Economy class might be a standard offering across nearly every airline, though what economy offers varies greatly by airline. The decision as to which airline to fly when flying economy can make all the difference in terms of comfort–especially on a full flight. So whether you want legroom, elbow room, or simply just room to breathe, the U.S. airlines that have the most spacious economy seats include JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, United and American.
Here are the top U.S. airlines with the best economy seating:
1. JetBlue
Pitch in economy: 32 to 34 inches
Seat width: 17.8 to 18.4 inches
JetBlue offers some of the most spacious seats among all US carriers, with up to 34 inches of seat pitch in economy. While the seat pitch varies by aircraft, many offer 34 inches of pitch while the rest offer 32 inches.
For those that want a bit more legroom without paying a ton more, JetBlue offers the “Even More Space” fare class which serves as its premium economy fare that provides extra legroom in several rows of economy seats on all its aircraft. The minimum legroom is 37 inches on all aircraft, and 39 inches on the ERJ 190.
In addition to the most spacious economy seating, JetBlue offers a great overall in-flight experience. It’s one of the few airlines that offer seatback entertainment in economy and free WiFi on every aircraft. Learn more about airlines with free in-flight WiFi.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Up to 34 inches of pitch in its standard economy class | It’s cheapest fare-class does not include a carryon bag ($65 fee) |
| Competitively-priced fares | Doesn’t operate out of as many regional airports as larger airlines such as American and Delta |
| Seatback entertainment comes standard | |
| Free in-flight WiFi |
2. Southwest Airlines
Pitch in economy: 31 to 33 inches
Seat width: 17.5 inches
Southwest Airlines is the second most spacious domestic carrier. What’s nice about Southwest it has a full Boeing 737 fleet, providing travelers with a consistent seat configuration. Within its Boeing 737 fleet, it does have older and newer aircrafts. The older Boeing 737-700 aircrafts have 31 inches of seat pitch, whereas the newer Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft has a seat pitch of 32 to 33 inches. It’s also important to note that the seat width also increased to 17.8 inches–nearly an inch wider than the standard 17 inches.
Space: Southwest
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Solid pitch of 31 to 33 inches | Seat assignment is not available–must choose a seat upon boarding as if you’re boarding a public bus |
| Tickets can be very cheap if you get a good deal | Lack of seat assignment leads to a rush to board early (which means more time spent sitting on the plane–no thanks) |
| All ticket classes include two free checked bags | Does not offer a premium economy section for those that want more legroom |
| Option to change or cancel your flight and bank credits for future use |
3. Delta Air Lines
Pitch in economy: 30 to 32 inches
Seat width: 17.2 to 18.5 inches
Delta Air Lines offers the most spacious economy seating out of any U.S. legacy carrier. Granted, the amount of space you get in economy varies by aircraft and Delta has a fleet of many different aircrafts.
The majority of Delta Air Lines’ narrowbody aircrafts offer 30 to 31 inches of space, except for the Airbus A220, Boeing 757 and Boeing 737-800, which have upwards of 32 inches. On top of that, Delta’s aircrafts tend to be on the spacious side in terms of seat width as well. Though the Boeing 737 has a width of just 17.2, its narrowbody aircrafts have a seat width of 18 inches and the Airbus A220 has a very spacious width of 18.6 inches–one of the widest economy class seating in the U.S. And of course, for even more room, Delta offers a premium economy class called “Delta Comfort+” on some aircrafts which have a standard pitch of 34 inches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Some of the widest economy class seats | It has many different aircrafts so the amount of space in economy is not consistent |
| Second-highest on-time departure rate in the U.S.* | Carryon baggage is free |
| Massive route network and operates via international and regional airports alike |
*According to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
4. United Airlines
Pitch in economy: 30 to 31 inches
Seat width: 16 to 17 inches
The standard pitch on United is 30 to 31 inches. Its Airbus planes, Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 models all have 30 inches of pitch. Meanwhile, the Boeing 737-900, Boeing MAX 9, and the older Boeing 757 aircraft all have 31 inches of pitch.
In its premium economy class, “Economy Plus” it offers passengers a bit more space with 34 inches on the A319 and 35 inches on the A320 and its Boeing narrowbodies.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ample 30 to 31-inch pitch in standard economy | Not the widest seats |
| It’s Economy Plus class has upwards of 35 inches of pitch | Its seats are fairly hard compared to competitors |
| 5th best on-time departure rate in the U.S. | |
| Large route map |
5. American Airlines
Pitch in economy: 30 to 31 inches
Seat width: 17.1 to 18.1 inches
Space in economy class varies greatly on American Airlines as it has a large fleet with a variety of different aircrafts. While the Boeing 737 narrowbodies and A319 have 30 inches of pitch, its A321 aircrafts have 31 inches.
It does offer premium economy seating on some aircrafts via its “Main Cabin Extra.” The amount of space in this seating class again varies by plane and ranges from 33, 34 or 35 inches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Up to 35 inches in its premium economy class | Does not offer free WiFi |
| 4th highest on-time departure rate in the U.S. | Seatback entertainment is not common on domestic flights |
| Carryon luggage is free | |
| Operates via international and regional airports |
Bottom Line
Though no one expects economy seats to be overly spacious or luxurious, they do vary widely by airline and aircraft. And choosing the airline with the most spacious seating will help improve your level of comfort and overall in-flight experience. When possible, consider not only price but the amount of space as well as other amenities such as in-flight entertainment or WiFi when booking your flight–especially if it is a fairly long flight or a fully booked flight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which airline has the most legroom in economy?
Though legroom can vary by plane, in general, JetBlue boasts the most legroom in economy out of any U.S. carrier.
Which airline has the widest economy seating?
JetBlue and Silver Airways have the widest seats in economy measuring 18 inches wide. Spirit Airlines is a close runner-up with a seat width of 17.75 inches in economy. To learn more about Spirit and whether or not it’s worth flying, read our Spirit Airlines review.
Which airlines have free wifi onboard?
JetBlue is the only U.S. airline that offers free WiFi onboard to all passengers. However, Delta Airlines offers free onboard WiFi to SkyMiles members, which is a free program. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines offers free WiFi for two hours in economy, Qatar Airways offers free WiFi for one hour in economy, and Norwegian Airlines offers free in-flight WiFi for a mere 15 minutes. Learn more about airlines with free onboard WiFi.