Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is one of the most common modern long-haul widebodies, a stretch of the original 787 that airlines fly on routes from medium-haul hops up to some of the longest non-stop flights in the world. Like the A350 it competes with, it is a composite aircraft with a quieter cabin, higher humidity and a lower cabin altitude than the older jets, plus its trademark large windows that dim electronically instead of with a pull-down shade.

Economy is most often laid out nine-abreast, three seats then three then three across two aisles, though a few airlines keep a roomier eight-abreast that gives each seat more width. The premium cabins up front are where carriers set themselves apart, so business and premium economy on the 787-9 range from older recliners to fully enclosed suites depending on who you fly and when the cabin was installed.

The 787-9 is a good example of why the airline matters as much as the aircraft. Two carriers flying the identical jet can offer wildly different experiences: one with a spacious eight-abreast economy and a modern business suite, another with a tighter nine-abreast economy and an older angled-flat business seat. Premium economy may be a full cabin, a handful of blocked rows, or nothing at all.

The aircraft is long, with galleys and lavatory blocks dividing the cabins, and where those fall relative to your row is set by each airline's layout rather than by Boeing. The large dimming windows are common to every 787, but the block of seats around a mid-cabin galley or a bank of lavatories is a per-airline detail, so the seat maps on this hub are the place to check it.

For a comfortable long flight on the 787-9, look for seats away from the mid-cabin galleys and lavatory banks, which stay lit and busy through a night flight. The electronic dimming windows are a genuine perk, so a window seat is worth having if you like the view and the control. Bulkhead rows offer legroom but can sit beside a galley and usually lose under-seat storage. In a nine-abreast economy, the aisle and window beat the two middles of the centre block.

The premium cabins vary so much between operators that comparing is essential. Use the airline cards above to see which carriers fly the 787-9, then open the full seat map for your flight to read the seat-by-seat ratings against that airline's actual cabin, galley and exit placement.