by Brandon Loo | September 12, 2018

Business travellers darting around Australia will often find themselves on the workhorse of Qantas' domestic fleet, the Boeing 737 – and while these jets feature 12 business class seats up the front, everybody else on board flies economy, as many company travel policies mandate.

Of course, some seats are always better than others. Australian Business Traveller breaks down the seating chart to see which seats have an advantage.

The best seats in Qantas Boeing 737 economy: row 4, at the very front

One of the most coveted spots in economy, row 4 sits directly behind business class and offers plenty of legroom and space to work. 

Some under-seat storage is possible, although the change in configuration from business to economy means the middle seats (4B and 4E) don't have a dedicated storage pocket at the seat in front. Overhead bins are also a bit smaller here, making this row better suited to travellers packing light.

Tray tables and entertainment screens are stored in the arm-rests which make the seat a little narrower, so 'passengers of size' might also prefer to sit elsewhere.

How to get them: There’s no charge for these seats, but only Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members can select these anytime. Other flyers might see them open up at 80 hours prior to departure, and 24 hours before departure, if still available. If you see one, snap it up quick!

The best seats in Qantas Boeing 737 economy: exit rows 13 and 14

Long-legged travellers will naturally want to land one of these seats, as the seat pitch – that's the measurement from one part of a seat, to the same location of the seat in front – is a more generous 38 inches, compared to the more typical 30-31 inches.

Row 14 is the pick of the bunch, as these seats can be reclined whenever allowed during the flight. Seats in row 13 (and row 12 in front) can also recline, but are 'locked' during take-off and landing, and sometimes it's necessary to ask the crew to 'unlock' the recline feature.

As you also can't store anything under the seat in front during take-off and landing, if you’re hauling a few bulky bags with you, you may also prefer to sit elsewhere, to avoid squishing everything into the overhead bins, or struggling to find space if you board last.

To sit in these rows, you also agree to assist in the event of an emergency and must be physically strong enough to open the aircraft door during an evacuation.

If you use a laptop or other large devices inflight, there's also the inconvenience of having to retrieve your gadgets after the seatbelt sign is off and return them to the locker prior to landing, as laptops can't be stored in the seatback pockets, and your laptop bag can't be by your feet.

How to get them: Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members can select these anytime, for free. Other flyers can purchase them for a fee, which varies according to route. They may be allocated for free if you ask nicely at the airport.

The best seats in Qantas Boeing 737 economy: the back of the plane

Although counterintuitive, there can be some advantages to perching yourself closer to the back. 

First up, there are only two toilets for economy and they are both at the rear. During meal services, carts can block the single aisle which can really slow you down if you have to walk from the front. 

Those looking for a bit more elbow room may also have better luck scoring an empty middle seat towards the back of the plane, because when web check-in opens, some passengers may move closer to the front to get on and off the plane a little faster.

But that said, sometimes Qantas will also use the rear door for passengers to board and disembark via the stairs, so you might still be one of the first off anyway.

How to get them: Row 19 and beyond are open to all passengers without restriction. Silver frequent flyers can also select rows 17-18 from the time of booking.

The best seats in Qantas Boeing 737 economy: summary

As Boeing 737s are quite compact and are often used for short routes – with a few exceptions including some cross-country flights to Perth – there isn't much else to consider: as the toilets and galleys are at the back, most of the economy seats are very similar.

Seat selection is free on domestic flights and all fare types, except for the emergency exit rows, as above. Frequent flyer status plays a part in what seats you can select initially, with Bronze members only able to see the last 12 rows of economy and Platinum One members able to sit from tip to tail.

If you’re not happy with your seat selection, then check back 80 hours before the flight to see what has opened up.