How do you read a business class seat map?

A drawing of the cabin that shows where each seat is and which are free. In business class it also shows the layout, such as 1-2-1.

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Seat map, explained

Seat maps show the rows, the aisles and the seat letters. In business class the layout matters most: in a 1-2-1 cabin every seat reaches the aisle, while 2-2-2 or 2-3-2 layouts put some passengers beside a neighbor.

Staggered layouts alternate seats near the window and near the aisle, so two window seats in the same column can feel very different. Seats near the galley or the toilets can be noisier.

Whether you can choose a seat at booking, and at what cost, depends on the airline and the fare.

On a business class trip

A couple choosing seats picks the center pair in a 1-2-1 cabin; a traveler alone picks a window seat set close to the window.

Related terms

Direct aisle access
A seat layout where every business class seat opens onto the aisle, so no one climbs over a neighbor.
Widebody aircraft
A plane with two aisles, such as the Boeing 777 and 787 or the Airbus A350 and A380. Most long-haul business class cabins are on widebodies.
Lie-flat seat
A business class seat that turns into a fully flat bed, 180 degrees, so you can sleep lying down on a night flight.
Angled lie-flat seat
A seat that reclines to a long flat surface tilted at an angle, not level, so you tend to slide down it while sleeping.