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8 Airlines with the Most Comfortable Economy Seats

These airlines all get high marks for comfort that goes beyond seating.

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Updated Oct. 1, 2024
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Sitting in a plane can be a literal pain if you have seats that aren’t comfortable.

Some airlines have planes with narrow seats, which is likely a way to get more passengers on flights. But that comes at the cost of uncomfortable customers.

However, there are still airlines that get high marks for their comfortable seats. Step up your travel game and consider booking a flight on the following airlines that put comfort first.

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Delta Air Lines

Ryan/Adobe delta air lines boeing 747

Delta Air Lines scored high among travel experts, who say the airline provides wide seats with good legroom compared to other carriers.

Delta also gets good marks for increasing travel comfort in other ways, such as by providing complimentary snacks and drinks, as well as live television at your seat.

JetBlue Airways

angeldibilio/Adobe jetblue airways n981jt

JetBlue Airways has seats that are wide, and AirAdvisor says it has the “best seat pitch in the industry,” at 32 inches to 34 inches. That means extra legroom for travelers.

You can also get free Wi-Fi on domestic flights and a top-tier entertainment system at your seat.

United Airlines

russell102/Adobe united airlines boeing 757

United Airlines has seats that may be a little narrower than what you will find on other airlines. However, it earns higher marks for generous legroom.

Your seat also comes with a wide selection of in-flight movies, television shows, and live television channels. Complimentary snacks are available on many flights.

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American Airlines

pettys/Adobe american airlines boeing plane

Many seats on American Airlines flights are generously wide, although you will also find some narrower seats when flying this airline.

In addition, meals are available on flights of more than 2,200 miles.

Alaska Airlines

IanDewarPhotography/Adobe alaska airlines horizon regional flight

Alaska Airlines has wider seats with more legroom than other carriers, making it a good option for travelers who want the extra space.

However, you will not find in-flight entertainment screens, so you will have to plan ahead and perhaps download movies to your phone or electronic device instead.

Southwest Airlines

MKPhoto/Adobe southwest airlines boeing 737

Southwest Airlines is a budget carrier, but you can still expect good seat width and seat pitch when you find an open seat on your flight — remember that the airline famously doesn’t offer assigned seating.

You can also access in-flight entertainment on your own personal devices by using the airline’s entertainment portal.

Spirit Airlines

Jillian Cain/Adobe spirit airlines jet getting ready

For a budget airline, Spirit Airlines offers surprisingly wide seats compared to some other carriers, although legroom may not be as good as you will find with other carriers.

The budget airline also doesn’t offer additional amenities you may find on other airlines, such as in-flight entertainment, drinks, or items like a pillow and blanket.

Hawaiian Airlines

Kyo46/Adobe hawaiian airlines airbus

Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t have the widest seats in the industry, but they still measure up well against those of many other carriers.

A complimentary blanket is available for flights to Australia, and you can access the entertainment system using your own devices.

Bottom line

Daniel Avram/Adobe passengers seated inside airplane

All of the airlines on this list place a priority on making their customers comfortable.

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Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.