Best Seats on Airbus A220-300

Overview of the Airbus A220-300 Cabin

The Airbus A220-300 (formerly Bombardier CSeries CS300) is one of the most passenger-friendly aircraft in commercial aviation. Originally designed by Bombardier and acquired by Airbus in 2018, it seats 130–160 passengers in a distinctive 2-3 layout — two seats on the left, three on the right. At 104 inches wide, the A220's cabin is wider than the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, giving it the title of widest narrow-body aircraft in service.

Airlines operating the A220-300 include Delta Air Lines, Swiss International Air Lines, Air France (HOP!), airBaltic, Korean Air, and JetBlue. It is particularly popular for thin routes of 2,000–3,400 nm where larger jets would fly with too many empty seats.

Widest Narrow-body Seats — What It Means in Practice

On the A220-300, economy seat widths typically measure 18.6 inches in a 2-3 layout. Compare this to the A320 at 18 inches (3-3), the Boeing 737 at 17–17.5 inches (3-3), or the Embraer E190 at 17.7 inches (2-2). The extra width is not just a statistic — passengers genuinely notice the difference on flights over two hours. Elbows do not press into neighbors, and the single seat on the left side of row A feels almost like business class in terms of personal space.

The 2-3 Layout Advantage

The 2-3 layout means that on the left side of the aircraft, every passenger is either a window or an aisle seat — there is no middle seat on the AB side. On the right side (CDE), the middle seat D exists, but the extra cabin width means it is 18 inches wide rather than the typical 16.5–17 inches on a 737. This makes even the middle seat on an A220 more tolerable than most narrow-body aircraft.

• Seat A (left window): Solo passengers get the entire left side experience with no neighbor in seat B if the flight is not full. Even when full, two seats share an armrest instead of three.
• Seat B (left aisle): Immediate aisle access with no middle seat to the left. If seat A is occupied, you share with just one neighbor.
• Seat D (right middle): Less desirable, but the A220's generous cabin width makes this the most livable middle seat of any narrow-body in service.

Best Economy Rows

• Exit rows (varies by airline, typically rows 12–14): The A220-300's overwing exit provides 34–37 inches of pitch. Delta charges $20–$40 for these seats under its "Comfort+" branding when flying A220s; Swiss offers them for free to status passengers.
• Rows 6–10 (mid-forward cabin): Above the wing centerpoint, quietest ride, away from both galleys. Delta's A220-300s place premium economy / Comfort+ seats here with up to 34 inches of pitch.
• Row 1 (bulkhead): Maximum legroom due to the bulkhead wall, but no seat-back storage during taxi, take-off, and landing. On Swiss, row 1 is reserved for business class or top-tier status holders.
• Avoid rows 26–29 (last four rows): The A220-300's rear fuselage tapers noticeably, meaning window seats in the last few rows have a reduced view angle and the fuselage wall curves toward the passenger. Lavatory traffic is also highest here.

The A220's Oversized Windows

The A220-300's windows measure 11.3 x 13.5 inches — larger than those on any Airbus or Boeing narrow-body. They are positioned at eye level for seated passengers, and the lower window sill is below the armrest, meaning even tall passengers do not need to crane their neck to look outside. Window rows 5–15 offer the best exterior views without obstruction from the wing structure.

Airline Configurations

JetBlue's configuration of the A220-300 is unique: it places 16 Mint business class seats with lie-flat beds in a 2-2 arrangement at the front, followed by 124 economy seats with 32-inch pitch — making it one of the most comfortable single-aisle transcon aircraft in the United States.