Seats Frog guide
American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (172 seats) vs Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (161 seats)
American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (172 seats) has 172 seats and Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (161 seats) has 161.
Cabins side by side
| Cabin | Seats | Rows | Layout | Seat | Pitch | Width | Power | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Airlines · 172 seatsFirst | 16 | 1–4 | 2-2 | Recliner | 37 in | 21 in | Every seat | Yes |
American Airlines · 172 seatsMain Cabin | 156 | 8–33 | 3-3 | Recliner | 30 in | 17.8 in | Every seat | Yes |
Alaska Airlines · 161 seatsFirst Class | 16 | 1–4 | 2-2 | Recliner | — | — | Every seat | Yes |
Alaska Airlines · 161 seatsPremium Class | 30 | 6–10 | 3-3 | Recliner | — | — | Every seat | Yes |
Alaska Airlines · 161 seatsMain Cabin | 12 | 11–15 | 3-3 | Recliner | — | — | Every seat | Yes |
Alaska Airlines · 161 seatsPremium Class | 6 | 16–16 | 3-3 | Recliner | — | — | Every seat | Yes |
Alaska Airlines · 161 seatsMain Cabin | 97 | 17–33 | 3-3 | Recliner | — | — | Every seat | Yes |
American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (172 seats)
172 seats: 17 good, 11 mixed, 6 to avoid
Best seats
- Row 9, seats A, B, C, D, E and F (Main Cabin): main Cabin Extra: about 34" of pitch and early boarding, sold as an upgrade from Main Cabin
- Row 16, seats A, B, C, D and F (Main Cabin): exit row with extra legroom
- Row 17, seats A, B, C, D, E and F (Main Cabin): exit row with extra legroom
Seats to avoid
- Row 33, seats A, B, C, D, E and F (Main Cabin): next to a lavatory, with queues, noise and flushing
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (161 seats)
161 seats: 44 good, 18 mixed, 12 to avoid
Best seats
- Rows 2–4, seats A and F (First Class): first Class window seat away from the front galley and lavatory.
- Rows 2–4, seats C and D (First Class): first Class aisle seat: wider recliner, easy to get up without climbing past anyone.
- Row 6, seats A and F (Premium Class): premium Class bulkhead window, the first row behind First Class: 4 inches more legroom than Main Cabin and early off the plane, though bags go overhead for takeoff and landing.
- Row 6, seats C and D (Premium Class): premium Class bulkhead aisle seat right behind First Class, with Premium Class legroom and nobody reclining into you.
Seats to avoid
- Row 15, seats A, B, C, D, E and F (Main Cabin): row in front of the overwing exits: recline is likely limited (Alaska's drawing doesn't say), and it has no exit-row legroom of its own.
- Row 32, seats A, B and C (Main Cabin): last row on this side, against the lavatories Alaska draws behind it: recline is likely limited and the lavatory queue forms by your seat.
- Row 33, seats D, E and F (Main Cabin): last row of the aircraft, against the rear lavatory and galley: recline is likely limited, with galley noise and the lavatory queue beside you.