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Which airline has the best economy seats?

We compare seat measurements of popular airlines flying from the UK, and find it's not Ryanair with the smallest size
Laura SandersSenior researcher & writer
Rory BolandEditor, Which? Travel

Airlines continue to reduce the size of seats, but it's not necessarily budget airlines with the smallest space.

Ryanair, for example, has seats with a pitch of 30 inches. That's the distance from your headrest to the one in front, and the best indicator of legroom. That's bigger than rival EasyJet (29 inches) and Wizz Air (28 inches). On some flights it is even roomier than British Airways (29-31 inches) - although BA's baggage allowance is better, so you probably won't need to stuff a rucksack under the seat in front of you.

Space is even more important on long-haul, and there is more difference. Virgin Atlantic, for example, has a seat pitch of just 30-31 inches versus 32-34 with Emirates and Singapore Airlines. 

You can find a full comparison of seat pitch on long-haul and short-haul below. 


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Long haul airlines leg room compared 

British Airways or a US carrier will give you more room travelling transatlantic than Virgin Atlantic, while Emirates, Qatar and Singapore Airlines are the best bet for more space. 

AirlineSeat pitch (inches)Seat width (inches)
Aer Lingus31-3217
Air Canada30-3417.5
American Airlines31-3217
British Airways3117.5
Delta31-3217.9
Emirates32-3417-18
Etihad31-3317.5

Using the table: Seat pitch: The distance between two seat rows – an indicator of legroom. Seat width: The distance between the armrests of a single seat. Data from SeatGuru, collected in July 2023, is for the majority of planes operated by airline.

Ryanair vs EasyJet vs short haul airlines leg room compared

Don’t assume that a higher fare will always get you more space. When we checked return flights to Alicante in summer 2022, Tui’s fare was almost double the price of Which? Recommended Provider Jet2 and Ryanair for the same journey, despite Tui offering two inches less legroom. In fact, with a seat pitch of just 28 inches on its short-haul flights, Tui was the stingiest short-haul airline we found. 

See which carrier scored best for seat comfort in our survey of the best and worst airlines.

AirlineSeat pitch (inches)Seat width (inches)
Aer Lingus31-3217
British Airways29-3117
EasyJet2918
Jet228-3117
KLM29-3317
Lufthansa30-3218
Norwegian29-31
17

Using the table: Seat pitch: The distance between two seat rows – an indicator of legroom. Seat width: The distance between the armrests of a single seat. Data from SeatGuru collected in July 2023 is for the majority of planes operated by the airline.

Is it worth upgrading to premium economy?

One way to get a bit more room is to upgrade. However, our research found that Premium Economy tickets were 99% more expensive than economy - and passengers who paid the extra cost weren't always convinced it was good value.

Our guide to some of the best and worst Premium Economy airlines will help you decide if it's worth it on your next trip.

How to get more legroom in economy for free

Do your research

Seatguru.com lets you compare the seat sizes of hundreds of airlines, from economy to first class. Before booking, check which carrier has the biggest seats and weigh that against the cost of your ticket. If you’ve already booked, enter your flight number and use the seating plan to find the roomiest seats. 

Consider a bulkhead

These are the spots directly behind the walls, curtains or screens sectioning off the plane. With no row in front, you won’t have another passenger reclining into your lap, and you may bag some extra legroom, too. Just bear in mind that these seats can be narrower if tray tables are stowed in the armrest. 

Late check-in

Either reserve your seat as soon as online check-in opens to secure the best seats, or wait until the last minute. Any seats still empty are likely to stay that way, meaning you might be able to commandeer a whole row to yourself. Just don’t cut it so fine you miss your flight altogether!

If you don't ask, you don't get

If your flight takes off with empty seats, ask a member of staff if you can move. If you have a reason for needing extra space – for example, you’re tall or pregnant  – even better. 

Choose the tail end 

Planes taper off towards the rear, which sometimes means fewer seats to the row – and potentially more space (check seatguru.com to be sure). Just be aware that you could end up next to the toilet queue. 

Avoid the middle seat

If you’re travelling in a pair, reserve the aisle and window seats. A solo traveller will only book the dreaded middle seat if they have to, so you could score an empty seat between you. If your plan is foiled, it’s likely the interloper will be only too happy to swap.