Virgin Australia's Boeing 737-800 offers a comfortable short-haul experience with Business and Economy cabins. This guide reveals the best seats to book and which ones to avoid for an optimal flight experience.
The 737-800 features an 8-seat Business cabin in 2-2 layout with 37-38 inch pitch, and a 3-3 Economy cabin with 30-31 inch pitch. Book Business seats 1A, 1C, 1D, or 1F for premium comfort, or Economy exit rows 14-15 (Refreshed) for extra legroom. Avoid the last row and overwing window seats on Refreshed aircraft due to misalignment.
Virgin Australia's Business cabin offers premium comfort with 8 seats configured in a 2-2 layout. With 37-38 inches of pitch, you'll enjoy generous legroom for this narrow-body aircraft. The Business cabin lacks a privacy door but provides a clear separation from Economy. Seats are forward-facing in pairs, ideal for couples or business companions.
Virgin Australia offers a Premium Economy cabin on this aircraft, providing an intermediate option between standard Economy and full Business Class with enhanced comfort and service.
The Economy cabin is configured in a standard 3-3 layout with 30-31 inches of pitch. While modest, this is typical for regional Australian flights. The cabin spans rows 3-31 (Refreshed) or 3-30 (Legacy/Prototype), with exit rows offering additional legroom. Standard Economy seats are narrower and more compact than Business, but acceptable for short-haul routes.
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
1A | Business | Forward-facing pair with window access, maximum privacy and space |
1C | Business | Forward-facing pair with aisle access, excellent comfort |
1D | Business | Forward-facing pair with aisle access, premium positioning |
1F | Business | Forward-facing pair with window access, excellent light and views |
Row 14-15 (Refreshed) | Economy | Exit row seats with significantly more legroom than standard Economy |
Row 13-14 (Legacy/Prototype) | Economy | Exit row seats with extra legroom on older aircraft configurations |
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
Row 31 (Refreshed) / Row 30 (Legacy/Prototype) | Economy | Last row with limited recline, proximity to lavatories, and minimal legroom |
12A/12F (Refreshed) | Economy | Overwing window misaligned, obstructed views and awkward positioning |
13A/13F (Refreshed) | Economy | Overwing window misaligned, poor sightlines and reduced natural light |
9A (Legacy/Prototype) | Economy | No window on older configurations, reduced natural light and views |
Virgin Australia's 737-800 offers USB power ports at most Business and Premium Economy seats, but Economy power availability is spotty and inconsistent across rows - don't rely on charging in the back cabin. WiFi is delivered via Viasat satellite connectivity (not seatback IFE), so streaming video is limited to lower bitrates; download speed typically ranges 4 - 8 Mbps on domestic routes, adequate for messaging and light browsing but not HD video. Bluetooth audio pairing works on most recent cabin retrofits, though older aircraft may have outdated systems. For transcontinental routes or tight connections, pack a portable battery as a backup.
The 737-800's overhead bins are compact and fill quickly on full flights - a standard roller carry-on fits wheels-in only in the front two-thirds of the cabin, while rows 20+ typically require sideways stowing or gate-checking. Boarding Groups 1 - 3 (Business, Premium Economy, and elite frequent flyers) board first and secure overhead space; if you're Economy with a standard fare, aim to board in Group 4 or risk gate-checking. Rows 8 - 15 offer the best bin-to-passenger ratio before the narrower rear bins become cramped. On flights to popular destinations, assume gate-checking is likely for Economy passengers boarding after Group 5.
Virgin Australia boards by group (1 - 6), with Groups 1 - 3 deplaning first from the forward door and Groups 4 - 6 waiting; choose a Business or front Premium Economy seat if you have a tight domestic connection, as the front cabin exits in under 2 minutes on a 737-800. Both forward and rear doors are used only on larger aircraft; the 737-800 typically uses the front door for deplaning, making rows 1 - 8 the fastest exit. For a connection with less than 45 minutes, avoid rows 15+ at all costs. Aisle seats in rows 3 - 5 offer the optimal balance of quick deplaning and reasonable cabin positioning.
Seat selection opens 24 hours before departure for all fare classes on Virgin Australia, but exit rows and premium seats are held back for Status members until 48 hours prior; Good standard Economy seats (aisle, forward cabin) typically release to purchase 5 - 7 days before departure as the airline adjusts inventory. Premium Economy seats remain available longer and rarely sell out, giving you flexibility on booking. Pro tip: use the airline's website or app rather than third-party booking sites - you'll see seat maps in real-time and can snap up premium economy at economy prices if a flash sale occurs within the 24-hour window.
Virgin Australia's 737-800 features seatback entertainment in Business and Premium Economy, with shared screens or limited options in Economy depending on aircraft age and retrofit status.
Refreshed 737-800s have updated cabins, improved windows, and better amenities. Legacy/Prototype variants are older with fewer features. Exit row positioning differs: Refreshed uses rows 14-15, Legacy/Prototype uses rows 13-14.
Yes, if you value legroom. Exit rows offer significantly more pitch than standard Economy (37-38 inches compared to 30-31), though you cannot recline and have safety responsibilities.
Economy seats have limited recline capability typical of narrow-body aircraft. Exit row seats do not recline due to safety regulations.
WiFi availability varies by aircraft. Check your booking confirmation or contact Virgin Australia directly to confirm connectivity on your specific flight.
For short-haul flights, Premium Economy offers good value between Economy and Business. For longer regional routes, Business pitch of 37-38 inches provides meaningful comfort improvement.
