The South African Airways Airbus A340-300 seats 254 passengers across 2 cabins. Every row below is rated on legroom, location and distance from galleys and lavatories.
Verified by John McKeanLast verified 3 August 2026Single source
Avoid 46C, 46H (Near bassinet position (ahead) — potential noise from infants); 55A, 55C, 55D, 55E, 55F, 55G, 55H, 55K, 56A, 56C, 56D, 56E, 56F, 56G, 56H, 56K, 75A, 75C, 75H, 75K, 76A, 76C, 76D, 76E, 76G, 76H, 76K (Immediately adjacent to lavatory (behind) — expect noise, odors, and queuing traffic); 62D, 62E, 62F, 62G (Near lavatory (ahead) — some queuing traffic and noise); 75D, 75E, 75G (Near lavatory (behind) — some queuing traffic and noise)
The South African Airways Airbus A340-300 carries 254 passengers across Business + Economy. Seats are rated below, so you can see which have the legroom, the window alignment and the quiet — and which sit next to a galley or lavatory.
The seats rated best on this map are 45C, 45D, 45G, 45H, 46G, 61D. Another 48 seats are rated best or good. Look for 16 extra-legroom seats for the most room.
Seats rated avoid on this map are 46C, 46H, 55A, 55C, 55D, 55E. Another 30 seats are rated avoid. These are usually the back rows near the galley and lavatories, or middle seats with no window or aisle.
A window seat in the forward economy rows, ahead of the wing and away from the rear galleys, is the quietest choice. It keeps you clear of the service-area traffic and gives you a wall to lean on, which matters most on the overnight sectors this aircraft flies.
Both are two-class widebodies with a similar economy experience, so the seat logic is the same on each: front for a fast exit and quiet, exit rows for legroom, rear for the compromise. The A340 has four engines and a slightly different cabin length, but you choose your seat on position either way.
The exit rows give the most legroom in economy, which is real value on a long flight. Some of those seats have limited or no recline and fixed armrests, though, so if you intend to sleep, check whether the specific exit seat reclines before you settle on it.
The forward economy rows, just behind the Business cabin, clear the aircraft first and put you ahead of the immigration queue on arrival. If a tight connection is the concern, that zone beats any seat further back regardless of the extra legroom an exit row might offer.
38Business216Economy254Total
