Lounge Frog guide
Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 (282 seats) vs Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 (787-9, 258 seats)
Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 (282 seats) has 282 seats and Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 (787-9, 258 seats) has 258. Only the second has Premium Economy. Economy legroom is more generous on the first (32 vs 31 inches of pitch).
Cabins side by side
| Cabin | Seats | Rows | Layout | Seat | Pitch | Width | Recline | Screen | Power | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gulf Air · 282 seatsFalcon Gold | 26 | 1–5 | 2-2-2 | Lie-flat bed | — | — | — | 22 in | Every seat | Yes |
Gulf Air · 282 seatsEconomy | 256 | 20–54 | 3-3-3 | Recliner | 32 in | — | — | 11.6 in | Every seat | Yes |
Virgin Atlantic · 787-9, 258 seatsUpper Class | 31 | 1–11 | 1-1-1 | Lie-flat bed | — | 22 in | — | — | — | — |
Virgin Atlantic · 787-9, 258 seatsPremium | 35 | 21–25 | 2-3-2 | Recliner | 38 in | 21 in | 8 in | — | — | — |
Virgin Atlantic · 787-9, 258 seatsEconomy | 192 | 45–68 | 3-3-3 | Recliner | 31 in | 17 in | 5 in | — | — | — |
Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 (282 seats)
282 seats: 5 good, 20 mixed, 17 to avoid
Best seats
- Row 1, seat A (Falcon Gold): front Falcon Gold flat bed at the window, lettered on Gulf Air's map.
- Row 1, seat D (Falcon Gold): front middle pair in Falcon Gold, good for two travelling together.
- Row 1, seat K (Falcon Gold): front Falcon Gold flat bed at the right-hand window.
- Row 20, seat A (Economy): exit row behind the second doors: the first Economy row, with open floor in front.
Seats to avoid
- Row 5, seat G (Falcon Gold): next to a galley, with light and noise during service
- Row 34, seat A (Economy): in front of the mid-cabin toilets, so recline is likely limited.
- Row 34, seats B, C, H, J and K (Economy): next to a lavatory, with queues, noise and flushing
- Row 34, seat D (Economy): backs onto the mid-cabin galley, so recline is likely limited.
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 (787-9, 258 seats)
258 seats: 64 good, 22 mixed, 9 to avoid
Best seats
- Rows 1–11, seats A and K (Upper Class): window seat angled toward the window in Virgin's herringbone Upper Class: private, with direct aisle access.
- Row 46, seat A (Economy): no seat in front: Virgin's map has no seat 45A, so there is more room for your legs.
- Row 46, seat B (Economy): no seat in front: Virgin's map has no seat 45B, so there is more room for your legs.
- Row 46, seat C (Economy): no seat in front: Virgin's map has no seat 45C, so there is more room for your legs.
Seats to avoid
- Row 52, seats D, F and G (Economy): next to a lavatory, with queues, noise and flushing
- Row 66, seats A, B, C, H, J and K (Economy): last seat in its block, with galleys drawn right behind it: expect galley noise and light.