Qantas
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Qantas 787-9 Seat Guide (2026) | Cabin
TL;DR
Qantas operates the 787-9 in a three-cabin configuration with 42 Business Suites in a 1-2-1 layout, 28 Premium Economy seats, and 166 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout. The Business Suite is a direct-aisle-access lie-flat product without a privacy door - solid but not the top tier of current Business Class. The 787-9's lower cabin altitude and higher humidity make a meaningful difference on Qantas' long routes to Dallas, Chicago, and London via Perth. Economy's 3-3-3 layout is standard - exit row selection is the main lever available.
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Qantas' 787-9 is the airline's most modern widebody - deployed on high-value international routes where the Dreamliner's range and cabin quality justify the premium. The Business Suite is a proper 1-2-1 product and the seat intelligence here is about version identification and row selection rather than cabin-wide trade-offs.
Qantas operates the Boeing 787-9 on select international routes from Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, including Perth to London (the world's longest scheduled nonstop at 17 hours), Sydney to Dallas, and Sydney to Chicago. On routes of this length, aircraft selection matters more than on short-haul flying - the Dreamliner's 6,000-foot cabin altitude and higher humidity are not marketing language, they are measurable physiological advantages on 15-17 hour crossings.
Business Suite
Qantas Business Suite on the 787-9 uses a 1-2-1 layout with 42 seats across 11 rows. Every seat has direct aisle access and reclines to a fully flat 78-inch bed. Seat width is 22 inches. There is no privacy door - the product is open-suite, with the angled herringbone orientation providing partial visual privacy from the aisle.
The herringbone layout means window seats angle toward the window and away from the aisle, creating a natural privacy orientation during sleep. The footwell is positioned at the aisle edge, which means taller passengers sleep diagonally - comfortable for most travellers up to 6'3", less so beyond that. The bulkhead row (row 1) is the exception: wider footwells with no seat structure ahead, making it the correct choice for tall travelers regardless of the diagonal sleep orientation in standard rows.
The Business Suite cabin is split into two sections. The forward mini-cabin (rows 1-4) is the quieter zone, positioned ahead of the main Business galley. The rear section (rows 5-11) is larger and backed by the Premium Economy galley - row 11 is the one to avoid for the standard galley adjacency reasons.
Perth to London - specific intelligence for the world's longest flight
The Perth to London service (QF9/QF10) is 17 hours westbound and 14.5 hours eastbound. On a flight of this length, every seat decision matters more than on a standard transatlantic crossing. In Business: the forward mini-cabin rows 1-4 are the correct call - the forward galley runs its major service early and then goes quiet for 8-10 hours, giving you the longest uninterrupted sleep window. In Economy: the A/B and H/K window pairs on the 787-9's 3-3-3 layout have only one neighbor each - on a 17-hour flight, this is worth paying the seat selection fee for.
Premium Economy
Qantas Premium Economy on the 787-9 is a 2-3-2 layout with 28 seats and 38 inches of pitch. Window pairs on either side of the cabin (2-seat sections) have no middle neighbor. The seat reclines to approximately 120 degrees with a dedicated leg rest. The bulkhead row is the standout pick for legroom. On Perth to London, Premium Economy is the value call for passengers who can't justify Business but need more space than Economy for 17 hours - the 38-inch pitch and dedicated leg rest make the crossing physically manageable in a way that standard Economy does not.
Economy Class
Economy on the Qantas 787-9 uses a 3-3-3 layout with 166 seats at 31 inches of pitch. IFE screens are 11.6 inches. Qantas' Economy seat padding is above average and the meal quality is competitive. The exit rows offer extra legroom and are the primary upgrade target. On the Perth to London route specifically, Qantas has historically run a high load factor - exit rows sell out quickly and should be booked at the time of ticket purchase rather than at check-in.
The Dreamliner advantage on ultra-long-haul
On routes like Perth to London (17 hours), the physiological differences between the 787 and older widebody types are most pronounced. Cabin altitude at 6,000 feet versus 8,000 feet on older aircraft translates to approximately 5-8% higher blood oxygen saturation at cruise. The 787's humidity control system runs at roughly 15-20% relative humidity versus 5-8% on older aluminum-fuselage jets. Passengers who have flown both consistently report less headache, less dry-eye irritation, and faster recovery at destination on the 787. On a 17-hour crossing, these differences compound meaningfully.
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Business Suite features a stable tray table adequate for a 15-inch laptop. Qantas uses Viasat satellite Wi-Fi on the 787-9 - coverage is consistent on Australia to US routes but can be interrupted during the transoceanic segment on Perth to London. Business Suite seats have AC outlets and USB-A. Economy has USB-A at each seat.
Best seats
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
1A & 1K | Business | Bulkhead suites. Widest footwells - essential for tall travelers on 17-hour Perth-London. First to deplane. |
Rows 2-4 A & K | Business | Forward mini-cabin window seats. Quietest zone after early meal service. Best extended sleep window. |
Bulkhead row (2-seat side) | Premium Economy | Extra legroom with no middle neighbor. Critical on 17-hour routes. |
Exit row A or K (first available) | Economy | Best Economy legroom. Book at ticketing - high load factors mean these go fast. |
Seats to avoid
Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|---|---|
Row 11 (last Business row) | Business | Premium Economy galley directly behind. Light and noise during service. |
Last Premium Economy row | Premium Economy | Restricted recline and Economy curtain proximity. |
Last 3 Economy rows | Economy | No recline, galley noise. On a 17-hour flight, the rear cabin is the hardest place to sleep. |
Is Qantas 787-9 Business Suite a lie-flat product?
Yes. The Business Suite reclines to a fully flat 78-inch bed with direct aisle access from every seat in a 1-2-1 layout. There is no privacy door on the current product.
What routes does Qantas fly the 787-9 on?
Perth to London (QF9/QF10 - world's longest nonstop), Sydney to Dallas, Sydney to Chicago, and select routes to Asia and New Zealand. The aircraft is deployed where Qantas needs the range and efficiency of the 787 without the capacity of the A380.
Is Premium Economy worth it on Perth to London?
On a 17-hour flight, yes - strongly. The 38-inch pitch, 2-3-2 layout with window pairs having no middle neighbor, and proper leg rest make the crossing physically manageable in a way that Economy at 31 inches does not. The price differential between Economy and Premium Economy is typically much smaller than the comfort differential on this specific route.
Does the Qantas 787-9 have Wi-Fi?
Yes. Viasat satellite Wi-Fi is available. Coverage is consistent on most route segments but can be interrupted during transoceanic portions of Perth to London.
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