The Jetstar Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner offers both Business and Economy cabins with distinctly different configurations depending on aircraft age. Business Class features either 21 or 44 seats in a 2-3-2 layout with 38-inch pitch, while Economy packs 3-3-3 across the fuselage with standard 30-inch pitch.
The 787-8 features Business Class in a 2-3-2 layout and Economy in 3-3-3. For Business, aim for Row 3 in original aircraft or Row 7 in refurbished versions, particularly middle and aisle seats. In Economy, prioritize exit rows and Row 10 D/E for extra legroom. Avoid seats 3A/3B in original Business configuration due to obstruction from the row ahead.
Jetstar's Business Class on the 787-8 varies significantly between original and refurbished aircraft. Original configuration offers just 21 seats in a spacious 2-3-2 layout with 38-inch pitch, providing excellent comfort. Refurbished aircraft increase capacity to 44 seats while maintaining the same seat pitch and layout. All Business seats benefit from the Dreamliner's larger windows and superior cabin pressure, reducing fatigue on long-haul routes. The cabin lacks privacy doors between seats, so consider the social aspect when selecting your location.
Economy operates in a tight 3-3-3 configuration with 30-inch pitch throughout the cabin. This is standard for the aircraft type and offers limited legroom for extended flights. The real opportunity for comfort upgrades comes from exit row seating, which provides significantly more legroom without the premium price tag of Business Class. Row 10 D/E seats are noted as particularly desirable Economy options on this aircraft.
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
3G, 3J | Business (Original) | Row 3 offers optimal positioning; middle and aisle seats avoid direct window exposure while maintaining full cabin access |
7A, 7C | Business (Refurbished) | Row 7 is ideal in refurbished configuration; aisle and window seats with excellent cabin position and Dreamliner amenities |
10D, 10E | Economy | Premium Economy-adjacent seats with superior legroom and positioning in the cabin |
Exit Rows | Economy | Substantially increased legroom compared to standard Economy without Business Class pricing |
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
3A, 3B | Business (Original) | These seats suffer from obstruction by seats in Row 2 directly ahead, compromising the premium experience despite the otherwise excellent row position |
Jetstar's seat selection on the 787-8 ranges from free (standard Economy seats in rows 10-25) to AUD $15 - 25 for preferred Economy positions (extra legroom, forward cabin) and AUD $25 - 40 for premium exit-row seats, depending on route and booking timing. While these fees are lower than legacy carriers like Qantas (AUD $30 - 60 for equivalent seats), they compound quickly: a round-trip Melbourne - Bangkok booking with two passengers selecting exit rows can add AUD $160 - 320 to the fare, narrowing the airline's price advantage. Business Class seat selection is typically included, making that cabin's value proposition stronger if you're already committed to the premium product. For leisure travelers, skipping paid selection and accepting a standard Economy pitch of 31 inches is usually the smarter move unless you're over 6 feet tall or have a specific mobility need.
Jetstar's 787-8 Economy delivers 31 inches of pitch and 17.2 inches of width across its standard 3-3-3 configuration - marginally tighter than Virgin Australia's 787-9 (32 inches pitch) but identical to budget rivals on narrowbodies. In practice, this means a 5-hour flight is uncomfortable without moving, the tray table barely accommodates a 13-inch laptop (you'll need to angle it), and anyone over 6 feet will experience knee-touch on the seat ahead. The Dreamliner's larger windows and ambient lighting help psychologically, but the slimline seat back itself feels noticeably thinner than legacy carriers' Economy, offering minimal lumbar support. Preferred Economy seats (rows 8 - 9) add just 2 extra inches of pitch for AUD $15 - 20, which may be worth it for routes over 6 hours.
Standard Economy seats on Jetstar's 787-8 have no USB ports or power outlets; this is a significant omission on a modern widebody and reflects the airline's cost-cutting approach. WiFi is available through a partnership with Viasat, but it's notoriously slow on Jetstar flights (typically under 2 Mbps), and the airline bundles 1 hour free with premium Economy while charging AUD $8 for a 24-hour pass on Economy fares. Streaming or video calls are impractical; email and light browsing are possible but frustrating. Passengers should absolutely bring a 20,000+ mAh battery pack, especially on long-haul flights, as a dead phone or tablet becomes a real issue on 9+ hour sectors with no charging options.
Jetstar uses a tiered boarding system: Business Class, status members, and paid-priority Economy board first (15 - 20 minutes pre-departure), followed by standard Economy in back-to-front zone groups. The 787-8 uses both front and rear doors for exit, meaning rows 1 - 3 deplane in under 2 minutes while rows 27 - 34 can take 8 - 10 minutes; for a tight connection (under 90 minutes), requesting a seat in rows 5 - 8 is worth the AUD $20 selection fee. Jetstar's turnaround times are aggressive (often 45 minutes), and gate delays are common, so even front-row passengers can miss connections. If your onward flight is tight, choose an aisle seat in the forward cabin (rows 6 - 9) to maximize your chances of deplaning early and clearing immigration/security quickly.
Original configuration features 21 Business seats providing more space and exclusivity, while refurbished aircraft have 44 seats offering higher capacity. Both maintain 38-inch pitch and 2-3-2 layout, but refurbished aircraft represent newer cabin products with modern amenities.
The 2-3-2 layout means middle seats (3-seat section) do not have direct aisle access. Window and aisle seats in the 2-seat sections offer the most convenient positioning.
Exit rows on the 787-8 provide noticeably more legroom than standard Economy seats, sometimes approaching Business-level comfort at Economy pricing.
No, Jetstar's 787-8 offers only Business and Economy cabin classes with no Premium Economy option.
The Boeing 787 features larger windows, higher cabin pressure, improved humidity levels, and better air filtration than conventional aircraft, all contributing to reduced fatigue on long-haul flights.
