Aviation

Which U.S. Airlines Offer the Most and Least Legroom?

Embarking on a journey through the skies is an exciting adventure, but for many travelers, the quest for comfort is an essential aspect of the flying experience. Legroom, the often-overlooked metric that can make or break your in-flight comfort, varies significantly among U.S. airlines.

In a recent study conducted by Upgraded Points, we explored the economy seat pitch across the 10 busiest domestic flight routes, shedding light on the legroom provided by major carriers.

The full ranking for the airline seat legroom is:

1.JetBlue – 32.3 inches
2. Southwest Airlines – 32 inches
3. Alaska Airlines/Delta Air Lines – 31.8 inches
4. American Airlines – 31 inches
5. United Airlines – 30.2 inches
6. Hawaiian Airlines – 30.1 inches
7. Frontier Airlines/Spirit Airlines – 28

JetBlue Airways emerges as the undisputed leader in legroom, boasting an impressive average seat pitch of 32.3 inches. With a modern fleet featuring spacious Airbus A320 and A321 models, JetBlue takes the crown for providing passengers with an exceptionally comfortable journey.

Not far behind, Southwest Airlines secures a close second place, offering a generous 31.8 inches of legroom. Known for its dedication to passenger comfort and traveler-friendly policies, Southwest remains a popular choice for those seeking an all-around comfortable flying experience.

Tied for the third position are Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines, both delivering a commendable 31.0 inches of legroom. These airlines not only demonstrate that comfort can coexist with extensive travel options but also showcase a commitment to providing a satisfying in-flight experience.

American Airlines strikes a balance with 30.2 inches of seat pitch, offering space efficiency without compromising passenger convenience. Meanwhile, United Airlines provides a comfortable experience with 30.1 inches of legroom, serving its extensive network of flights.

Hawaiian Airlines, with 29.0 inches of space, may offer slightly less legroom, but its commitment to keeping access to the stunning Hawaiian islands affordable remains noteworthy. Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, known for their ultra-low-cost travel model, both offer an average seat pitch of 28.0 inches, emphasizing affordability over extensive legroom.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.