Airlines with the best economy seats, according to experts
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 ec...