Experience Comfortable Flying in Economy Class
Flying in basic economy class can often be an uncomfortable experience due to cramped seats and limited legroom. However, for those looking for a more comfortable flight, there are some airlines that offer extra legroom in their economy class. These airlines prioritize the comfort of their passengers and provide a more enjoyable flying experience.
Leading the way in economy class comfort are Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), both based in Japan. These airlines offer an industry-leading legroom of 34 inches (86. 4 cm), making it a game-changer for those on long-haul flights. JetBlue, an American airline, also offers above-average legroom of 32. 3 inches (82. 0 cm) for its economy class passengers. Let’s take a closer look at the top ten airlines that provide extra legroom for their economy class passengers.
Prioritizing Comfort in Japan
JAL has consistently received awards for having the “Best Economy Class Seat” as they have rejected the trend of densification in the industry. Their “Sky Wider” strategy offers a 2-4-2 layout on their Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which is in contrast to the typical 3-3-3 layout that increases density by adding an extra seat per row. JAL also uses a slim-seatback design that provides more knee room without sacrificing cushion comfort, making it more spacious than it appears. ANA, in response to JAL, has also standardized a 34-inch pitch for most of their long-haul fleet, including the Boeing 777-300ER and 787-9.
In the summer of 2026, ANA will introduce newly designed Recaro seats on their Boeing 787-9 aircraft, providing an additional inch (2. 5 cm) of knee space. These seats will also have 1. 5 times more recline than previous models, offering a range of seven inches, one of the highest in the world for economy class.
Economy Class Comfort Leaders
The standard for legroom in economy class is 31-32 inches, with the primary focus being to fit as many passengers onto the aircraft as possible. Even a one-inch reduction in space between rows can result in an extra row of seats on a narrow-body jet, translating into millions of dollars in additional revenue for airlines. To compete with ultra-low-cost carriers such as Spirit or Ryanair, full-service airlines have had to reduce seat pitches to offer competitive base fares.
Below is a table of legroom in economy class for various airlines, based on data from Business Traveller and Conde Nast Traveler. Notably, Emirates offers 34 inches of legroom on their Airbus A380 “superjumbos.
Rank
Airline
Legroom
1
Japan Airlines
34. 0 inches (86.
2
All Nippon Airways
34. 0 inches (86.