Thai Airways 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Thai Airways operates just five Boeing 787-9s, and they are not the same aeroplane inside. Two are the original Thai-spec build; three came second-hand from Hainan Airlines and kept their previous owner's cabin. Both give you 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone Business with direct aisle access from every seat — a genuine step up from Thai's 787-8, which is still stuck with a 2-2-2 layout — but almost every detail below that differs.
The seat letters are different. The row numbers are different. The good window rows on one version are the bad window rows on the other. And only one of the two has an extra-legroom Economy mini-cabin. This guide covers both.
✈️ Quick Verdict
- Fleet: 5 aircraft — 2× V.1 (298 seats, original Thai) and 3× V.2 (292 seats, ex-Hainan)
- Version lottery: Yes — significant
- Best Business: 19A/19K on V.1 · 12A/12K and 20D/20F on V.2
- Business to avoid: 11K, 16A, 16K on V.1 · 17A, 17K, 19A, 19K on V.2
- Best Economy: rows 32–34 on V.2 — 36" pitch, the best Economy on either jet
- Economy to avoid: rows 45–46 and 60–62 (V.1) · rows 44–45, 47 centre and 58–61 (V.2)
- Power: 110V AC + USB-A at every seat on both versions
Quick Verdict Table
| V.1 — Original Thai | V.2 — Ex-Hainan | |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet count | 2 aircraft | 3 aircraft |
| Total seats | 298 | 292 |
| Configuration | 30 Royal Silk / 268 Economy | 30 Business / 262 Economy |
| Business layout | 1-2-1 reverse herringbone, rows 11–19 | 1-2-1 reverse herringbone, rows 11–20 |
| Business seat letters | A · E F · K | A · D F · K |
| Business seat | Safran Cirrus II | Safran Cirrus III |
| Business width / pitch | 20" / not published | 21" / 42" |
| Economy layout | 3-3-3, rows 31–62 | 3-3-3, rows 31–61 |
| Economy pitch | 32" throughout | 32", 36" in rows 31–34 |
| Economy recline | 4" | 3" |
| Best Business seats | 19A, 19K | 12A, 12K, 20D, 20F |
| Best Economy seats | 31A, 31K, 49A, 49K, 52A, 52K | 32A/K, 33A/K, 34A/K |
| IFE | Panasonic eX3 — 16" / 10.6" | Panasonic eX3 — 16" / 10.6" |
| Wi-Fi | Panasonic Ku-band satellite | Satellite service |
The short answer: if you have a choice, take V.1 in Business (better window alignment, more recline in the back, and a two-seat mini-row at 19A/19K) and V.2 in Economy (rows 31–34 at 36" pitch are the best Economy seats on either aircraft).
The Version Lottery
⚠️ Refit alert: Thai's two 787-9 sub-fleets share a cabin concept and almost nothing else. A seat number that is excellent on one aircraft may not even exist on the other.
Business Class: same layout, different seat letters
Both aircraft use a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone Business cabin with 30 seats and 100% direct aisle access — but the lettering differs.
| V.1 | V.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Window seats | A and K | A and K |
| Centre pair | E and F | D and F |
| Rows used | 11, 12, 14–19 | 11, 12, 15–20 |
| Rows skipped | 13 | 13, 14 |
| Short row | Row 19 — A and K only | Row 20 — D and F only |
Note the mirror image at the back of the cabin. V.1's odd row out is a pair of window seats; V.2's is a pair of centre seats. Travelling solo and want maximum privacy? V.1's row 19. Travelling as a couple? V.2's row 20 is a two-seat private centre alcove.
Economy: only one version has extra legroom
- V.1 is 32" pitch from row 31 to row 62. Row 31 gets bulkhead floor space, but the pitch is standard.
- V.2 carries the ex-Hainan mini-cabin: rows 31–34 at 36" pitch — four full rows, 36 seats, four inches more legroom than anything on V.1.
The catch: V.2's Economy seats recline 3" against V.1's 4". In rows 31–34 that trade is worth taking; from row 35 back, V.1 is the marginally more comfortable Economy cabin, and V.1 also gives you a gasper vent at every seat, which V.2 does not have.
Business Class
V.1 — Royal Silk, Safran Cirrus II
30 seats · rows 11–19 · 1-2-1 reverse herringbone · letters A · E F · K
Fully flat 6'7" bed, 20" wide, 16" HD touchscreen, 110V universal AC plus two USB-A ports, individual gasper vent and an adjustable aisle-side armrest. No privacy door, no Bluetooth pairing, no wireless charging. Roughly 13 sq ft per seat. The cabin runs rows 11, 12, 14–19 — there is no row 13.
✅ Best Business seats (V.1)
- 19A, 19K — the pick of the cabin. Only two seats in the row, best window alignment on the aircraft, no centre neighbours.
- 12A, 12K — well-aligned windows, clear of the forward lavatories and galley traffic.
- 15A/15K, 17A/17K, 18A/18K — solid mid- and rear-cabin windows.
- 12E/12F, 15E/15F, 17E/17F, 18E/18F — centre pairs; reverse herringbone angles you away from your neighbour.
🚫 Business seats to avoid (V.1)
- 11K — directly beside a forward lavatory. Door noise, odours and a queue at your shoulder. Worst seat in the cabin.
- 16A, 16K — no window at all; they align with a blank fuselage panel.
- 11F — lavatory queueing traffic in the aisle beside you.
- 11A — bassinet position.
V.2 — Business, Safran Cirrus III
30 seats · rows 11–20 · 1-2-1 reverse herringbone · letters A · D F · K
Fully flat, 21" wide, 42" pitch, 16" touchscreen, 110V AC and USB-A. No gasper vent, no privacy door, no Bluetooth, no wireless charging. About 12.9 sq ft per seat. Rows run 11, 12, 15–20 — there is no row 13 or 14.
✅ Best Business seats (V.2)
- 12A, 12K — the best window seats on this variant, clear of the forward galley and lavatories.
- 20D, 20F — a two-seat centre pair alone at the back. The most private pairing on either aircraft for couples.
- 15A/15K, 16A/16K, 18A/18K — reliable window seats with normal alignment.
- 15D/15F, 16D/16F, 18D/18F — centre pairs, angled away from each other.
🚫 Business seats to avoid (V.2)
- 17A, 17K — no window; solid fuselage alongside the seat.
- 19A, 19K — poor window alignment.
- 11F, 11K — forward lavatory queueing traffic; 11K is also a bassinet position.
Economy
V.1 — 268 seats, rows 31–62, 3-3-3
Safran Z300 seats: 17.1" wide, 32" pitch throughout, 4" recline, 10.6" touchscreen, 110V AC and USB-A at every seat, four-way headrest and an individual gasper vent. Letters are A B C · D E F · H J K. Forward section rows 31–46, rear section rows 48–62 — there is no row 47.
✅ Best Economy seats (V.1)
- 31A, 31K — bulkhead with the best window alignment in the cabin. No underseat storage; tray table in the armrest.
- 49A, 49K — first row behind the mid-cabin exit doors, excellent window alignment.
- 52A, 52K — well-aligned windows, mid-cabin, far from both lavatory banks.
- 31C — partial bulkhead ahead means extra stretch room, plus aisle access.
🚫 Economy seats to avoid (V.1)
- Rows 45 and 46 — backed onto the mid-cabin lavatory bank.
- 48C, 48H — immediately beside a lavatory door in the exit-row block.
- 49D, 49E, 49F — extra legroom, but lavatory-adjacent; 49E is a bassinet position.
- 48A, 48K — exit row, but the door structure intrudes into ~80–85% of the seat width ahead.
- Rows 60, 61, 62 — tail section flanked by the rear lavatories; 61 and 62 are partial rows.
- 33A, 43A/K, 51A/K, 54A/K, 59A/K — poor or missing window alignment.
V.2 — 262 seats, rows 31–61, 3-3-3
Safran Z300: 17.1" wide, 32" standard pitch but 36" in rows 31–34, 3" recline, 10.6" touchscreen, 110V AC and USB-A, four-way headrest. No gasper vent. Letters are A B C · D E F · H J K in rows 31–45, then A B C · D E G · H J K from row 46 back — the centre-block letters change mid-cabin.
✅ Best Economy seats (V.2)
- 32A/32K, 33A/33K, 34A/34K — the best Economy seats on either Thai 787-9. Full 36" pitch, no bulkhead penalty, clear of forward lavatory traffic.
- 31E, 31F — bulkhead with an unusually generous 29" to the wall, plus the 36" pitch. 31E is a bassinet position.
- 31H — partial bulkhead ahead gives extra room, with aisle access.
- All of rows 32–34 — even the middles get 36" pitch.
🚫 Economy seats to avoid (V.2)
- Rows 44 and 45 — backed onto the mid-cabin lavatory bank; row 45 is a partial row.
- 43D, 43E, 43F — directly against the lavatory wall.
- 46A, 46K — exit row, but the door structure intrudes into ~80% of the seat width, plus lavatory traffic.
- 46D, 46E, 46G — extra legroom on paper, beside a lavatory door in practice.
- 47D, 47E, 47G — a bulkhead row that is worse than a normal seat: the wall sits only 18" ahead.
- Rows 58–61 — rear lavatory adjacency and partial rows in the tail taper.
Quick-Pick Summary
| Traveller | V.1 pick | V.2 pick |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, Business, max privacy | 19A or 19K | 12A or 12K |
| Couple, Business | 15E + 15F | 20D + 20F |
| Business, view matters | 19A / 19K — avoid 16A/16K | 12A / 12K — avoid 17A/17K |
| Economy, legroom priority | 31A or 31K | 32A or 32K (36" pitch) |
| Economy, window seeker | 31A/K, 49A/K, 52A/K | 32A/K, 33A/K, 34A/K |
| Family with infant | 31B, 31E or 31J | 31A, 31E or 31J |
| Budget, just want quiet | Rows 34–42 | Rows 48–56 |
| Avoid at all costs | Rows 45–46, 60–62 | Rows 44–45, 47 centre, 58–61 |
How to Tell Which Version You're On
- Count the seats on the booking seat map. 298 = V.1. 292 = V.2.
- Look at the Business centre pair. E and F = V.1. D and F = V.2.
- Find the last Business row. Row 19 with only A and K = V.1. Row 20 with only D and F = V.2.
- Check Economy rows 31–34. Priced or marked differently from row 35 back? You're on V.2 and those are the 36" pitch rows.
- Check the last Economy row. Row 62 = V.1. Row 61 = V.2.
Known Quirks
| Quirk | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft swaps | Thai substitutes widebodies at short notice. With only five 787-9s, a booked 787-9 becoming an A350 or 777 is common — re-check the seat map close to departure. |
| 787-9 vs 787-8 | The 787-9 is 1-2-1 with direct aisle access. The 787-8 is 2-2-2 — window seats require climbing over a neighbour. |
| Missing window rows | 16A/16K on V.1 and 17A/17K on V.2 have no window at all. Neither seat map flags this. |
| The row 47 trap (V.2) | 47D/E/G looks like a bulkhead row with extra space. It has less legroom than standard Economy behind it. |
| Letter change mid-cabin (V.2) | Economy centre block is D-E-F in rows 31–45 and D-E-G from row 46 back. |
| Cabin altitude | Both are 787s — lower cabin altitude and higher humidity than Thai's 777s and A330s. |
FAQ
Is the Thai 787-9 better than the 787-8?
Yes, clearly. The 787-9 has 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone Business where every seat has direct aisle access. The 787-8 uses 2-2-2, so window passengers climb over a neighbour. If you have a choice between Thai 787s, always take the -9.
Are there extra-legroom Economy seats on the Thai 787-9?
Only on the ex-Hainan version (V.2, 292 seats). Rows 31–34 there have 36" pitch. The original Thai version (V.1, 298 seats) is 32" pitch front to back, with no extra-legroom section at all.
What's the difference between the two Thai 787-9 versions?
V.1 (2 aircraft, 298 seats) is the original Thai build: Cirrus II Business with centre seats E and F, rows 11–19, and 32" Economy at 4" recline. V.2 (3 aircraft, 292 seats) came from Hainan: Cirrus III Business with centre seats D and F, rows 11–20, and Economy at 3" recline but with a 36" pitch mini-cabin in rows 31–34.
Which Thai 787-9 seats have no window?
16A and 16K on V.1, and 17A and 17K on V.2 — all in Business. On V.2, 57A and 57K in Economy also have no usable window. Poor-alignment rows: 33A, 43A/K, 51A/K, 54A/K and 59A/K on V.1; 35A/K, 38A/K and 41A/K on V.2.
Does Thai have Premium Economy on the 787-9?
No. Both versions are two-class. V.2's rows 31–34 at 36" pitch are the closest thing to a premium cabin, but they're sold as standard Economy.
Which seats should I avoid on the Thai 787-9?
On V.1: rows 45–46 and 60–62, plus 48C, 48H and 49D/E/F. On V.2: rows 44–45 and 58–61, plus 46A/46K and the 47D/E/G bulkhead. In Business, avoid 11K on V.1 and 17A/17K on V.2.
Comparable Guides
Same airline
- Thai Airways A350-900 — multiple configurations, the worst version lottery in the fleet
Same routes and seat family
- Singapore Airlines A350-900 — competitor on BKK–SIN–Europe
- Qantas 787-9 — Australia routes