T'Way Air

T'Way Air is a South Korean low-cost carrier that began on domestic and short regional routes out of Seoul and has since pushed into long-haul, taking on widebody flying to Europe and beyond. That gives it an unusually wide range for an LCC: a fleet that runs from single-class narrowbodies up to multi-cabin widebodies fitted with real premium seats.

Because of that split, the seat decision depends heavily on which aircraft you are booked on. On the narrowbodies it is a straightforward economy choice; on the widebodies there is a proper business cabin, and on the flagship long-haul jets a layered fit that can run to premium economy and even a small first cabin.

The short-haul backbone is the Boeing 737, both the 737-800 and the newer 737 MAX 8, flown as dense single-class economy across the domestic and regional network. These are the workhorses for the busy runs to Japan, China and Southeast Asia, and every seat on them is a standard economy seat.

The long-haul flying is done on Airbus A330s and Boeing 777-300ERs. The A330-200 and A330-300 carry a two-cabin fit of business and economy, while the 777-300ERs are the flagship jets and wear the most layered configurations in the fleet, with premium cabins ahead of a large economy.

On the narrowbody 737s the experience is a familiar low-cost one: slim economy seats, a limited recline and extras bought rather than bundled, in exchange for a low fare on shorter sectors. Where you sit is the main lever, since there is no cabin to upgrade to.

The widebodies are a different proposition. The A330s add a forward business cabin with far more space and recline for the longer flights, and the 777-300ERs go further still, stacking premium economy and in some cases a first cabin ahead of economy. On these jets the class you choose changes the flight far more than the row does.

On the 737s, the seats worth reserving are the extra-legroom rows near the exits, which give real breathing room for a modest fee on the longer regional hops. For a smoother ride aim for a row over the wing rather than the tail, and skip the last rows by the rear galley and toilets.

On the widebodies the calculation shifts to class. Business on the A330s is the pick for a long overnight, while on the 777-300ERs a premium economy seat can be a sensible middle ground between a low economy fare and a full business ticket. In economy on any of the long-haul jets, a forward window over the wing is the quietest, steadiest choice.