Business Class Seat Guide (2026)
Always Fly Business
Editorial Team
Article updated
January 16, 2026
Published
May 18, 2019
AI Executive Summary
This comprehensive guide breaks down the best business class seats across major Oneworld airlines like American, British Airways, Finnair, and Qatar Airways. It explains the differences between seat configurations—from the private QSuites and reverse herringbone seats to the older 2-2-2 layouts. Readers get specific seat recommendations (like 'throne seats' or mini-cabins) to ensure they book the best possible hard product for their next long-haul flight.
The quality of business class seats has seen a dramatic increase during recent years. First with the announcement of Qatar Airways’ QSuite business class seat, then British Airways released their new Club Suite seat - and now Finnair has completed its fleet-wide rollout of the innovative AirLounge seat.
From our comprehensive seat guide, you can find a detailed list of different business class seat options, including photos and our recommendations of the best seats.
Latest updates:
- January 16th, 2026 - Fleet-wide updates: Finnair refurbishment complete; BA Club Suite availability.
- June 26th, 2022 - Finnair AirLounge Business Class Seat added
- August 26th, 2020 - New template styling
American Airlines
American Airlines has a wide selection of business class seats, so you might want to pay attention to the aircraft type when booking your business class flights.
Read our American Airlines business class flight reviews
American Airlines Business Class Seats (some Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 787-8)
The Zodiac Concept D reverse herringbone business class seat can be found on some American Airlines Boeing 777-200s and on all Boeing 787-8s. The cabin consists of a total of 28 seats and 7 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration.
| Configuration | 1-2-1 | | Seat arrangement | Reverse herringbone | | Seat type | Zodiac Concept D | | Bed length | about 195 cm (77 inches) | | Seat width | 53 cm (21 inches) | | Capacity | 45 passengers | | Personal TV | 15 inches |
The best seats on AA 787-8 and 777-200
The best seats are the window seats in a mini-cabin, so 6A, 7A, 6L, and 7L. Also, we recommend the last row of the main cabin, so the window seats 5A, and 5L.
See the seat map on Seatguru.com
Read our American Airlines 777-200 business class flight review.
American Airlines Business Class Seats (Boeing 777-300)
The Boeing 777-300ER is the flagship of American Airlines, so the Zodiac Cirrus business class seat is also top-notch. The seating layout is reverse herringbone in a 1-2-1 configuration, with easy aisle access from every seat.
These same fully lie-flat seats can also be found in the first class of American’s A321T aircraft. The seat is also similar to what Cathay Pacific uses on their entire long-haul fleet, and Finnair and Qatar Airways also utilize the same seat.
As a side note, the Boeing 777-300ER is the only American Airlines plane that still has a first class cabin.
| Configuration | 1-2-1 | | Seat arrangement | Reverse herringbone | | Seat type | Zodiac Cirrus | | Bed length | about 190 cm (75 inches) | | Seat width | 52 cm (20.5 inches) | | Capacity | 52 passengers | | Personal TV | 15 inches |
The best seats on AA 777-300
Our favorites are the window seats in mini-cabin, 3A, 4A, 3J, and 4J. Just note that row 4 is quite close to the galley so there might be some noise coming from there.
See the seat map on Seatguru.com
American Airlines Business Class Seats (Boeing 787-9 and some 777-200)
American Airlines is using B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats on its Boeing 787-9s as well as on some retrofitted Boeing 777-200s. Like the Zodiac Cirrus found from Boeing 777-300ERs, these seats are comfortable and offer a decent amount of privacy.
The business class cabin consists of a total of 30 seats and 8 rows of reverse-herringbone 1-2-1 configuration.
| Configuration | 1-2-1 | | Seat arrangement | Reverse herringbone | | Seat type | B/E Aerospace Super Diamond | | Bed length | about 195 cm (77 inches) | | Seat width | 53 cm (21 inches) | | Capacity | 30 passengers | | Personal TV | 15.4 inches |
The best seats on AA 787-9
Our top pick would be one of the window seats, 2A/L, 3A/L or 4A/L but all other seats are relatively good as well.
See the seat map on Seatguru.com
American Airlines Business Class Seats (Boeing 767-300)
American Airlines is using Thompson Vantage seats on their 767-300s. These business class seats go fully flat, and every seat has easy aisle access. The seating configuration is staggered 1-2-1. Other airlines using similar seats are Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines.
The best seats on AA 767-300
The window seats 2A, 2J, 4A, 4J, 6A, and 6J are our favorites, at least when traveling alone.
See the seat map on Seatguru.com
American Airlines Business Class Seats (Boeing 757-200 and Airbus A321T)
American Airlines 757-200s and A321Ts have B/E Aerospace Diamond Parallel business class seats in a 2-2 configuration. We have tested the A321T a couple of times and found the seat very comfortable for transcontinental flights.
The same B/E Aerospace Diamond seat is also used by Delta, United, and Qatar Airways.
| Configuration | 2-2 | | Seat arrangement | Offset fully flat | | Seat type | B/E Aerospace Diamond | | Bed length | about 191-198 cm (76-78 inches) | | Seat width | 48 cm (19 inches) | | Capacity | 20 passengers | | Personal TV | 15,4 inches |
The best seats on AA A321T
Our recommendation goes to rows 7 or 8 as row 6 is close to lavatory and galley.
See the seat map on Seatguru.com
Read our American Airlines A321T business class flight review.
British Airways
British Airways has completed the vast majority of its Club Suite rollout across the Heathrow fleet as of 2026.
British Airways Airbus A318
Note: British Airways retired all Airbus A318s (the “Babybus” on the London City to JFK route) in 2020. This section is kept for historical context.
British Airways Airbus A321
Another unique configuration is the Airbus A321. While most are short-haul setups, four aircraft still feature the old British Midland (BMI) business class seat. If you find yourself on one, book the “throne seats” 1A, 2F, 3A, 4F, 5A, 6F, 7A or 8F.
See the seat map on Seatguru.com
British Airways Business Class Seats (Boeing 787-9)
The business class on British Airways 787-9 consists of 2 sections, in total 6 rows. While originally 2-3-2, most 787-9s have now been retrofitted with the 1-2-1 Club Suite.
| Configuration | 2-3-2 (Legacy) / 1-2-1 (Retrofitted) | | Bed length | about 183 cm (72 inches) + footstool | | Personal TV | 10,4 inches |
The best seats on BA 787-9
For the legacy layout, 7A/7K and 13A/K offer the best aisle access. For retrofitted planes, all seats offer direct aisle access.
Read our British Airways 787-9 business class flight review.
British Airways Business Class Seats (Airbus A380)
On the Airbus A380, business class seats are on both floors. The upstairs 2-3-2 layout is highly recommended over the lower deck.
| Configuration | 2-3-2 / 2-4-2 | | Capacity | 97 passengers |
The best seats on BA A380
53A/K, 59A/K, or 15A/K.
Finnair
As of 2026, Finnair has completed its cabin renewal project. The AirLounge is now the standard business class product across the entire long-haul fleet (A350 and A330).
Finnair Business Class Seats (Airbus A330 - Legacy)
The old staggered 1-2-1 / 2-2-1 seat manufactured by Zodiac has now been replaced by the AirLounge.
Read our Finnair A330 business class flight review.
Finnair Business Class Seats (Airbus A350 - Legacy)
The A350 originally featured the Zodiac Cirrus III reverse herringbone seat, identical to American Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
Finnair New Business Class Seat - AirLounge (A350 & A330)
The new AirLounge by Collins Aerospace is a non-reclining shell that provides a wide, sofa-like space.
Read our Finnair A350-900 with AirLounge business class flight review.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways QSuite Business Class Seats
The QSuite is found on all A350-1000s and a large portion of the 777-300ER and A350-900 fleet.
| Configuration | 1-2-1 | | Seat type | Suite with a sliding door | | Personal TV | 21.5 inches |
Read our Qatar Airways A350-1000 QSuites business class flight review.
Qatar Airways Business Class Seats (Airbus A350-900 / Boeing 787-8)
Qatar’s second-best option, the Zodiac Cirrus III reverse herringbone seat.
Read our Qatar Airways 787-8 business class flight review.
Qatar Airways Business Class Seats (Airbus A380)
Read our Qatar Airways A380 business class flight review.
Qatar Airways Business Class Seats (Boeing 777 without QSuites)
Older 2-2-2 configuration on non-retrofitted 777s.
| Configuration | 2-2-2 | | Bed length | 198 cm (78 inches) |
Qatar Airways Business Class Seats (Airbus A320)
Read our Qatar Airways A320 business class flight review.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific uses Zodiac Cirrus reverse herringbone seats throughout its long-haul fleet (A350, A330, and 777-300ER).
Royal Jordanian
Royal Jordanian Business Class Seats (Boeing 787-800)
Royal Jordanian features a 2-2-2 configuration on its Dreamliners.
Read our Royal Jordanian 787-8 business class flight review
Business Class Vs Economy
A short recap of general business class advantages:
- Priority services (check-in, immigration, security, and boarding)
- Extra baggage allowance
- Airport lounge access
- Amenity kits
- Fully-flat seats on international Oneworld routes
- Better food and unlimited premium drinks
Keep in mind that international business class is much better than short-haul business class inside Europe or the US.
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