overwhelming majority of Royal Jordanian's long-haul departures.
The 787-9 (two aircraft, six on order). Collins Elements reverse-herringbone suites in 1-2-1, with sliding privacy doors, direct aisle access at every seat, Panasonic entertainment and Viasat Ka-band Wi-Fi. This is a genuinely competitive Gulf-region business class.
The gap between the two is not a matter of taste. If you are paying a business-class fare on an overnight sector, the 787-9 is worth actively chasing.
2.2 How to tell which one you are getting
- Check the aircraft type at booking. Royal Jordanian shows 787-8 and 787-9 separately in the booking flow.
- Count the Crown Class seats on the seat map. 24 seats means the 787-8; 32 seats means the 787-9.
- Look at the first row number in Economy. The 787-8's Economy starts at row 5, the 787-9's at row 11. This is the fastest tell if all you can see is a seat map.
- Look at the right-hand Economy triple. The 787-8 uses G-H-K; the 787-9 uses H-J-K. If you see a seat "J" anywhere, you are on the 787-9.
- Re-check 24 hours before departure. With only two 787-9s in the fleet, swaps in either direction are common.
2.3 The retrofit, and why it has not resolved anything yet
Royal Jordanian has committed to refitting all seven 787-8s to match the 787-9 — new suites, new interiors and Wi-Fi throughout. The first aircraft went into the shop in late 2025. As of August 2026 the airline has not published a completed-aircraft list or a revised seat count for the refitted 787-8s, so there is currently one published 787-8 layout and this guide describes it. Expect a third variant to appear during 2026–27, at which point the 787-8 seat numbers below will change.
3. Boeing 787-8 — Crown Class
24 seats, rows 1–4, 2-2-2. Seat letters run A-C | D-G | H-K.
| Seat | Collins Diamond Parallel, angled pairs |
| Bed | Fully flat, 180 degrees, 78in |
| Width | 20.6in |
| Space per seat | 13.1 sq ft |
| Screen | 17in touchscreen, Thales Avant |
| Power | 110V universal AC and USB-A |
| Armrest | Adjustable on the aisle side only |
| Air vent / privacy door | Yes / No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
3.1 The thing everyone gets wrong about this cabin
The received wisdom is that a 2-2-2 business class has no direct aisle access. On this aircraft that is only two-thirds true, and the exception is the best-kept secret in the cabin.
The centre pair is D and G — not D-E and F-G, as this cabin is often described. D sits against the left aisle. G sits against the right aisle. They are next to each other, with nothing between them and their own aisle. Both centre passengers can get up without disturbing anybody.
- D and G (8 seats) — direct aisle access, nobody to climb over. The best seats.
- C and H (8 seats) — direct aisle access, but you are the one being climbed over.
- A and K (8 seats) — window, but you climb over C or H every time.
If you are travelling alone and the map shows D or G free, take it over the aisle. If you are travelling as a pair, D-G is the only combination in the cabin where neither of you is trapped or trampled.
3.2 Best Crown Class seats (787-8)
✅ Best Crown Class picks
3D and 3G — direct aisle access, mid-cabin, furthest from both galleys.
| Priority | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 3D, 3G | Direct aisle access, mid-cabin, furthest from both galleys. |
| Best for couples | 2D-2G, 3D-3G | Sit together, both reach the aisle outward, neither climbs. |
| Solo, aisle preferred | 2C, 2H, 3C, 3H | True aisle seats away from the galleys — but your window neighbour will step over you. |
| Best footwell | 1D, 1G | Row 1 has the most generous footwell; the trade-off is galley noise and light. |
| Best window | 2A, 2K, 3A, 3K | Only worth it if the seat beside you is your travelling companion. |
3.3 Crown Class seats to avoid (787-8)
🚫 Seats to avoid in Crown Class
- 4A, 4K — no window at all. Solid wall where the window should be, plus the rear galley behind. The two worst seats in Crown Class.
- Row 1 (all) — directly behind the forward galley and lavatories: service noise, door movement and light through the night. Row 1 does have the best footwell, so it is a real trade-off rather than a blanket no.
- Any A or K travelling solo — you will climb over a stranger, repeatedly, on a flight that is probably overnight.
3.4 Crown Class seat-by-seat (787-8)
| Row | A (window) | C (aisle) | D (centre) | G (centre) | H (aisle) | K (window) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caution — galley | Caution — galley | Good — best footwell | Good — best footwell | Caution — galley | Caution — galley |
| 2 | Caution — climb-over | Good | Best | Best | Good | Caution — climb-over |
| 3 | Caution — climb-over | Good | Best | Best | Good | Caution — climb-over |
| 4 | Avoid — no window | Caution — rear galley | Best | Best | Caution — rear galley | Avoid — no window |
4. Boeing 787-8 — Economy
246 seats, rows 5–20 and 25–37, 3-3-3. Seat letters run A-B-C | D-E-F | G-H-K. There is no seat J on this aircraft, and there are no rows 21 to 24 — the numbering jumps at the mid-cabin doors. Middle seats are B, E and H.
| Seat | Collins Aerospace Pinnacle |
| Pitch / width / recline | 32in / 17.1in / 3in |
| Space per seat | 5.1 sq ft |
| Screen | 10.6in touchscreen |
| Power | USB-A only — no AC outlet in Economy |
| Air vent | Yes |
| Windows | 787 electro-dimming, roughly 65% larger than a conventional cabin |
4.1 Best Economy seats (787-8)
| Priority | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most legroom | 25C, 25G | The two aisle seats in the exit row at door 3. Big legroom, no door intrusion, and you are not boxed in. The standout Economy pick. |
| Legroom, will take a middle | 25B, 25H | Same exit-row legroom, but middle seats — worth it only if legroom is the whole reason you are choosing. |
| Best legroom, centre | 26D, 26F | Centre bulkhead behind the exit — extra knee room with no seatback ahead. Skip 26E, a middle seat and the bassinet position. |
| Best window | 27A, 27K, 31A, 31K | Windows that line up squarely with the seat. On a 787 that matters more than usual. |
| Quiet taper row | 35A, 35H | The cabin narrows to 2-3-2 here, so these two have a neighbour on one side only. |
| Forward cabin | Rows 8–16, A/C/F/G/K | Earlier service, less through-traffic, quicker off the aircraft. |
4.2 Economy seats to avoid (787-8)
🚫 Seats to avoid in Economy
- Row 5 (except 5E) — it looks like the prize (bulkhead, extra legroom, front of the cabin). It is not: a lavatory door opens directly onto it, and 5B, 5E and 5H are the bassinet positions.
- Rows 19 and 20 — backed onto the mid-cabin lavatory bank. Row 20 is the worse of the two.
- Row 37 (D, E, F) — final row, three seats wide, rear galley immediately behind.
- 25A, 25K — exit-row legroom, but no window at all and the door bulge takes roughly 80–85% of the seat width.
- Rows 6 and 7 — row 6 catches the forward lavatory queue; 7A and 7K have badly misaligned windows.
- Misaligned windows — 7A/K, 17A/K, 20A/K, 26A/K, 30A/K, 33A/K, 34A/K: the window sits behind the seat, so you lean back to see out.
- Any B, E or H — middle seats. E is the most boxed-in position on the aircraft.
5. Boeing 787-9 — the new aircraft
Royal Jordanian took its first 787-9 in 2026 and put it into service in April. Two are flying, with six on order. The published layout is still provisional while deliveries continue, so treat the row-level detail below as current-best rather than settled.
5.1 Crown Class — 32 suites, rows 1–8, 1-2-1
Collins Elements reverse-herringbone suites with sliding doors. Seat letters are A | D-G | K. Window suites A and K angle in toward the window; centre suites D and G angle in toward each other. There is no stagger and no odd/even row difference — every one of the 32 suites reaches the aisle directly.
| Priority | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 4A, 4K, 7A, 7K | Window suites where the windows line up squarely with the seat. |
| Best for couples | 1D-1G through 8D-8G | The centre pairs sit together with the divider down. Any row works; mid-cabin rows are quietest. |
| Solo, want the view | 2A, 2K, 3A, 3K, 8A, 8K | Good window suites, slightly less perfect alignment than row 4 or 7. |
| Avoid | 5A, 5K | No window at this position. |
| Avoid | 1A, 1K | A plugged window nearby cuts the view, and it is the first row behind the galley. |
| Avoid | 6A, 6K | Windows sit badly against the suite — restricted view. |
5.2 Economy — 280 seats, rows 11–26 and 29–44, 3-3-3
Seat letters are A-B-C | D-E-F | H-J-K — note the J, which does not exist on the 787-8. Middle seats are B, E and J. Row numbering jumps from 26 to 29.
| Priority | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 30A, 30K | Extra legroom and a perfectly aligned window. The best Economy seats on either aircraft. |
| Best legroom | 11D, 11E, 11F | Centre bulkhead with roughly 28–29in of clear space to the wall. 11E is a middle seat, but the legroom nearly compensates. |
| Best window | 34A, 34K, 38A, 38K | Square window alignment. |
| Good legroom, with a catch | 30C, 30D, 30F, 30H | Extra legroom in the same row, aisle and centre positions. |
| Avoid | Rows 25 and 26 | Backed onto the mid-cabin lavatories. Row 26 is the worst row in the forward cabin. |
| Avoid | Row 29 | It is the exit row, but the lavatories sit directly in front of it. Take row 30 instead — same legroom, none of the queue. |
| Avoid | 41A, 41K | No window at this position — solid wall. |
| Avoid | Rows 43 and 44 | Rear lavatories immediately behind. Row 44 is three seats wide and last. |
| Caution | 42A, 42K | Excellent windows, but rear lavatory traffic is close behind. |
| Caution | 14A/K, 18A/K, 22A/K, 33A/K, 37A/K | Misaligned windows. |
6. Cabin features compared
| 787-8 Crown | 787-9 Crown | 787-8 Economy | 787-9 Economy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Layout | 2-2-2 | 1-2-1 suites | 3-3-3 | 3-3-3 |
| Seats | 24 | 32 | 246 | 280 |
| Rows | 1–4 | 1–8 | 5–20, 25–37 | 11–26, 29–44 |
| Letters | A-C | D-G | H-K | A | D-G | K | A-B-C | D-E-F | G-H-K | A-B-C | D-E-F | H-J-K |
| Direct aisle access | 8 of 24 | 32 of 32 | — | — |
| Privacy door | No | Yes | — | — |
| Pitch / width | 78in bed / 20.6in | Suite | 32in / 17.1in | 32in |
| Screen | 17in | Panasonic | 10.6in | Panasonic |
| AC power | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No | Viasat Ka-band | No | Viasat Ka-band |
7. Quick-pick summary
| Traveller | On the 787-8 | On the 787-9 |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, business | 3D or 3G — direct aisle access without climbing | 4A or 7A — window suite, aligned window |
| Couple, business | 2D-2G or 3D-3G | Any D-G centre pair |
| Solo, economy, legroom first | 25C or 25G (exit row aisle) | 30C or 30H |
| Solo, economy, view first | 27A, 27K, 31A or 31K | 30A, 30K, 34A or 34K |
| Couple, economy | 27A-27B or 31A-31B | 34A-34B or 38A-38B |
| Family with infant | Row 5 or 26E (bassinets) | Row 11 (bassinet bulkhead) |
| Anyone avoiding noise | Rows 8–16 | Rows 12–21 |
| Budget, do not care | Anything in rows 8–18 | Anything in rows 12–24 |
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get the 787-8 or the 787-9?
Almost certainly the 787-8 — Royal Jordanian has seven of them against two 787-9s. Check the aircraft type at booking and again 24 hours before departure. The quickest tell on a seat map: Economy starts at row 5 on the 787-8 and row 11 on the 787-9, and only the 787-9 has a seat lettered J.
Why do the 787-8 window seats have no aisle access, and is there a workaround?
The Collins Diamond Parallel is a 2-2-2 seat arranged in pairs, so the window passenger in A or K has to step over whoever is in C or H. The workaround is the centre pair: seats D and G each sit against their own aisle, so both centre passengers get up freely. Booking alone, D or G beats every window and every aisle in the cabin.
Which 787-8 Crown Class seats should I actually book?
3D or 3G if you are alone. 2D-2G or 3D-3G if you are two. Avoid 4A and 4K — there is no window at all at those positions.
Does Royal Jordanian have Wi-Fi?
On the 787-9, yes — Viasat Ka-band, good for browsing and light streaming at roughly 10–40 Mbps. On the 787-8, no. Wi-Fi is part of the 787-8 retrofit programme but has not yet reached the flying fleet.
Are the 787-8s being upgraded?
Yes. All seven are due to be refitted with the same suites and Wi-Fi as the 787-9, a programme that started in late 2025. Royal Jordanian has not published a completed-aircraft list or a revised seat count, so until it does, the 787-8 layout in this guide is the one to plan around.
Is there Premium Economy?
No. Both 787s are two-class aircraft — Crown Class and Economy.
Why do the seat letters differ between the two aircraft?
The 787-8's Economy triples run A-B-C, D-E-F, G-H-K. The 787-9's run A-B-C, D-E-F, H-J-K. Aviation convention skips "I", and the two aircraft were specified at different times. It matters in practice: "12H" is an aisle seat on the 787-9 and a middle seat on the 787-8.
Should I wait for the 787-9?
For a business-class fare on an overnight, it is worth some flexibility — direct aisle access and a closing door is a real upgrade over climbing across a stranger. For Economy the two aircraft are close enough that it is not worth rearranging a trip, though row 30 on the 787-9 is the single best Economy seat Royal Jordanian offers.
Comparable Guides
- LOT Polish Airlines 787 Seat Selection Guide — the other big 2-2-2 Dreamliner business class, also mid-upgrade
- Saudia 787-9 Seat Selection Guide — Collins Super Diamond 1-2-1 on neighbouring routes
- Oman Air 787-9 Seat Selection Guide — Apex Suite, a different answer to the same problem
- Gulf Air 787-9 Seat Selection Guide — regional comparison