What do the seat ratings mean?

Green seats are recommended, yellow warrant caution, and red are best avoided. Seats without a flag are standard for their cabin. Ratings reflect window position, recline, and proximity to galleys or lavatories.

How are the best seats chosen?

Each seat is ranked by its recommended, caution, or avoid rating first, then by window quality, using the same per-seat data on the aircraft's to-scale seat map. Picks are grouped by cabin so you compare like with like.

What are the windowless seats?

Some seats sit at the window position but have a misaligned window, or none at all. We list those seat numbers so you can steer clear if a view or a wall to lean on matters.

Do I need an account to view this?

No. Aircraft seat maps in the catalog are free to browse, no sign-in required.

South African AirwaysSA

South African Airways Boeing 737-800 Seat Map: Best & Worst Seats

South African Airways Boeing 737-800 cabin layout and seating plan

189Y189 seats

South African AirwaysSA

Boeing 737-800

Boeing 737-8HC

The South African Airways Boeing 737-800, leased from SunExpress holds 189 economy seats

Last verified October 14, 2026Verified by Alex Westridge

Manufacturer

Boeing

Body

Narrow body

Haul

Short Haul

Configuration

189Y

189seats

Economy 189

Seat classes

Economy

189 seats

Rows1 to 34

In-seat amenities

Air vent

Flying this Boeing 737-800? See which seats are still open

Enter your South African Airways flight number and date on the live seat map to see the open seats on your flight, with every seat's comfort score.

Check my flight

Seat insights

Best seats on the South African Airways Boeing 737-800

Ranked by cabin from the per-seat ratings, window quality, and traveler notes on the South African Airways Boeing 737-800 seat map.

On the South African Airways Boeing 737-800, the recommended Economy seats are 02A and 05F for a good window. For extra legroom, 18B is worth choosing early.

Cabin

Position

02A
Window·Recommended
05F
Window·Recommended
07A
Window·Recommended
10A
Window·Recommended
10F
Window·Recommended
25A
Window·Recommended
25F
Window·Recommended
18B
Middle·Recommended
Extra legroom.
18C
Aisle·Recommended
Extra legroom.
18D
Aisle·Recommended
Extra legroom.
18E
Middle·Recommended
Extra legroom.
03F
Window·Standard

Boeing 737-800 seat specifications: pitch, width and recline

What every symbol, measurement, and color on the map means, so you can compare seats, cabins, and aircraft with confidence.

Seat measurements

Row pitch

Distance from a point on one seat to the same point on the seat in the row ahead. A useful proxy for legroom.

Seat width

Measured across the seat cushion between the inner edges of the armrests.

Seat recline

How far the seat tilts back from upright, measured as the travel at the headrest.

In-seat amenities

Adjustable armrest
Adjustable headrest
Air vent
Seatback screen
Streaming to device
Wi-Fi
Power outlet
USB port
Wireless charging
Bluetooth audio
Privacy door

Cabin features

Galley
Lavatory
Accessible lavatory
Washlet lavatory
Bar or lounge
Bassinet position
Prayer area
Snack station
Service animal seating
Peanut-allergy seating

Wi-Fi quality

Good

Steady enough for messaging and email.

Better

Comfortable browsing and light streaming.

Best

Fast enough for video calls and streaming.

Seat ratings

Recommended

Above average. A strong pick on this aircraft.

Caution

Some trade-offs worth weighing before you book.

Avoid

Below average, with known drawbacks to avoid.

Other Boeing 737-800 seat maps

Fitted differently by 74 other airlines. Tick a map to compare it side by side.

All airlines

	Cabins
South African AirwaysThis page SA · Economy 189 seats	Economy 189	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	189
Aeroitalia XZ · Economy 189 seats	Economy 189	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	189
Aerolíneas Argentinas AR · Premium, Economy 170 seats	Premium 8 · Economy 162	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	170
Aeroméxico AM · Business, Economy 160 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 16 · Economy 144	34"	17"	3"	160
Aeroméxico AM · Business, Economy 180 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 24 · Economy 156	30-34"	17"	3"	180
Air Algérie AH · Business, Economy 148 seats	Business 16 · Economy 132	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	148
Air China CA · Business, Economy 159 seats	Business 12 · Economy 147	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	159
Air China CA · Business, Economy 167 seats	Business 8 · Economy 159	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	167
Air China CA · Business, Economy 176 seats	Business 8 · Economy 168	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	176
Air Europa UX · Business, Economy 186 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 18 · Economy 168	30"	17"	3"	186
Air Europa UX · Business, Economy 189 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 18 · Economy 171	30-31"	17"	3"	189
Air India AI · Economy 186 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Economy 186	30"	17"	3"	186
Air India AI · Economy 189 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Economy 189	29"	17"	3"	189
Air North 4N · Economy 174 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Economy 174	32"	17"	3"	174
AJet VF · Economy 189 seats	Economy 189	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	189
AJet VF · Economy 186 seats	Economy 186	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	186
Alaska Airlines AS · Business, Economy 159 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 12 · Economy 147	31"	17"	3"	159
Alaska Airlines AS · Business, Economy 161 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 16 · Economy 145	30"	17"	3"	161
American Airlines AA · Business, Economy 172 seats · 17" wide · 2" recline	Business 16 · Economy 156	30"	17"	2"	172
ANA NH · Business, Economy 166 seats	Business 8 · Economy 158	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	166
Batik Air ID · Layout 1 · Business, Economy 162 seats	Business 12 · Economy 150	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	162
Batik Air ID · Layout 2 · Business, Economy 162 seats	Business 12 · Economy 150	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	162
Biman Bangladesh Airlines BG · Business, Economy 162 seats	Business 12 · Economy 150	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	162
Boliviana de Aviación OB · Economy 168 seats	Economy 168	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	168
China Airlines CI · Business, Economy 158 seats	Business 8 · Economy 150	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	158
China Airlines CI · Business, Economy 161 seats	Business 8 · Economy 153	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	161
China Eastern MU · Business, Economy 170 seats	Business 8 · Economy 162	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	170
China Eastern MU · Business, Economy 158 seats	Business 8 · Economy 150	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	158
China Eastern MU · Business, Economy 176 seats	Business 8 · Economy 168	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	176
China Eastern MU · Business, Economy 158 seats	Business 20 · Economy 138	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	158
China Southern CZ · Business, Economy 161 seats	Business 8 · Economy 153	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	161
China Southern CZ · Business, Economy 178 seats	Business 4 · Economy 174	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	178
China Southern CZ · Business, Economy 172 seats	Business 4 · Economy 168	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	172
China Southern CZ · Business, Economy 169 seats	Business 4 · Economy 165	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	169
Copa Airlines CM · Business, Economy 166 seats	Business 16 · Economy 150	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	166
Copa Airlines CM · Business, Economy 160 seats	Business 16 · Economy 144	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	160
Delta Air Lines DL · Business, Economy 160 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 16 · Economy 144	31"	17"	3"	160
Egyptair MS · Business, Economy 144 seats	Business 24 · Economy 120	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	144
Egyptair MS · Business, Economy 154 seats · 17" wide · 4" recline	Business 16 · Economy 138	32"	17"	4"	154
El Al LY · Business, Economy 166 seats · 17" wide · 2" recline	Business 16 · Economy 150	29"	17"	2"	166
Ethiopian ET · Business, Economy 154 seats · 17" wide · 3" recline	Business 16 · Economy 138	31"	17"	3"	154

Legroom, seat width and recline are for economy seats.

Compare the Boeing 737-800

Put this cabin next to another airline's version, or any other aircraft, and read every spec difference side by side.

Compare with other airlines Compare with any aircraft

More South African Airways seat maps

Airbus A320

South African Airways

24J · 114Y·138 seats

Updated Oct 14, 2026

Airbus A330-300

South African Airways

46J · 203Y·249 seats

Updated Oct 14, 2026

Airbus A340-300

South African Airways

38J · 216Y·254 seats

Updated Oct 14, 2026

FAQ

South African Airways Boeing 737-800 seat map questions

How to read the map, what the ratings mean, and what you need to get started.

The map is drawn to scale from real cabin data, including window alignment, galleys, lavatories, and exit rows. Airlines can swap aircraft, so always confirm your seat at check-in.

Flying on points? Find the award.

Search award space across 25+ programs
Live seat availability
Find premium seats for the lowest miles

Explore FlightPoints

South African Airways Boeing 737-800 Seat Map: Best & Worst Seats

South African Airways Boeing 737-800 cabin layout and seating plan

Boeing 737-800

Configuration

Seat classes

Best seats on the South African Airways Boeing 737-800