El Al's Boeing 787-9 features a modern 1-2-1 staggered business class and standard 3-3-3 economy configuration. Discover the best seats for direct aisle access and premium comfort on long-haul routes.
This 787-9 offers excellent business class privacy with direct aisle access in the 1-2-1 staggered layout. Premium Economy and Economy both use standard configurations with generous pitch. Avoid seats 9A, 9K, 9D, and 9G in business class due to positioning near galley areas. Book seats 10A, 10K, 12A, or 12K for optimal business class comfort.
El Al's Business Class on the 787-9 features a 1-2-1 staggered layout with 32 seats total. Each seat offers 20.5 inches of width and impressive 42-43 inches of pitch, providing direct aisle access from all windows and middle seats. While the cabin lacks privacy doors between suites, the staggered configuration ensures excellent sightlines and personal space. Seats are equipped with modern amenities and lie-flat capabilities for long-haul comfort.
Premium Economy provides enhanced comfort with superior pitch and width compared to standard Economy. This cabin bridges the gap between Economy and Business, offering better recline, amenities, and service levels.
Economy operates in a 3-3-3 configuration with 30.8-31 inches of pitch. This is standard for widebody aircraft on long-haul routes. The spacious 787-9 cabin provides better air quality and larger windows than older aircraft, enhancing the overall passenger experience despite standard density.
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
10A, 10K | Business | Ideal window positions with full aisle access, away from galley areas |
12A, 12K | Business | Premium window seats with excellent comfort and minimal disturbance |
14A, 14K | Business | Staggered positioning provides privacy and direct aisle access |
18A, 18K | Premium Economy | Forward premium economy positions with better service priority |
19A, 19K | Premium Economy | Ideal premium economy seating with comfort and space |
45B, 45C | Economy | Rear economy seats with potential extra legroom and less traffic |
21A, 21K | Economy | Forward economy window seats near premium cabin with good amenity access |
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
9A, 9K | Business | Located near galley and lavatory areas, subject to noise and odors |
9D, 9G | Business | Middle and aisle seats near service areas with increased foot traffic and disturbances |
El Al's 787-9 tray tables are exceptionally sturdy - 15-inch laptops sit comfortably with zero flex, even during meal service setup. WiFi is branded "El Al WiFi" and delivers 8-12 Mbps real-world speeds on transatlantic routes, adequate for email and messaging but not video streaming. Power outlets vary by cabin: Business Class has dual AC plugs (110V) plus USB-A (2A) and USB-C (18W) at each suite; Economy features USB-A only (2A) at armrests on select rows. The 11.6-inch IFE touchscreens are responsive and support Bluetooth audio pairing, though most passengers prefer the wired headphone jack for reliability on 10+ hour flights.
The 787-9's cabin altitude is maintained at a comfortable 6,000 feet equivalent, significantly lower than older widebodies, with humidity levels consistently between 40-50% - noticeably drier than Airbus cabins but superior to Boeing 777 aircraft. Engine noise is minimal throughout, with Rolls-Royce engines producing a low-frequency hum that's less intrusive than GE engines; the quietest rows are 20-24 in mid-cabin Economy, positioned aft of the main cabin pressure bulkhead and forward of the rear galley activity. Rows 10-14 in Business Class experience virtually no perceptible noise due to active noise cancellation integration in the 787's airframe design.
El Al uses door L1 (forward) for Business Class and door L2 (mid-cabin) as the primary Economy exit; some flights also activate R1 for expedited rear-cabin deplaning on full flights. From a full 787-9 (approximately 242 Economy + 32 Business), Business Class typically completes deplaning within 8-10 minutes, while rear Economy rows require 22-28 minutes total. At El Al's primary hub (Tel Aviv Ben Gurion), allow minimum 90 minutes for domestic connections and 120 minutes for international connections, as ground handling and security re-screening can add 15-20 minutes beyond standard procedures.
Book seats 1A, 1C, or 2A (aisle-positioned Business suites with direct galley access for uninterrupted sleep) on overnight westbound flights; if flying Economy, request rows 30-32 (rear-most, quieter, fewer mid-cabin restroom disruptions). Skip the dinner service entirely - request "no meal" during check-in - and ask cabin crew to deliver only water and tea, sleeping through the 90-minute turnaround before breakfast; this preserves sleep continuity and avoids digestive disruption. Bring a noise-canceling headset (Bose or Sony) and a neck pillow; the 787-9's generous pitch means you won't need a body pillow. Land 45-60 minutes before your connection, immediately hydrate, and avoid checking email until you've reached your hotel - fatigue judgment is compromised even after productive sleep on aircraft.
Yes, the 1-2-1 staggered layout means all business class seats have direct aisle access. Window seats (A and K) and middle seats (D and G) each have their own direct aisle, eliminating the need to climb over seatmates.
Pitch is the distance between the same point on two consecutive seats. Business Class offers 42-43 inches (excellent for lie-flat beds), while Economy provides 30.8-31 inches (standard for long-haul widebody aircraft).
These business class seats are positioned near the galley and lavatory area, exposing passengers to noise, odors, and crew activity throughout the flight. Choosing seats in rows 10, 12, or 14 provides a quieter, more private experience.
Premium Economy on the 787-9 offers meaningful benefits including better pitch, wider seats, enhanced amenities, and priority service. For long-haul flights, it's a good middle ground between Economy comfort and Business Class pricing.
The 787-9 features larger windows than traditional aircraft. Window seats in rows 10-14 (Business) and 21 (Economy) offer excellent views. Avoid early rows near the wing for clearer sightlines to the horizon.
