Boeing 737-800
Best rows: 2, 16, 18. Watch rows: 1, 12, 15, 16, 24, 33, 34 because of galleys, limited recline, lavatories, missing or misaligned windows, and galley noise.
- 2 — Front Economy row: extra legroom
- 16, 18 — Overwing exit row: extra legroom
South African Airways's Boeing 737-800 seats 189 passengers in a single-class cabin. Economy comes in at 32 inches.
Seat map
Cabin
189 seats total| Class | Pitch | Width | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 32" | 17" | 189 |
Cabin guide
- Economy: 189 seats in a 3-3 layout (rows 1-34), 32" pitch, 17" wide.
Best seats
- 2 — Front Economy row: extra legroom
- 16, 18 — Overwing exit row: extra legroom
Seats to avoid
- 1 — Bulkhead row with only A/B/C seats; galley forward
- 16 — Overwing exit: reduced recline on row ahead
- 34 — Last row: galley/lavatories behind, reduced recline
Exit rows, lavatories & galleys
- Cabin, before row 1: 1 lavatory and galley - nearby rows can see queueing, door noise, and foot traffic and nearby rows can get meal-service noise and light.
- Cabin, behind row 34: 2 lavatories, galley, and exit door area - nearby rows can see queueing, door noise, and foot traffic, nearby rows can get meal-service noise and light, and adjacent seats may have extra legroom or door-slide intrusion.
Variant identity
South African Airways uses this Boeing 737-800 page for 189Y. The seat counts below are taken from the verified layout, not a generic aircraft template.
- 189Y
- 189 seats as drawn
- 189 Economy
Seat-by-seat notes
Every annotated seat on this verified layout, rated and explained: no window, near a galley or lavatory, limited recline, exit-row legroom, bulkhead or bassinet positions, misaligned windows, and tray-table or under-seat-storage quirks.
| Row / seat | Cabin | Rating | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12A, 12F | Economy | Avoid | no window, solid wall alongside |
| 15A, 15B, 15E, 15F | Economy | Avoid | limited recline (exit row behind) |
| 16A, 16B, 16E, 16F | Economy | Mixed | extra legroom and limited recline (exit row behind) |
| 16C, 16D | Economy | Best | extra legroom |
| 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E, 18F | Economy | Best | extra legroom |
| 24A | Economy | Avoid | no window, solid wall alongside |
| 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F | Economy | Avoid | near a lavatory (queuing and noise) |
| 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F | Economy | Avoid | right beside a lavatory |
| 34A, 34F | Economy | Avoid | right beside a lavatory |
| 34B, 34C, 34D, 34E | Economy | Avoid | right beside a lavatory and near a galley (noise and bright light at meal times) |
Source & verification
Verified 2026-06-11. Seat count is validated against the published cabin totals before this map can render. Per-seat notes are extracted from the source data and rewritten into plain-language warnings for row selection.
- Source
- Coordinate-verified cabin layout
- Verification tier
- Tier A
- Validated seats
- 189
Frequently asked questions
- How many seats does the South African Airways Boeing 737-800 have?
- This South African Airways Boeing 737-800 configuration (189Y) has 189 seats: 189 Economy.
- What are the best seats on the South African Airways Boeing 737-800?
- Rows with extra room on this aircraft: 2 (front economy row); 16, 18 (overwing exit row).
- Which seats should you avoid on the South African Airways Boeing 737-800?
- Seats worth double-checking before you pick: rows 1; 16; 34 — mostly due to lavatory and galley proximity, limited recline, or missing windows. Click any seat on the map for the specific reason.
- What is the seat pitch on the South African Airways Boeing 737-800?
- Seat pitch and width by cabin: Economy 32" pitch, 17" wide.
- Does the South African Airways Boeing 737-800 have premium economy?
- No, this Boeing 737-800 configuration does not have a premium economy cabin.
- How accurate is this South African Airways Boeing 737-800 seat map?
- This layout is verified seat-by-seat: every cabin count is checked against the airline's published configuration, and the full seat grid is validated before the map is shown. Last verified 2026-06-11.