Economy seats conjure images of minimal legroom, uncomfortable proximity to fellow passengers, and paltry snacks.
However, not all economy seats are created equal, and experts say the experience can vary from tolerable to miserable depending on the airline.
To identify the best of the basic, Travel + Leisure polled travelers and travel experts and voted Japan Airlines as the best of the best, followed by Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and Singapore Airlines.
The consensus among industry leaders is that plane models matter more than airlines, as manufacturers determine how many seats can fit across each row.
Unsurprisingly, the tightest economy seats are found on budget or low-cost airlines, and US airlines are subpar for space compared to Asian long-haul carriers.
Seat pitch and width are the travel industry’s standard metrics for estimating legroom and overall personal space.
However, seat width varies wildly among US airlines in part because there is no federal minimum seat size. Although Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration to set a standard in 2018, it has not yet done so.
In terms of domestic carriers and passenger legroom, experts say JetBlue, specifically the Airbus A220, gets top marks. The model offers 32 inches of pitch and a seat width of 18 to 18.6 inches.
Yet, in a recent survey of nearly 11,000 passengers, Southwest ranked highest for economy comfort, followed by Delta and JetBlue, proving that while space is critical, it is not the only factor in comfort.
Airlines have long fought to be lauded for providing the plushest, most pleasurable economy experiences to domestic and international travelers.
While some have recently begun eyeing “coffin-like” double-decker plane seats to offer customers more legroom, others, such as Southwest, have completely revamped their cabins, remodeling to create extra-legroom rows and larger overhead bins with spacious new seats by Recaro.
“Legroom, which arguably is the most important factor in an economy seat, tends to be regional,” Jimmy Yoon, head of points intelligence at point.me, told T+L.
“Asian and Middle Eastern carriers are generally known for offering the best legroom in economy, more so than airlines from other parts of the world.”
To that end, while Southwest and Japan Airlines both offer equal and ample legroom (32 inches), Japan Airlines seats are a spacious 19 inches wide, while Southwest comes in at 17.8 inches.
While travel experts lauded Japan Airlines, researchers at SimpleFlying, a virtual aviation hub, crowned Qatar Airways the best seats in the sky, with chairs boasting 31-inch seat pitches and 18-inch widths.
Typically, aisle seats give passengers a little extra room, while window seats offer optimal conditions for slumber.
Nervous flyers, meanwhile, should book window seats by the wings, as this spot is usually the smoothest due to its proximity to the plane’s center of gravity. Bonus: this seat gives passengers control over the window shade and thus the option to reassure themselves with a view of the outside world.
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