For most of us, flying is an economy class experience. That’s usually fine for a few hours, but with airplanes getting more fuel efficient and flights getting longer, comfort becomes a more valuable commodity. Airlines offering the most comfortable economy seats are finding themselves in greater demand.
In my experience, the best economy seat airlines (especially for long-haul) include Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and, in the U.S., JetBlue.
In this post:
- What defines a comfortable economy seat?
- The most comfortable long-haul economy seats.
- The most comfortable budget economy seats on U.S. airlines.
- How to choose your economy seat wisely.
- Most comfortable economy seat FAQs.
What defines a comfortable economy seat?
From cabin layout to legroom, comfort versus cost, there’s plenty to think about.
- Cabin layout: Airplane size and seat layout can impact comfort as much as legroom and recline. Bigger, more modern planes like the A380 are spacious even with hundreds of economy seats. For older planes, look for a 2-3-2 layout and choose a seat on either side.
- Seat width: Measured from armrest to armrest, economy seats typically sit between 17 and 18 inches wide. The best, like Japan Airlines, push that to 19 inches.
- Seat pitch: AKA legroom. Ranges massively from 28 inches for budget short haul to 34 inches for the best long-haul seats from the likes of Japan Airlines and Emirates.
- Recline and headrest: The best economy seats tilt up to six inches (Singapore Airlines) but most recline far less. Adjustable headrests can also make a big difference, especially if you’re tall like me. The best are padded with adjustable wings.
- Amenities and facilities: In-flight entertainment on big HD touchscreens, power and USB outlets, storage areas and amenity kits all improve your flight. Some flyers love footrests but for anyone approaching six feet tall, they’re just in the way.
- Value: Like the quality, economy seat prices vary wildly. Do your research on the above points and you can decide if the quoted price is worth the added comfort. My tip: on long-haul it almost always is!
The most comfortable long-haul economy seats.
The quality of economy seats is constantly changing as new airplane designs emerge. There are, however, a few consistently comfortable economy class airlines.
Japan Airlines.
Rated the world’s best economy seat in 2025 by Skytrax – and it’s easy to see why. Its Airbus A350-1000 has the most generous economy of any airline. A 34-inch seat pitch and 19-inch width combined with a smart layout and big windows feels surprisingly roomy. Even with the 3-3-3 layout.
Power chargers, USB-A and C ports and 13-inch 4K multimedia screens all add to the experience. I particularly love the water bottle pouch – a simple idea that eliminates a genuine pain point for flyers.
Cathay Pacific.
Another regular award winner for best economy seat overall. Cathay also flies the A350-1000, this time with 32-inch seat pitch and 18-inch width in a 3-3-3 configuration. Cabin design, big windows and Cathay’s famed service make long haul flights far more bearable.
I find Cathay’s seats particularly comfy (relatively speaking) beyond just the statistics. Deep cushioning, versatile leather headrests, and even a dark mode on entertainment screens.
Qatar Airways.
Qatar’s modern fleet includes a range of widebodies like the A380, A350-1000. Economy seats are slim but well padded, with 32-inch pitch and 18-inch width. Layouts vary, but best is upper deck economy in the A380 with a 2-4-2 configuration and fewer passengers in the cabin.
Renowned for its hospitality and good condition cabins, one of Qatar’s big strengths is the consistency of its economy offering.
Singapore Airlines.
As with its world-beating first class suites, Singapore brings quality and convenience to its economy seats. On the A380, despite the 3-4-3 layout, economy seats have a 32-inch pitch and 19-inch width.
Seats are incredibly well thought out – ergonomic with lumbar support, padding, six-way adjustable headrest and industry-leading six-inch recline. Handily, the entertainment screens also tilt to get the best viewing angle.
The most comfortable budget economy seats on U.S. airlines.
While international airlines undoubtedly offer the best economy seats for long-haul, several U.S. airlines also have pretty comfortable economy seats. While you couldn’t call them luxurious, these will fly you in reasonable comfort.
JetBlue Airways.
With the most generous economy seat legroom of any U.S. airline, JetBlue is a shoe-in as the comfiest, especially for taller travelers. Onboard its A321 you’ll find a 3-3 layout with 18-inch wide seats, 32-inch pitch and adjustable headrests.
JetBlue is also ahead of many competitors with its facilities and amenities. All seats have seatback screens and WiFi is free onboard – even for economy passengers. That alone makes JetBlue unique among domestic U.S. airlines.
Alaska Airlines.
Alaska offers a more typical economy-class experience. On its fleet of 737s you’ll find 17-inch wide seats, usually with 31 inches of pitch, in a 3-3 configuration. Seats are comfy though, with good padding and just enough recline to make a difference.
While economy class seats don’t offer entertainment systems or WiFi like JetBlue, they do all feature power and USB outlets.
Southwest Airlines.
Coming in just behind JetBlue for legroom, Southwest averages a 31.8-inch economy seat pitch on most of its fleet. Several of its newer 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 airplanes up that to 32 or 33 inches. Seat widths average 17 inches, increased to 17.8 on the MAX 8.
Considering Southwest’s reputation for budget pricing, its cabins are roomy. It also has one other unique approach to economy class – an open-seating policy. With no assigned seating, it’s a first-come-first-served allocation. I like this approach, but it’s very much a personal preference – I’ve also seen passengers pushing and shoving to get their preferred seat!
Delta.
Delta is another airline with a varied fleet that means different Main Cabin economy experiences depending on the plane. On its narrowbody planes you can expect 30 to 31 inches of seat pitch, increased to 32 inches on its 737s and 757s, and its Airbus A220s. Seat widths vary from 17 inches on the 737 to just under 19 inches on the A220.
As well as decent room, Delta’s economy experience is far improved by its excellent in-flight entertainment systems. Most – but not all – planes also feature power and USB chargers.
How to choose your economy seat wisely.
Balancing comfort against cost is tricky, but there are some simple tips you can use to try and maximize both.
- Check the plane model, age and its cabin layout to see what you’re booking. Newer plane models like the A350 and 787 are usually the most comfy. I find SeatMaps the easiest way to check.
- Once you know the cabin layout, pick your preferred seat. Prioritize those with more pitch and recline. And, depending on the configuration, seats either side of the central column – especially if they’re only two abreast.
- Paying for extra legroom is an option for many economy class fares, and is always cheaper than upgrading to premium or business. For flights over a couple of hours, I always consider it money well spent.
- If multiple airlines fly your route, weigh up the fare differences against seat stats to find the right balance. Sometimes, you’ll pay only a little more money for a lot more comfort!
Most comfortable economy seat FAQs.
Economy seat pitches vary greatly, from around 28 inches for budget airlines to 34 inches for the best carriers. Seat widths vary less and are typically around 17 to 19 inches.
That depends on how much they cost. If the flight is more than a couple of hours, or you’re tall (or both), the added comfort can be worth every cent. Finding that balance is a very personal thing to quantify, though.
That depends on how much they cost. If the flight is more than a couple of hours, or you’re tall (or both), the added comfort can be worth every cent. Finding that balance is a very personal thing to quantify, though.
