Boeing 737 MAX 9 Best Seats Guide 2026

The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is the longest variant of the current 737 MAX family, seating up to 220 passengers. United and Alaska are the largest US operators. It features the same LEAP engine and interior improvements as the MAX 8 but with greater capacity. Note: the MAX 9 was briefly grounded in early 2024 after a door plug incident on an Alaska Air flight.

Seat Configuration

Cabin	Layout	Pitch	Width
First Class	2-2	36–39 in	20–21 in
Economy Plus/Premium	3-3	33–36 in	17–18 in
Economy	3-3	30–32 in	17–18 in

Best Seats on the Boeing 737 MAX 9

Economy Plus seats
United's Economy Plus and Alaska's Premium Class sections on the MAX 9 offer meaningfully more legroom. Worth it for flights over 2.5 hours.
Exit rows
Multiple exit row positions on the longer MAX 9 fuselage — more opportunities for legroom upgrades.

Seats to Avoid on the Boeing 737 MAX 9

Rows near the rear door plug (mid-cabin exit area)
On MAX 9 aircraft, the mid-fuselage door plug area has been reinforced post-2024 incident. Structurally safe, but some passengers prefer to avoid those rows for peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Boeing 737 MAX 9 safe?

Yes. After the January 2024 door plug incident on an Alaska Air MAX 9, the FAA grounded all MAX 9 aircraft temporarily for inspection. All aircraft were cleared and returned to service after mandatory inspections. The FAA also increased oversight of Boeing's MAX 9 production.