Turkish Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 & MAX 9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Turkish Airlines operates a small but growing Boeing 737 MAX fleet — around 20 MAX 8s and 5 MAX 9s — alongside its much larger A321 family. The MAX aircraft share the same Collins MiQ recliner Business Class as the A321neo, the same IFE system, and the same Wi-Fi. The only real difference between the two MAX variants is fuselage length: the MAX 9 is a stretched version with three extra Economy rows and exit rows in a slightly different position.
Quick Verdict
Turkish Airlines' 737 MAX delivers the same industry-leading European Business Class as the A321neo — dedicated 2-2 Collins MiQ recliners with legrest, seatback IFE, and free Wi-Fi. The MAX fleet is small and serves shorter routes, so you're less likely to encounter it than the A321neo. Between the two MAX variants, the MAX 9 offers marginally more Economy space thanks to the longer fuselage. Best seats: row 1A/1F in Business for legroom, exit row windows in Economy.
MAX 8 vs MAX 9 at a Glance
| Feature | MAX 8 | MAX 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Business seats | 16 (rows 1–4) | 16 (rows 1–4) |
| Economy seats | 135 | 153 |
| Total seats | 151 | 169 |
| Economy rows | 5–27 | 5–31 |
| Exit rows | 11–12 | 13–14 |
| Last row | 27 (partial — centre only) | 31 (partial — centre only) |
| Business seat | Collins MiQ recliner | Collins MiQ recliner |
| Business pitch | ~34" | ~34" |
| Economy pitch | ~30–31" | ~30–31" |
| IFE | Seatback screens all seats | Seatback screens all seats |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
The Business Class cabin is identical on both aircraft — same 4-row, 16-seat layout with the same seat. The only operational difference is that the MAX 9's longer fuselage adds roughly 3 more rows of Economy, and the overwing exit rows shift from rows 11–12 (MAX 8) to rows 13–14 (MAX 9).
How to Identify Your Aircraft
| Indicator | MAX 8 | MAX 9 |
|---|---|---|
| IATA code | 7M8 | 7M9 |
| Total seats | 151 | 169 |
| Economy last row | 27 | 31 |
| Exit rows | 11–12 | 13–14 |
Check your booking confirmation or the Turkish Airlines app — the equipment type will show either 737 MAX 8 or 737 MAX 9. On the seat map, count Economy rows: if the last full row is 26 (with partial row 27), it's a MAX 8. If Economy runs to row 30 (with partial row 31), it's a MAX 9.
Note: Turkish also operates 737-800 and 737-900ER aircraft (non-MAX) which have different cabins and may or may not have seatback IFE. Check for "MAX" in the equipment designation.
Seat Map Summary
MAX 8 (16J/135Y)
| Cabin | Rows | Layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 1–4 | 2-2 (A/B, E/F) | Collins MiQ recliners |
| Economy (front) | 5–10 | 3-3 (A/B/C, D/E/F) | Forward of overwing exits |
| Economy (exit) | 11–12 | 3-3 | Overwing emergency exits — extra legroom |
| Economy (rear) | 13–26 | 3-3 | Aft section |
| Economy (last) | 27 | Centre seats only | Partial row — tapered fuselage tail |
| Lavatories | Front (between cabins), rear (aft of row 27) | ||
MAX 9 (16J/153Y)
| Cabin | Rows | Layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 1–4 | 2-2 (A/B, E/F) | Collins MiQ recliners |
| Economy (front) | 5–12 | 3-3 (A/B/C, D/E/F) | Forward of overwing exits |
| Economy (exit) | 13–14 | 3-3 | Overwing emergency exits — extra legroom |
| Economy (rear) | 15–30 | 3-3 | Aft section |
| Economy (last) | 31 | Centre seats only | Partial row — tapered fuselage tail |
| Lavatories | Front (between cabins), rear (aft of row 31) | ||
Business Class
Configuration (Both Aircraft)
- Seats: 16 (rows 1–4)
- Layout: 2-2 (A/B and E/F)
- Seat model: Collins Aerospace (Rockwell Collins) MiQ
- Pitch: ~34"
- Width: ~21"
- Recline: ~8" with legrest and fold-out footrest
- IFE: Seatback touchscreen (size varies — typically 10–13")
- Power: USB-A + AC outlet (110V)
- Wi-Fi: Free — 1GB data (unlimited for Miles&Smiles Elite/Elite Plus)
What to Expect
Identical product to the A321neo Business Class. The Collins MiQ features a four-way adjustable headrest, legrest, footrest, and privacy divider between seats. Aisle seats have a retracting armrest for easier access. The cabin uses Boeing Sky Interior with larger overhead bins and mood lighting.
The only noticeable difference from the A321neo is the slightly smaller cabin feel — the 737's fuselage is narrower than the A321's, so the cabin feels fractionally tighter. The seat itself, IFE, power, and service are the same.
One reviewer noted the last row of Business (row 4) may have restricted recline due to the hard divider between Business and Economy. Worth checking before selecting.
Best Seats — Business Class
| Seat | Why |
|---|---|
| 1A, 1F | Maximum legroom, first served, fastest deplaning |
| 1B, 1E | Row 1 aisle — same legroom, easier access |
| 2A, 2F | Good balance of legroom and cabin position |
Seats to Consider Carefully — Business Class
| Seat | Why |
|---|---|
| 4A, 4B, 4E, 4F | Last Business row — recline may be restricted by the cabin divider wall. If unobstructed, this row benefits from no one reclining into your space from behind |
| All B/E seats | Aisle seats mean window passengers pass you; retracting armrest helps but doesn't eliminate this |
Solo Traveller Strategy
Window seats (A or F) in any row. Row 1 or 2 for maximum space. The 737's narrower fuselage makes the privacy divider slightly more effective than on the wider A321.
Economy Class
Configuration
- MAX 8: 135 seats, rows 5–27 (row 27 partial)
- MAX 9: 153 seats, rows 5–31 (row 31 partial)
- Layout: 3-3 (A/B/C, D/E/F)
- Pitch: ~30–31"
- Width: ~17.4"
- Recline: ~3"
- IFE: Seatback touchscreen at every seat
- Power: USB-A at every seat
- Wi-Fi: 10MB free with Miles&Smiles account; paid plans available
What to Expect
The same story as the A321neo Economy — seatback IFE at every seat sets Turkish apart from most European competitors. The Boeing Sky Interior gives the cabin a modern, airy feel with larger overhead bins (fits standard carry-on wheels-first) and ambient LED lighting. The 737 MAX is slightly narrower than the A321, which means Economy seats are fractionally tighter at ~17.4" width vs ~18" on the A321neo. At 30–31" pitch, legroom is standard for short-haul. The screens are tiltable, which helps viewing angles when the person in front reclines. Each seat has adjustable headrest "wings" for side support, dual seat-back pockets (main + smaller phone pocket), and a coat hook.
Best Seats — Economy Class
MAX 8 (Exit rows 11–12)
| Seat | Why |
|---|---|
| 11A, 11F | Exit row with roughly 37" of pitch — five inches more than the cabin standard — but the seat cannot fully recline because row 12 sits behind it |
| 12A, 12F | The best Economy seats on the MAX 8: ~37" of exit-row pitch and a full recline |
| 5A, 5F | First Economy row — bulkhead legroom, first meal service |
| 5D | First Economy aisle — quick deplaning after Business |
MAX 9 (Exit rows 13–14)
| Seat | Why |
|---|---|
| 13A, 13F | Exit row with roughly 37" of pitch — but both seats have no window at all, and neither can fully recline because row 14 sits behind. Take 14A or 14F instead unless you only care about legroom |
| 14A, 14F | The best Economy seats on the MAX 9: the same ~37" exit-row pitch, a full recline, and a working window |
| 5A, 5F | First Economy row — bulkhead legroom |
Seats to Avoid — Economy Class
MAX 8
| Seat | Why |
|---|---|
| 27D, 27E, 27F | Partial last row — three centre seats only, no window pair, rear lav proximity, no recline |
| 26A–26F | Penultimate full row — rear lavatory traffic, potentially limited recline |
| 10A–10F | Row immediately before exit — likely restricted recline |
| Middle seats (B, E) | Standard 3-3 narrowbody — avoid if possible |
| 7A, 8A, 8F | No window at all — a blank stretch of fuselage wall. None carries a warning on the booking map, so all three read as ordinary window seats when you pick |
MAX 9
| Seat | Why |
|---|---|
| 31D, 31E, 31F | Partial last row — three centre seats only, same issues as MAX 8 row 27. Row 28 does not exist, so Economy runs 5–27 then 29–31 |
| 30A–30F | Penultimate full row — rear lav traffic |
| 12A–12F | Row immediately before exit — likely restricted recline |
| Middle seats (B, E) | Same as MAX 8 |
| 9A, 10A, 10F, 13A, 13F, 22A, 22F, 23A, 23F | Nine seats with no window at all, against three on the MAX 8 — and none of them is flagged on the booking map. This is the sharpest practical difference between the two aircraft, and 13A/13F are exit-row seats, so the legroom bargain comes with a blank wall |
Exit Row Notes
Exit row seats offer substantially more legroom but come with restrictions: no stowage at your feet during takeoff/landing, must be willing and able to assist in an emergency, armrests may be fixed. These seats often carry a surcharge.
Families
Row 5 (bulkhead) may accommodate bassinets — check with Turkish Airlines. The 3-3 layout lets a family of three sit together on one side.
IFE & Connectivity
In-Flight Entertainment
- Seatback touchscreen at every seat (Business and Economy)
- Panasonic system branded as "Planet"
- Same content library as widebody fleet: 600+ movies, 1,300+ TV shows
- Screens are tiltable in Economy for better viewing angles
- Audio-Technica headphones in Business; basic headphones in Economy
Wi-Fi
- Available on all 737 MAX aircraft
- Business: 1GB free (unlimited for Miles&Smiles Elite/Elite Plus)
- Economy: 10MB free with Miles&Smiles account; paid plans available
- Note: some passengers have reported Wi-Fi not working on specific flights
Power
- Business: USB-A + AC outlet (110V)
- Economy: USB-A at every seat (no AC outlets)
Aircraft Comparison: MAX 8/9 vs A321neo vs Widebody
| Feature | 737 MAX 8 | 737 MAX 9 | A321neo | 787-9 / A350-900 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business seats | 16 | 16 | 16–20 | 30–32 |
| Business layout | 2-2 recliner | 2-2 recliner | 2-2 recliner | 1-2-1 lie-flat |
| Lie-flat? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Economy layout | 3-3 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 3-3-3 |
| Economy width | ~17.4" | ~17.4" | ~18" | ~18" |
| IFE screens | Yes, all seats | Yes, all seats | Yes, all seats | Yes, all seats |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fleet size | ~20 | ~5 | ~60+ | ~15 each |
Bottom line: The MAX and A321neo offer the same Business product. If you have a choice on the same route, the A321neo's wider fuselage gives Economy passengers slightly more shoulder room. For Business, the difference is negligible. Either way, the widebody fleet is in a different league for lie-flat travel.
Key Routes
Turkish deploys the 737 MAX on shorter routes from Istanbul, often as a complement to or substitute for A321neo/A321ceo equipment:
- European capitals (shorter sectors): Athens, Bucharest, Sofia, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Tirana
- Middle East: Amman, Beirut, Baghdad, Kuwait, Muscat
- North Africa: Cairo, Alexandria, Tunis, Algiers
- Regional: Tbilisi, Baku, Yerevan
The MAX fleet is small, so aircraft assignments rotate frequently. Your flight may show 737 MAX at booking but could be swapped to an A321 or 737-800 — always recheck closer to departure.
FAQ
Is Turkish Airlines 737 MAX Business Class the same as the A321neo?
Yes — identical Collins MiQ recliner seat, same IFE, same Wi-Fi, same service. The only difference is the 737's slightly narrower fuselage, which makes the cabin feel a touch smaller.
Does Turkish Airlines 737 MAX have seatback IFE screens?
Yes — every seat in both Business and Economy has a seatback touchscreen, which is unusual for short-haul European flights.
Is the 737 MAX safe?
The MAX returned to service in 2021 after extensive modifications, new pilot training requirements, and recertification by aviation authorities worldwide. Turkish Airlines resumed MAX operations following regulatory approval. The aircraft has accumulated millions of safe flight hours since its return.
Which is better — 737 MAX 8 or MAX 9?
For Business Class, identical. For Economy, the MAX 9's longer fuselage means the same pitch across more rows — no meaningful comfort difference, but the exit rows are in different positions (11–12 on MAX 8, 13–14 on MAX 9).
What's the partial last row about?
Both the MAX 8 (row 27) and MAX 9 (row 31) have a partial final row with only centre seats — no window pairs. This is due to the 737's tapered tail section. These seats have no recline, face the rear lavatory, and should be avoided.
Does Turkish Airlines 737 MAX have Wi-Fi?
Yes — all MAX aircraft have Wi-Fi. Business Class gets 1GB free; Economy passengers with a Miles&Smiles account get 10MB free.
How do I tell if my flight is a MAX or a 737-800?
Check the equipment code: 7M8 = MAX 8, 7M9 = MAX 9, 738 = 737-800. The MAX has Boeing Sky Interior with larger bins, mood lighting, and seatback IFE at every seat. The 737-800 may have different cabin features depending on sub-variant.