Best seats: Qantas Airbus A330-200 Business Suite business class

By David Flynn, December 26 2014

Qantas is now busy upgrading its domestic Airbus A330-200 fleet with all-new Business Suite business class seats, and with the help of the airline's official seatmap we’ve put together this ‘cheat sheet’ to help you choose the best seats.

AusBT review: Qantas Airbus A330 Business Suite

Both the domestic A330-200 and international A330-300 jets have 28 Business Suites at the pointy end, arranged in a 1-2-1 layout so that every passenger enjoys easy access to the aisle without having step over their neighbour.

From 2015 you’ll see the twin-aisle A330-200 aircraft progressively appearing on Sydney-Perth, Melbourne-Perth and Brisbane-Perth transcontinental services, along with some east coast ‘triangle’ routes such as Sydney-Melbourne.

Click here for our guide to the best Business Suite seats on the international Airbus A330-300 jets.

The Qantas A330-200 business class cabin

Qantas’ A330-200 business class is split into two sections: a main cabin of 22 seats at the very front of the plane, and a second smaller cabin (ahead of economy) of six seats.

The solo window seats are labelled as A and K, with the paired centre seats marked as E and F.

Eagle-eyed frequent flyers will notice how the window and middle seating rows are offset, creating a little discrepancy in the row numbers: the window seats run from rows 1 through 5 (in the first cabin) and then jump to 7 (in the second cabin), so that there's no 6A or 6K.

However, the centre seats go continuously from row 1 through row 8.

The 1-2-1 layout of the Business Suites gives every passenger direct aisle access, but the actual physical location of each seat is typically offset compared to the rows in front and behind.

This makes it crucial for fussy frequent flyers to know exactly which seat they’re getting.

Do you want an A330-200 Business Suite that’s directly next to the window so you can enjoy the view? Ask for seats 2A, 2K, 4A or 4K.

Those are the only four seats out of the entire 28-seat cabin which are adjacent to a window.

However, because this puts the Business Suite’s side table between you and the aisle, amply-built ‘passengers of size’ may find it less than comfortable moving from the seat to the aisle and vice versa.

All other ‘window’ seats have the Business Suite’s side table situated between you and the window, while you’re sitting right next to the aisle: those seats are 1A, 1K, 3A, 3K, 5A, 5K, 7A and 7K.

Not too fussed about being near a window? The A330-200 also has eight pairs of middle seats from rows 1 through 8.

None of those double seats are directly next to one another, so it’s not really designed for couples who want to fly together and fully share the journey.

One seat in each pair is located adjacent to the aisle – those are 1E, 2F, 3E, 4F, 5E, 6F, 7E and 8F, as indicated below...

... while the other seat in each pair has a side table between the seat and the aisle (1F, 2E, 3F, 4E, 5F, 6E, 7F and 8E).

The Qantas seatmap shows only one toilet for business class passengers (marked B in the diagram) which is located at the very front left of the plane – so it’s sufficiently removed from the front row of seats so as not to make too much noise if you’re in the first few A or E seats.

The seats we’d describe as our last pick would be those in the smaller business class cabin – 7A, 7E, 7F, 7K, 8E and 8F – because the economy cabin is directly behind, with only a thin wall and curtain separating you.

While the smaller cabin might provide a sense of privacy (especially if you’re at the very front, in row 7) that will be quickly shattered if there’s a screaming infant in one of the economy bulkhead bassinets.

It’s also been suggested to AusBT that left-handers may find it more convenient in seats where the side table is to your left, and right-handers where the table’s at the right of the seat.

If that’s so, then note that the more southpaw-friendly seats are 1A, 2E, 2F, 2K, 3A, 4E, 4F, 4K, 5A, 6E, 6F, 7A, 8E and 8F; every other seat is subtly geared more for righties.

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