Air Canada 787 Seat Guide: 787-8, 787-9 & 787-10 (2026)
Air Canada flies three versions of the Boeing 787 and the booking page calls every one of them “787 Dreamliner”. They are not interchangeable: the business cabin ranges from 20 seats without doors to 42 with them, and the smallest has two business seats with no window at all. This page tells you which one you are on. Each aircraft has its own row-by-row guide.
Air Canada 787-8 seat guide →
255 seats. 20 Signature Class seats; 5A and 5K have no window.
Air Canada 787-9 seat guide →
298 seats. A private two-seat row 1 and a 29in economy bulkhead.
Air Canada 787-10 seat guide →
332 seats. The newest cabin, with business suites with doors.
The three Air Canada 787s compared
| 787-8 | 787-9 | 787-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total seats | 255 | 298 | 332 |
| Business | 20 Signature Class, rows 1–5, no doors | 30 Signature Class, rows 1–8, no doors | 42, with doors |
| Premium Economy | 21, rows 12–14 | 21, rows 12–14 | 28 |
| Economy | 214, rows 18–42 | 247, rows 18–46 | 262 |
| Standout | Shortest business cabin | Private row 1 (1A, 1K only); 29in economy bulkhead | Newest cabin throughout |
| Watch out for | 5A, 5K: no window | 30A, 31A/K, 43A/K: no usable window | — |
| Guide | 787-8 guide | 787-9 guide | 787-10 guide |
How to tell which one you are on
- Count the seats on the seat map. 255 = 787-8 · 298 = 787-9 · 332 = 787-10.
- Look at business. Five rows = 787-8. Eight rows with only 1A and 1K in row 1 = 787-9. Suites with doors = 787-10.
- Look where economy ends. Row 42 = 787-8 · row 46 = 787-9.
- Check again before you fly. Air Canada swaps aircraft on the same route.
The version lottery
Each of the three has one layout, so once you know the aircraft, you know the cabin. The lottery is between them.
What you lose on the smaller aircraft
- 787-8 instead of 787-9: a third fewer business seats, no private row 1, two business seats with no window (5A and 5K) and an ordinary economy bulkhead instead of the 787-9’s 29in one.
- 787-9 instead of 787-10: the door on your business seat. The 787-8 and 787-9 share the same Super Diamond seat with no door.
The 787-8 and 787-9 share the same seats in every cabin; what changes is the size of the business cabin, the shape of row 1 and where the lavatories fall in economy.
Which Air Canada 787 is best?
- Business: the 787-10, for the door. Between the other two, the 787-9: book 1K, and on the 787-8 never book 5A or 5K.
- Premium Economy: the same seat on the 787-8 and 787-9; on both, skip row 12, which sits behind the lavatories.
- Economy: the 787-9, for the 29in bulkhead at 18D/18E/18G and three rows of perfectly aligned windows.
Seat letters
On the 787-8 and 787-9, Signature Class is A | D G | K, Premium Economy is A C | D E G | H K and economy is A B C | D E G | H J K — the centre block is D E G, not D E F.
Frequently asked questions
Which Air Canada 787 has business class with doors?
Only the 787-10. The 787-8 and 787-9 have the Super Diamond seat with direct aisle access but no door.
Which Air Canada 787 seats have no window?
On the 787-8, Signature Class 5A and 5K. On the 787-9, economy 30A, and 31A, 31K, 43A and 43K have no usable view. Each guide lists the rest.
How do I know which Air Canada 787 I am on?
Count the seats on the seat map: 255, 298 or 332.
More Dreamliner guides
- United 787 — four layouts compared
- WestJet 787-9 — Canada’s other 787-9
- Air Canada 777-300ER — the other long-haul flagship