Old Jan 12, 2015, 2:30 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Prospero
Here is a guide as to the best and worst seats in First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Please ask your questions here, and hopefully someone will be able to help!

NB. The new 787-8 configuration is covered in the separate BA Boeing 787-8 (with Club Suites): Which are the best seats? thread

The following 787 seat maps have been prepared for quick comparison and reference

MMB/Expertflyer Aircraft Codes:
788 = Boeing 787-8
789 = Boeing 787-9
781 = Boeing 787-10

Boeing 787-8
Type 78B
Three class: 35J 25W 154M
G-ZBJA G-ZBJB G-ZBJC G-ZBJD G-ZBJE G-ZBJF G-ZBJG G-ZBJH G-ZBJI G-ZBJJ G-ZBJK G-ZBJM (12)
2006 CW, 2010 WTP, 2010 WT and Thales IFE




Boeing 787-9
Type 789
Four class: 8F 42J 39W 127M
G-ZBKA G-ZBKB G-ZBKC G-ZBKD G-ZBKE G-ZBKF G-ZBKG G-ZBKH G-ZBKI G-ZBKJ G-ZBKK G-ZBKL G-ZBKM G-ZBKN G-ZBKO G-ZBKP G-ZBKR G-ZBKS (18)
2015 First, 2006 CW, 2010 WTP, 2010 WT and Thales IFE




Boeing 787-10
Type 78X?
Four class: 8F 48J 35W 165M; fitted with new Club World Suites
G-ZBLA G-ZBLB G-ZBLC G-ZBLD G-ZBLE G-ZBLF G-ZBLG (7)
2015 First, 2019 CWS, 2018 WTP, 2018 WT and Panasonic ex3 IFE





Boeing 787-8 seating comments
As an aside note: The lavatories on the aircraft have handles to open, rather than a push the door mechanism (as found on the 777). The flush also uses a sensor rather than a button. This has potential to cause confusion at an inopportune moment.

B787-8 Club World:
The front CW cabin is quieter, and better for service than the mid cabin.

1 & 2 D/F: There is no overhead locker space, as it is taken up by the crew rest. The foot stools on these seats are also at risk of being bumped by a trolley, although they are semi-protected.



3A & K: These are the official C-W-S recommended seats. They have a little extra room, and direct aisle access, as well as good window views.
6A & J: These are recommended, as they are the longest, and offer the greatest legroom, as well as being ideally positioned for getting off the aircraft.
6D & F: These also offer an extra 3 inches of legroom.
7A & K: These have a little extra room, and direct aisle access. Ideal for those wishing to sleep. Unfortunately, these seats do only have 2 windows, one fewer than other seats.

B787-8 World Traveller Plus:
Passengers use the WT toilets, which does require a walk back through one of the WT cabins.
If you are worried about catering/meal options, it is recommended to sit towards the front of the cabin, as this is where the service starts.
An interesting video trip report can be found here.

10A-K: Recommended due to the extra legroom.

B787-8 World Traveller:
BA 787 Economy Class Comfort & Health Warning

Reviews for World Traveller on the BA 787 (and indeed many other airlines) seem to largely agree the experience is not pleasant, with 9 seats across in a cabin more ideally suited for 8. The seat is smaller than the WT seat fitted to any other BA aircraft, and this can be felt, especially if you have broader shoulders. Seat pitch is also tight, at only 31 inches. The rear 5 rows are reported to have a slightly tighter pitch than the others.

30 A & K are to be avoided: the emergency exit infringes on your personal space both at upper body and foot level.
30B-J: Recommended due to the extra legroom.
HJK seats in rows 31 to 34 have 1’ more legroom than standard rows
A, C, D, F, H, K seats: an IFE box is under the seat in front of you, which infringes on legroom. Please see the photograph below.





Boeing 787-9 seating comments:
As an aside note: The lavatories on the aircraft have handles to open, rather than a push the door mechanism (as found on the 777). The flush also uses a sensor rather than a button. This has potential to cause confusion at an inopportune moment.

B787-9 First:
2K: Recommended by ThatT1Feeling. Quieter side of a/c and away from galley.
1E/F: Recommended for couples by All She Wrote.

B787-9 Club World:
7A/K: Recommended by CWS.

B787-9 World Traveller Plus:
No seats have limited recline.
21 A, B, J and K - Missing window (last window in cabin near row 20's head) + near toilets

B787-9 World Traveller:
The width of the WT seats on the B789 is marginally greater than on the B788 (owing to reduced aisle width on the former).

However...

BA 787 Economy Class Comfort & Health Warning

Reviews for World Traveller on the BA 787 (and indeed many other airlines) seem to largely agree the experience is not pleasant, with 9 seats across in a cabin more ideally suited for 8. The seat is smaller than the WT seat fitted to any other BA aircraft, and this can be easily felt, especially if you have broader shoulders.

A, C, D, F, H, K seats: an IFE box is under the seat in front of you, which infringes on legroom.
41A/K: No window.
43A/K: Increased space between seat & cabin wall.

Boeing 787-10 seating comments:
B787-10 Club World:
From porphyra's post:
6A/K window seats have one set of windows only, across the seat. The second further window adjacent to the screen/display that all other seats have is missing - this might be an issue for some people but I preferred it as there was likely less glare on the screen. The issue is that if you like to look out then you almost need to turn your head 90 degrees vs a slant 30-45 to look across the other window.

From corporate-wage-slave's post:
Bulkheads do have more vibration transmission compared to other seats, but that's almost looking for something to say. Essentially all CS is the same, with the only difference between window or middle seating.

B787-10 World Traveller Plus:
From Nil SeAnn's post:
All seats, even in the rearmost row 24, have very significant recline such that my head never fell forward during sleep.
20J/K have great legroom, but [20]D,E&F have even more legroom.
As I sat into 24F to try out the back row, a helpful F/A warned me that I would not be happy with the noise from the bathroom immediately behind the bulkhead to my rear. I thought to myself - how bad could it be? Well it was awful and I lasted about 10 minutes before moving again.
The toilet is oriented facing the rear of the plane and mounted to the WT+ bulkhead. I estimate it is probably only a foot or so from the back of the seat when fully reclined! If you plan an overnight flight I suggest you absolutely avoid 24D,E or F if you hope to get some sleep.

B787-10 World Traveller:

Far rear row of 48 does not recline.

Related threads:

Print Wikipost

Seating guide: Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Old Jan 3, 2018, 7:26 am
  #466  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
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When do the WTP bulkheads open up (row 16) Is it t-24? I am but a lowly silver
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 3:45 pm
  #467  
 
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How bad is the recline in the last WTP row (13) on the 788 really?

Seatguru claims it's yellow, but I'd like to hope BA didn't make almost of the third of their WTP cabin inferior to the rest of it on a brand new plane...

[Okay - Seatguru seems to be wrong according to the answers here]

Last edited by just_starting; Jan 6, 2018 at 3:53 pm Reason: Searched the forum
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 3:52 pm
  #468  
 
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Originally Posted by just_starting
How bad is the recline in the last WTP row (13) on the 788 really?

Seatguru claims it's yellow, but I'd like to hope BA didn't make almost of the third of their WTP cabin inferior to the rest of it on a brand new plane...
In my experience, it's absolutely fine. I've flown the last row in WTP on a 788 more than once, and I've been perfectly happy with it. Recline seems as full as any other WTP seat.

Possible downside is the bassinet position in WT is just one row back, so small risk of disturbance from a non sleeping infant.
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 4:30 pm
  #469  
 
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Originally Posted by BertieBadger
In my experience, it's absolutely fine. I've flown the last row in WTP on a 788 more than once, and I've been perfectly happy with it. Recline seems as full as any other WTP seat.

Possible downside is the bassinet position in WT is just one row back, so small risk of disturbance from a non sleeping infant.
Sounds good - the only other option would be two of the middle three one row ahead. Think we'd rather have a twin!
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 5:20 pm
  #470  
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Originally Posted by just_starting
[Okay - Seatguru seems to be wrong according to the answers here]
In general, seatguru should be ignored when it comes to BA. So much of it is mere speculation from a position of ignorance.

I think that it is Can I help you who regularly posts that there are no WT+ seats with limited recline. That accords with my personal experience, although that is of only a limited number of aircraft types/configurations.
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 7:21 pm
  #471  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum
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Flying as a group of 4 in April on the 789 LAX to LHR. I have managed to book 6J, 6K, 7J and 7K.

I had read earlier in the thread that 7K can sometimes be designated as crew rest.

Is is there a chance of being bumped out the seat closer to the time to accommodate this? Or would it already be blocked out?

I could not book the 6/7 A/B side, as some of these seats were already gone.

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Old Jan 17, 2018, 7:01 am
  #472  
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
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T-48 from flying to MSY on Friday, there's been a switch from 787-8 to 787-9.

Now the F seats in rows 1 and 2 have been opened for selection.

I'm currently in 7K, which seems to be a good seat.

If i pick a F seats (e.g. 2K), what are the chances i'll get moved back again (and perhaps placed in a less than ideal CW seat)?

Thanks
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Old Jan 17, 2018, 7:05 am
  #473  
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Don’t move, the First cabin will be closed off on this flight.
Dev1980 likes this.
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Old Jan 17, 2018, 7:15 am
  #474  
 
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Originally Posted by Can I help you
Don’t move, the First cabin will be closed off on this flight.
That's fairly unequivocal advice, thank you. Do i take it from your signature line that that isn't just an assertion, you are "on the inside" in relation to practices like this?
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Old Jan 17, 2018, 7:25 am
  #475  
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Yes you can.
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Old Jan 21, 2018, 2:49 am
  #476  
 
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Hi all

booked a flight to Beijing on 26th jan, flying out with my wife 3yr old son and infant in world traveler. (Three seats in total)

just spoke with ba customer services and have been told
There are no bassinet seats on the plane?

Is this true? Originally had the three seats in 30def as I thought they would accommodate a bassinet,. If there is none I would then switch to the window seats so my son can look out there window.

Would appreciate any advice or guidance on this.
Thanks
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Old Jan 21, 2018, 3:18 am
  #477  
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What rubbish there is one in front of 30DEF, your flight is fairly empty so if you don’t get these seats you should get a spare seat next to you.
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Old Jan 21, 2018, 2:58 pm
  #478  
 
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Originally Posted by Can I help you
What rubbish there is one in front of 30DEF, your flight is fairly empty so if you don’t get these seats you should get a spare seat next to you.
Thanks for the info, managed to get 30 D E and F.

Crazy how BA customer services don't know there own plane configurations!

Do you know how empty the flight looks like?
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Old Jan 21, 2018, 3:02 pm
  #479  
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Plenty of space.
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Old Jan 25, 2018, 12:23 pm
  #480  
 
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Best WTP seats in 789 - 16D?

Hi,

Travelling to LHR-Beijing in 789 WTP and have a choice of front row aisle (16D) or any other aisle seat.

Of course front row bulkhead will have more leg space but is that relevant given WTP seat pitch is anyways good.

The only issues I could think of with 16D are 1) Less seat width due to tray in armrest and 2) IFE not at eye level.

What do experts think?
(Or is it just me ;-)

Thanks
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