Experts reveal which US airlines offer the most legroom – and which have the most cramped seats
- Airline travel blog Upgraded Points conducted a study on the legroom of American airlines
- They analyzed the model of aircraft used by seven US airlines
- READ MORE: Airline passenger complains about a ‘service dog’ in his legroom
Are you planning to travel but can’t decide which airline to book with?
Well, a new study has revealed which U.S. airlines offer the most legroom – and which seats are the most cramped.
The study, conducted by an airline travel blog Upgraded pointsexamined seven US-based airlines, analyzing the model of the aircraft used by each of them on the country’s ten busiest domestic flight routes.
To calculate relative legroom, researchers measured horizontally from a point on one seat to the same point on the seat in front of it in economy class, resulting in a number representing the “average seat pitch” of the aircraft model.
The resulting findings showed that there was just over four inches of difference between the tightest and most spacious seating configurations – just enough to make a difference in comfort on a long flight.
Airline travel blog Upgraded Points ranked seven U.S.-based airlines based on the amount of legroom each offers in economy class on the planes used on the ten busiest domestic routes.
To calculate relative legroom, researchers measured from a certain point on one seat to the same point on the seat in front of it, resulting in the aircraft model’s “average seat pitch”
JetBlue finished best in terms of space in economy class, with an average distance of 32.5 inches between seats.
The report attributed the spaciousness to the airline’s ‘modern fleet’, consisting of the Airbus A320 and A321 models.
In second place was Southwest Airlines, with an average seat pitch of 31.8 inches.
Third place was a tie between Delta and Alaska Airlines.
Passengers on both airlines can enjoy an average of 31 inches (79 cm) of space.
In fourth place was American Airlines, with 30.2 inches of space.
In fifth place was United Airlines, with 30.1 inches (76.6 cm) of space.
Hawaiian Airlines came in sixth with just 29.0 inches.
And last, but not least, on the list: Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are the same.
Both ‘ultra-low-cost’ airlines had an average seat pitch of just 28 inches.
The study also ranked certain aircraft models (which were not tied to a specific airline brand) based on the amount of legroom.
In first place: the Embraer 190, with an average seat pitch of 32 inches.
In last place was the Airbus A320neo, with an average of 28 inches (71 cm) between a seat and the seat in front of it. That is 10 cm less than the top device.
