Saudia's Boeing 787-9 offers a premium business class experience with reverse-herringbone seating and a spacious 3-3-3 economy cabin. Discover the best seats to maximize comfort and avoid the less desirable rows on this long-haul aircraft.
The 787-9 features a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone business layout with 24 seats and standard 3-3-3 economy seating. Book window seats in business (2A, 4A, 2K, 4K) for optimal privacy and views, or economy exit row seats (row 21) for extra legroom. Families should target rows 11 and 31 for paired seats, while avoiding middle seats in economy whenever possible.
Saudia's business class offers 24 seats in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration, providing excellent privacy without physical doors between suites. Seats feature 47 inches of pitch and 21 inches of width, delivering generous space for sleeping and working. Each window position includes direct aisle access, while the center pair is ideal for companions or crew rest scenarios.
Economy accommodates passengers in a traditional 3-3-3 layout with 32 inches of pitch and 17.3 inches of width. While standard for wide-body aircraft, this configuration means middle seats should be avoided when possible. The cabin includes an exit row at row 21 offering additional legroom, and rows 12-14 window seats provide better views and easier access to the aisle.
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
2A | Business | Window position with direct aisle access and premium privacy in reverse-herringbone layout |
4A | Business | Window suite with optimal spacing and aisle proximity |
2K | Business | Rear window seat maintaining business class comfort standards |
4K | Business | Aft window position with consistent amenities and privacy |
21A | Economy | Exit row window seat with significantly increased legroom |
21C | Economy | Exit row aisle access with extra space |
12F | Economy | Window seat in optimal mid-cabin position with good views |
11D | Economy | Family-friendly row with three contiguous seats |
31D | Economy | Alternate family seating with grouped configuration |
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
All middle seats | Economy | Limited privacy and restricted armrest access in 3-3-3 layout |
Rows 1-3 | Economy | Proximity to galley and lavatory with increased noise and traffic |
Saudia operates a single standardized 787-9 configuration across its fleet with no door variants - all business class seats are open suites without physical doors, which means privacy depends entirely on the herringbone angle and your neighbor's discretion. To confirm you're on a 787-9 rather than the airline's 777s or 787-8s, check your booking confirmation or FlightRadar24 the day before; Saudia's 787-9s are reserved primarily for long-haul routes to North America and Europe. It's worth switching flights only if you're booked on a 777, where business class is a cramped 2-2-2 configuration with significantly less privacy and a narrower seat; the 787-9 is universally superior on this route.
Against Emirates' 777 and Qatar's A350 on equivalent routes, Saudia's 787-9 business class wins decisively for solo travelers - the direct-aisle window seats eliminate middle-seat anxiety - and tall passengers will appreciate the superior cabin pressure and humidity that the 787 fuselage delivers over 14+ hours. For couples, Qatar edges ahead with fully enclosed suites and quieter cabins, but Saudia's reverse-herringbone layout gives you face-to-face positioning that many prefer; couples flying together should book center pairs on Saudia without hesitation. The honest call: book Saudia if you're traveling alone and value direct aisle access; choose Qatar only if you're paying the same price and prioritize a fully closing door and maximum isolation from other passengers.
Saudia's business class passengers access the Al Safwa First Class Lounge at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (the airline's primary hub), which features shower spas, à la carte dining by a dedicated chef, premium barista coffee, and a dedicated first-class cabin for rest. Only business class and first class have lounge access; economy passengers are excluded entirely, making the ground experience a tangible perk of paying for premium fares. The lounge justifies routing via Jeddah over direct alternatives only if you have a 4+ hour layover; on tight connections, the lounge adds no value and you'll spend the time boarding instead.
Book window seats on the left side of the aircraft (rows 1 - 3, seats A or K) to maximize uninterrupted sleep without aisle-side foot traffic and overnight service disruptions; these seats offer direct aisle access for bathroom trips without climbing over a companion. Skip Saudia's heavy overnight service and request a light snack and water upon boarding, then decline the full meal - the airline's meals are rich and sleep-disrupting on red-eyes, and you'll sleep deeper on an empty stomach. Bring a weighted eye mask (Manta Sleep or similar) and compression socks; the cabin is dry despite 787 humidity improvements, so the socks prevent DVT on 14+ hour flights while the mask blocks the galley lights that crew activate at 2 a.m. Arrive 90 minutes early despite premium access - clear immigration immediately and avoid the airport lounge crush at landing by securing an aisle seat in row 1 or 2, allowing you to deplane first and clear Jeddah security before the economy wave.
Yes, all window and aisle seats in the 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration provide direct aisle access without needing to climb over seatmates. The center pair does not have direct aisle access from both sides.
Business class offers 47 inches of pitch compared to economy's 32 inches, providing 15 inches of additional legroom for premium passengers.
No, the Boeing 787-9 on Saudia routes does not include a premium economy cabin. Passengers choose between business or standard economy seating.
Rows 11 and 31 are ideal for families, offering three contiguous seats (D-E-F) allowing families to sit together in the economy cabin.
Exit row seats at row 21 provide approximately 10-15 inches of additional legroom compared to standard economy seating, though exact measurements depend on aircraft configuration.
