What is a 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.

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Widebody aircraft, explained

Widebody aircraft are built for long flights: two aisles, room for lie-flat business class seats and the range to cross oceans. Single-aisle planes, called narrowbodies, fly most short and medium routes.

The aircraft decides the seat. The same airline can fly its newest business class on one widebody type and an older seat on another, so the aircraft on a flight is worth checking.

A few airlines fly long routes with single-aisle aircraft fitted with lie-flat seats, which makes smaller cities reachable without a connection.

On a business class trip

Two flights on the same route, one on an airline's newest widebody and one on an older type, can offer very different business class seats.

Related terms

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.
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.
Business class suite
A business class seat with a door or high walls that close it off from the aisle, for more privacy.

Every term in the glossary.