If you’re flying economy, you’re probably going to be squished into a tiny seat for the duration of your flight
Some airlines can feel more cramped in than others(Image: Olga Pankova via Getty Images)
When it comes to jetting off on holiday, the thought of getting from A to B can feel like a dread for some people. This could be due to turbulence, boredom or just how little legroom there is.
Flying with budget airlines doesn’t necessarily mean worse seats. Most airlines, including the likes of Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, use modern narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 family.
A lot of the budget airlines have a typical 3–3 layout of: window — middle — aisle or vice versa.
As travellers are probably aware, you can upgrade your seat with extra legroom for a certain price.
According to easyJet, “you can pay to select a standard, Up Front or Extra Legroom seat. If you don’t pay, easyJet allocates one automatically at check-in and says it will try to seat people on the same booking together, but this isn’t guaranteed”.
Meanwhile, Ryanair is probably the most notable example of the “pay if you care where you sit” model.
According to Ryanair’s website, “you can get a free randomly assigned seat, with random allocation happening during check-in 24–2 hours before departure. Paying lets you select a specific seat, with the price varying according to its location”.
Wizz Air works similarly and offers free random allocation, while you can pay for a particular seat. “Wizz also has premium seats such as front-row, Upfront and Extra Legroom, and even a “Sitting Together” option for two adults on eligible bookings”, according to its website.
Thankfully, there’s now a way to work out which budget airline offers the widest seats, so you needn’t compromise on your precious comfort.
Which? has looked at which airlines boast the most generous seating, so you can ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.
When it comes to short-haul flights, seat width (the distance between each armrest) ranges between 17 and 18 inches, which may not sound like a great deal, reports the Express.
However, that extra inch can make a world of difference when you’re packed in like sardines.
The airlines offering the widest economy seats are Wizz Air, TAP Portugal, easyJet and Lufthansa, all measuring 18 inches in width.
That means the airlines with the narrowest seats are British Airways, Jet2, KLM, Norwegian, Ryanair, Tui and Aer Lingus, all tied at 17 inches.
Meanwhile, Vueling sits somewhere in between at 17.5 inches.
Airlines seat width and legroom
Below are airline seat widths and legroom in inches:
- Aer Lingus 31-32 (legroom) 17 (seat width)
- Air Canada 30-34 / 17.5
- American Airlines 31-32 / 17
- British Airways 31 / 17.5
- Delta 31-32 / 17.9
- Emirates 32-34 / 17-18
- Etihad 31-33 / 17.5
- KLM 31 / 17.5
- Lufthansa 31-32 / 17
- Qantas 31 / 17.5
- Qatar 31-33 / 17.5
- Singapore Airlines 32-34 / 17.5
- Tui Airways 33 / 17
- United 31-34 / 17
- Virgin Atlantic 30-31 / 17.5
If you’re looking to bag a bit more space on your budget flight without splashing out extra cash, there are a couple of handy tricks worth knowing.
The first is to book a bulkhead seat – those positioned directly behind the walls, curtains or screens that divide the cabin. With no seats in front, you’ll be able to stretch your legs out to your heart’s content.
Bear in mind, however, that these can be slightly narrower if tray tables are stored within the armrest.
If a bulkhead seat doesn’t appeal to you, opt for a seat towards the back of the plane where the rows begin to taper.
This can occasionally mean fewer seats per row – though naturally, you may find yourself beside the toilet queue, which can prove a touch disruptive.
If you’re on a flight that has already departed and you spot additional empty seats, you can always politely enquire with a flight attendant about the possibility of relocating.
Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get – and provided you remain courteous, there’s every chance they’ll accommodate your request.
If you have additional requirements that would benefit from extra room, such as being particularly tall or pregnant, there’s a reasonable chance you could be moved to a more comfortable and spacious seat.