Updated 2026-05-31
Best SeatGuru Alternative in 2026: Find Your Business Class Cabin Before You Book
SeatGuru closed in October 2025. This guide covers the best free replacements — including SeatRadar, which answers the question SeatGuru never did: will the business class on your flight actually be any good?
What Happened to SeatGuru?
TripAdvisor discontinued SeatGuru in October 2025. The service went offline with minimal notice, leaving frequent flyers without one of their most-trusted pre-flight tools. Web archive snapshots exist but are no longer updated and may show cabin configurations years out of date.
But there is a bigger problem most travelers don't think about: seat maps only tell you which seat to pick within a cabin. They don't tell you whether the cabin itself is worth booking. You can select the best seat on the map — and still land on a 2009-era angled-flat seat when you were expecting a lie-flat suite.
The Question SeatGuru Never Answered
Airlines don't operate a single aircraft on every route. British Airways might fly its newest Club Suite aircraft (with closing suite doors and direct aisle access for every seat) on London–Los Angeles most days, but occasionally substitute an older 777 with angled-flat seats. The flight number is identical. The price is similar. The experience is completely different.
SeatRadar answers: which cabin product will likely operate my specific flight on my travel date? It looks up which tail numbers have actually flown your route in recent weeks, identifies the cabin each aircraft carries, and surfaces the most likely product.
How to Use SeatRadar
- Go to seatradar.info — no account, no email, no paywall
- Type in your flight number (e.g., BA287, QR1, NZ1, AA100, EK1, CX101)
- See which aircraft have operated the route recently and which cabin each carries
When Cabin Prediction Matters Most
- Deciding whether to redeem points for an upgrade — the cabin quality completely changes the value proposition
- Choosing between two airlines on the same route
- Booking months ahead when fleet retrofits are mid-roll
- Checking whether Qatar Qsuites or British Airways Club Suite are likely on your specific flight
- Planning around Starlink Wi-Fi availability
SeatGuru Alternatives Compared (2026)
| Tool | What it answers | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeatRadar | Will my flight have a good premium cabin? | Free | Premium cabin travelers, points redeemers |
| AeroLOPA | What does the seat layout look like? | Free | Economy seat selection, cabin layout reference |
| ExpertFlyer | Is there upgrade or award space available? | $9.99/month | Award availability, upgrade alerts |
| seats.aero | Where can I redeem points right now? | Freemium | Real-time award seat search |
The Honest Verdict
No single tool replaces everything SeatGuru did. The cleanest toolkit for 2026:
- For "will my business class be any good?" → SeatRadar (free). The gap SeatGuru never filled.
- For "which seat should I pick within the cabin?" → AeroLOPA (free). The closest SeatGuru equivalent for seat maps.
- For "where can I use my miles?" → seats.aero (free tier) or ExpertFlyer ($10/month).
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly happened to SeatGuru?
TripAdvisor shut down SeatGuru in October 2025. The service went offline with minimal notice. Web archive snapshots exist but are no longer updated.
Is SeatRadar a direct SeatGuru replacement?
SeatRadar and SeatGuru answered different questions. SeatGuru told you which seat to pick within a cabin. SeatRadar tells you which cabin product will likely operate your specific flight — lie-flat suite vs. angled flat, new generation vs. old.
Does SeatRadar show seat maps?
No. For seat-level layouts, use AeroLOPA (free). SeatRadar focuses on cabin-level prediction.
Is SeatRadar free?
Yes, completely free. No subscription, no sign-up, no email required.
How accurate are SeatRadar predictions?
SeatRadar shows probabilities based on recent operational history. It cannot predict last-minute aircraft swaps. Accuracy is highest on routes with many historical data points.
Which airlines does SeatRadar cover?
British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, and other major long-haul carriers.
Check Your Flight Now
Enter any flight number to see which premium cabin product is most likely on your route.
Look up a flight on SeatRadar →
Last updated: 2026-05-31. Cabin predictions are probabilistic — always verify with your airline.