The Boeing 737-800 is the workhorse of Qantas’ domestic and trans-Tasman fleet.
The red-tailed single-aisle jets feature on flights as short as Sydney-Melbourne and as long as Brisbane-Perth and even Perth-Singapore, on which you’d spend upwards of five hours in your seat.
That’s when the comfort of choosing the best spot in the 12-seat business class cabin available really becomes noticeable... but even on those 90-minute hops, there are still advantages to selecting some seats over others.
Qantas Boeing 737 business class: best seats
All Qantas Boeing 737s offer 12 seats in business class, arranged in a 2-2 layout spanning three rows…
… with some seats ideal for shorter flights and others showing their strengths on longer journeys – here are our top and bottom picks for your next flight.
1A, 1C: These look great on a boarding pass, but on some aircraft the locker above is given over to emergency equipment which means your bag needs to go elsewhere – and that can’t be in front of you, because you’re at a bulkhead.
As with 1D and 1F, legroom here is acceptable but without the ability to stretch all the way forward...
... and on aircraft with personal inflight entertainment screens, those in row 1 must be stowed during take-off and landing.
Upsides? There’s nobody to recline in front of you, making it easier for the window passenger to access the aisle.
2C, 2D: These are our top picks on longer routes or when you want to sit back with a good movie from gate to gate, offering seatback entertainment screens on newer aircraft, direct aisle access on all variations, under-seat storage and a still-prompt meal service.
2A, 2F: We generally avoid these unless planning to remain seated throughout the flight as you lose the benefit of direct aisle access enjoyed in the C and D seats and the lack of a reclining passenger in front of you as in the first row.
3A, 3C, 3D, 3F: While there’s no denying that any business class seat is still markedly better than a great spot in economy, we also prefer to skip row 3 if other choices are available.
That’s because these seats are the last to be served meals, making chow time more rushed than enjoyable on the airline’s shortest routes.
Passengers at the front of economy also sometimes stash bags above these seats when the nearby economy lockers are full, minimising your storage space.
Also read: Qantas Boeing 737 business class review, Sydney-Brisbane
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we’re @AusBT
Chris Chamberlin is the Associate Editor of Executive Traveller, and lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jan 2012
Total posts 177
What I don't understand with the QF B738 is that they have a fixed Business Class cabin. So why do they continue to have those ugly dated drapped bulkhead? Something that akin to what VA have on their B738 would look a lot better.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jun 2015
Total posts 25
Most of their older 737s are now being refitted with new seats and an extra row. With that comes a different style plastic divider which removes the need for a curtain.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
Only about 20 aircraft with drapes left, and I expect they will all be gone by the end of the year.
Should also be noted that only about half the entire 737 has seatback IFE (and pullup in Row 1). The remainder will rely on Q Streaming which is almost (only two aircraft remaining) fully insdtalled
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
Pretty poor state when only 2 of 12 Business class seats are the goodies. I had to climb over my partner in 2C and was appauled how little space there was to get out of 2A. For Trans Tasman these aircraft are shockers.
21 Jul 2011
Total posts 73
That's so funny. What do you propose they fly across the Tasman, the 330's? I'd rather have frequency than one flight a day.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
I'd rather decent Business class options.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 367
I think QF rely on EK for decent trans-Tasman decent J class. You have once daily full flat seats with direct aisle access and inflight bar!
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
Yes, arn't EK FABULOUS 'Trans Tasman' - so stylish and spacious in J and with a 1st offering as well. I've done the Melbourne Auckland A380 heaps of times. Such a shame no service from Melbourne to Wellington or Christchurch. The alternative Airlines choice of aircraft are just awful.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
You don't get much better in a narrowbody -- and its a lot better than what they class as Business in Europe.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
Cannot agree more – Eurobusiness is utter [email protected]
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 367
In US they do have lie flats on narrow body air crafts tho. AA has reverse herringbone and JetBlue even has suite in their mint class. So it's doable but only on really premium routes.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
02 Sep 2014
Total posts 17
Think about those in Y who can only get one type of seat whether its the 737, 330, 380, etc.
You at least have more room in J
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
For the price of a J ticket the extra space you get is minimal. The recline and screen size is also very mean.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 745
Poor Y's, how unfortunate.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
J Perth to Singapore in those seats? Come on, Qantas!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 452
Fingers crossed the service gets re-instated to A330
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 244
Compared to what constitutes Business Class in Euope - both QF and VA offer a fantastic product.
Try flying Athens to London (4 hours) in a business class seat with 30-31 inch pitch (like all the majors do now). The empty middle seat is pointless if you can't feel your legs !!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Sep 2016
Total posts 2
What I dont understand is why airlines such as Qantas and Virgin use 737's on short haul international flights when their competitors fly wide body planes. I recently flew Brisbane to Bali with Virgin in business class and it was akin to the 1980's Qantas business class seat!!! Service was great but the seat...... Cathay, HK to Bali, fly 777's for a flying time less than Brisbane to Bali. Singapore Airlines, Singapore to Bali, fly A330's for a flight time of 2.3 hrs!!! Both QF and VA need to lift their aircraft configurations for what they call are short haul international flights. I can get a better class of service/seat flying Brisbane to Perth, than I do Brisbane to Bali
20 Jun 2017
Total posts 1
Emirates A380 EK406 & 407 are the best by far for Business class from Aust-NZ, Qantas should use the A330-300 Flew Melb-Lon via Singapore in Business on a refurbished A330, was great, until I boarded British Airways A380 to London, never again in the ridiculous reverse seating arrangement. The 737-800 are nothing in Business compared to the above mentioned.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Best business class seats: Qantas Boeing 737-800