MIAT Mongolian Airlines

MIAT Mongolian Airlines is Mongolia's flag carrier, flying out of Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khaan airport. Its network reaches across East Asia to hubs like Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing, west towards Europe and further afield on the longer widebody routes, plus regional work closer to home.

Because the routes range from short regional hops to long intercontinental legs, MIAT runs a fleet spread across narrowbodies, a couple of widebodies and a regional jet. Which one you draw decides how much the cabin choice matters, so start there.

The long-haul flying leans on the Boeing 787-9 and the Boeing 767-300ER. The 787-9 carries three cabins, with a Premium Economy section sitting between Business and economy, while the 767-300ER runs a two-cabin layout of Business and economy.

Shorter routes are worked by the Boeing 737 family. MIAT flies several 737-800 configurations that differ in seat density along with the newer 737 MAX 8, and each pairs a real Business cabin with economy. The CRJ-700 rounds out the fleet as a single-class economy regional jet for the thinner routes.

Up front, MIAT's premium cabins are the proper article rather than a curtain trick. The 787 offers a lie-flat-style Business product and a dedicated Premium Economy cabin with extra pitch; the 767 and the 737s carry a real wider Business recliner ahead of economy.

Economy is the standard six-abreast on the narrowbodies and widebodies alike, which puts the emphasis on row position. The CRJ-700 is a smaller single-class cabin sized for regional legs, so the trade-offs there are about aisle side and proximity to the front rather than class.

On the 787, the Premium Economy cabin is a real step up in pitch if the fare works for your route length, and the Business cabin up front is where the flat sleep sits on the long overnight legs. Check which 737-800 configuration you are on, because the denser variants change where the good economy rows fall.

Across the fleet, the rows to weigh up are those close to galleys, lavatories and the cabin dividers, where noise and traffic collect. Our per-seat notes flag those before you book so a seat that looks fine on the grid does not surprise you onboard.