We have composed a list of some of the best known airlines leading the way in the race for comfortable economy seating.
Check out our seat comparison table, to see how the airlines are ‘pitching’ against each other!
Flying economy might be better on the wallet, but is usually not ideal when you're looking for comfort. In fact, flying economy can often be a daunting prospect: crammed in, no personal space, the dreaded middle seat.
Many travellers are unaware that dimensions for basic economy seats can vary widely. For just a slightly higher price, you might want to consider choosing to fly with an airline that offers economy passengers greater width and pitch. You might find that the difference in fares is less than the fee to upgrade!
Top Tip: for more information on Economy vs Premium Economy, check out our guide: Premium Economy, is it worth it?
Seat width is measured armrest to armrest, and some airlines will offer economy passengers a substantially greater seat width than others. Even on shorter domestic or transcontinental flights, the thought of having to bunch up elbow-to-elbow with your neighbour is likely to cause much of your economy dread!
What exactly is seat pitch, and does it actually matter? Definitely. Seat pitch is an industry term, referring to the distance from one seat headrest to the next, both in-front and behind. Along with seat width, checking the seat pitch will offer passengers a good indication of how much room to expect. Mere centimeters can make a massive difference to your overall experience, especially if you plan on comfortably using your laptop on the tray in front of you, or are flying on a red-eye flight, and plan on getting some sleep a bit!
Some airlines offer premium economy as a completely separate class of seating, and is most likely found on intercontinental flights. Compared to standard economy, premium economy will often offer 1-2 extra inches of seat width, and 2-3 extra inches of seat recline. Additional amenities might include adjustable headrests and leg-rests, personal TV screens, and premium food service.
According to Seat Guru, if you book flights over the Atlantic Ocean in advance, you should expect to pay 85% more for seats in premium economy compared to standard economy. If you book closer to departure, premium economy is often reduced and might be just 10%-35% more expensive. Flights over the Pacific Ocean do not often see such a reduction in seat price, so expect to pay up to 95% more for a premium economy seat compared to standard economy.
The decision is likely to come down to personal comfort. If the extra cost is around 10-20% more, this is likely to represent very good value for money!
So, which airline has the widest seats in economy? Below we have listed the key players, leading the way in spacious economy provision!
Japan Airlines offers one of the very largest economy seats in the sky, and won the prize for the Best Economy Seat at 2018’s Skytrax World Airline Awards. Standard economy seating offers 34” of pitch and an industry winning 19” available in the airlines “Sky Wider” seat, and a width up to 48cm.
In addition to increased seat space, economy passengers can enjoy unobstructed storage spaces underneath seats, wifi, power ports, and a 27cm touch-screen tv! This is not a service you would usually expect from economy!
Tied with Japan Airlines for the widest seat, and a comparable 32” of pitch, Singapore Airlines’ economy seating also has Wi-Fi and power ports, 11.1 inch touch screen TV, and complimentary blankets and pillows!
Economy seating offers some of the healthiest padding out there, along with a very reasonable 33” pitch. Air New Zealand was also the first to offer “couches” in economy, offering couples or solo travellers the opportunity to convert their seating into an entire row, mattress pad included.
With 32-34 inches of pitch and 18” width, Emirates’ economy seating is made even better by an oversized and adjustable headrest. The largest economy entertainment system currently in the sky (13.3” display screen) will also help to ensure an enjoyable economy experience.
It is important to remember that the numbers will vary greatly depending on the aircraft, flight and seat availability! However, if being comfortable at 30,000 is a priority for you, here’s an indication of how your favourite carriers compare:
***Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained within this table is accurate. However, please be aware that the content is subject to change.
| Airline | Standard Economy Seat Pitch (inches) | Standard Economy Seat Width (inches) | Premium Economy Seat Pitch (inches) | Premium Economy Seat Width (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | 30 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| Aer Lingus | 31-32 | 17 | n/a | n/a |
| Aero Mexico | 31-34 | 17-18.3 | 38 | 17.2 |
| Air China | 30-31 | 17-18 | 36-38 | 19.3 |
| Air Europa | 30-31 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| Air France | 29-32 | 17-18 | 38 | 19 |
| Air India | 29-32 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| Air Italy | 30-32 | 17 | n/a | n/a |
| Air New Zealand | 30-34 | 17 | 41-42 | 18.5-20 |
| Air Serbia | 30-31 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| Air Canada | 29-34 | 17-20 | n/a | n/a |
| Alaska Airlines | 30-38 | 17-17.7 | n/a | n/a |
| American Airlines | 31-40 | 16.5-18.5 | 36-38 | 17.1 - 19 |
| ANA | 32 | 17-18 | 38 | 18-19.3 |
| Asiana | 30-33 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| Austrian | 30 | 17-18 | 33-35 | 19 |
| British Airways | 30-38 | 16-19 | 38 | 18.5 |
| Delta | 30-35 | 16.79-18.6 | 38 | 18.5-19 |
| JetBlue | 32-41 | 17.8-18.2 | n/a | n/a |
| KLM | 30-32 | 17 | n/a | n/a |
| Qantas | 30-32 | 17-18 | 38-42 | 19-20.5 |
| Qatar | 31-32 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| SAS | 29-33 | 17-18 | 38 | 18.3 |
| Southwest | 31-33 | 17-17.8 | n/a | n/a |
| SpiceJet | 29-30 | 17-20 | n/a | n/a |
| Spirit | 28-36 | 17.25-20 | n/a | n/a |
| SWISS | 29-39 | 17-18 | n/a | n/a |
| Thomas Cook | 28-30 | 17-17.6 | 35-36 | 18-20.5 |
| Tui | 28-34 | 17-18 | 38 | 18.5-19.5 |
| Turkish Airlines | 30-31 | 16-17.8 | n/a | n/a |
| United Airlines | 30-38 | 16-19 | 38 | 19 |
| Virgin Australia | 30-34 | 17-17.4 | 31-41 | 17.4-21 |
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