Legroom is a very important factor when travelling. When you're seated at 30,000 feet in the air for several hours at a time, you just want to get to your destination as soon as possible.
Lately, many travellers have noticed that there are limited number of airlines that provide pillows, blankets or free snacks, but one of the most challenging aspects of comfort are the shrinking seat sizes.
We've compiled an airline legroom guide from a global airline award-giving body which came up with the best economy class seats of 2017.
How do we measure legroom?
Japan Airlines Economy Seat (Source: JAL)
'Seat pitch' is the technical term used by airlines to identify the distance from your seat to the seat in front or behind you.
In layman’s terms we call it “legroom.” It affects your movement as the cushions, seatback structure and tray table can be a hindrance to your ease of travel.
We measured the legroom in centimeters (cm).
How much difference does an extra inch make?
Most airlines across the world offer 78.74cm - 81.28cm of legroom space, while some elite airlines give you a more comfortable 86.36cm legroom.
Legroom is one of the greatest factors that affect the comfort of the passenger. Some airlines think it's important to give people as much legroom as possible, while others want to squeeze in as many passengers as possible.
Our spine is most comfortable in a seat when our legs are able to stretch.
Comparing UAE airlines
Emirates: 83.82cm
Etihad Airways: 78.74cm
FlyDubai: 78.74cm
Air Arabia: 81.28cm
Best Economy Class Airline Seats 2017
Airlines To and From UAE | Legroom or Seat Pitch |
---|---|
Avianca | 86.36cm |
Royal Jordanian | 86.36cm |
Saudi Arabian | 86.36cm |
Egyptair | 83.82cm |
Estonian Air | 83.82cm |
EVA Air | 83.82cm |
Frontier Airlines | 83.82cm |
TAP Air Portugal | 83.82cm |
WestJet | 83.82cm |
Japan Airlines | 83.82cm |
Aegean Airlines | 81.28cm |
Aer Lingus | 81.28cm |
Aeroflot | 81.28cm |
Air Algerie | 81.28cm |
Air Austral | 81.28cm |
Air Mauritius | 81.28cm |
Air Namibia | 81.28cm |
Air Serbia | 81.28cm |
Air Seychelles | 81.28cm |
Air Tahiti Nui | 81.28cm |
Air Transat | 81.28cm |
AirAsiaX | 81.28cm |
Aircalin | 81.28cm |
Alaska Airlines | 81.28cm |
Alitalia | 81.28cm |
ANA All Nippon Airways | 81.28cm |
Austrian Airlines | 81.28cm |
China Airlines | 81.28cm |
Copa Airlines | 81.28cm |
Cubana Airlines | 81.28cm |
Czech Airlines | 81.28cm |
Delta Air Lines | 81.28cm |
Ethiopian Airlines | 81.28cm |
Fiji Airways | 81.28cm |
Finnair | 81.28cm |
Iberia | 81.28cm |
Icelandair | 81.28cm |
JetBlue Airways | 81.28cm |
Kenya Airways | 81.28cm |
Kuwait Airways | 81.28cm |
LAN | 81.28cm |
LOT Polish Airlines | 81.28cm |
Luxair | 81.28cm |
Mahan Air | 81.28cm |
Malaysia Airlines | 81.28cm |
Meridiana | 81.28cm |
Middle East Airlines | 81.28cm |
NIKI | 81.28cm |
Pakistan Int'l | 81.28cm |
Philippine Airlines | 81.28cm |
Royal Air Maroc | 81.28cm |
Royal Brunei | 81.28cm |
SAS Scandinavian | 81.28cm |
SilkAir | 81.28cm |
Singapore Airlines | 81.28cm |
Southwest Airlines | 81.28cm |
SriLankan Airlines | 81.28cm |
Tarom Romanian | 81.28cm |
Tunisair | 81.28cm |
Turkish Airlines | 81.28cm |
Vietnam Airlines | 81.28cm |
Asiana Airlines | 81.28cm |
Caribbean Airlines | 81.28cm |
Garuda Indonesia | 81.28cm |
Qatar Airways | 81.28cm |
Thai Airways | 81.28cm |
Aerolineas Argentinas | 81.28cm |
Gulf Air | 81.28cm |
Korean Air | 81.28cm |
Oman Air | 81.28cm |
Aeromexico | 78.74cm |
Air Caraibes | 78.74cm |
Air France | 78.74cm |
AirTran Airways | 78.74cm |
American Eagle | 78.74cm |
British Airways | 78.74cm |
Cathay Pacific | 78.74cm |
flyBe | 78.74cm |
Hawaiian Airlines | 78.74cm |
Iran Air | 78.74cm |
Jetstar | 78.74cm |
K L M | 78.74cm |
Lufthansa | 78.74cm |
Monarch Airlines | 78.74cm |
Olympic Air | 78.74cm |
Qantas Airways | 78.74cm |
Swiss | 78.74cm |
TAM Airlines | 78.74cm |
United Airlines | 78.74cm |
Virgin America | 78.74cm |
Virgin Australia | 78.74cm |
WOW | 78.74cm |
South African Airways | 78.74 - 86.36cm |
Air Canada | 78.74 - 83.82cm |
Air China | 78.74 - 83.82cm |
Air India | 78.74 - 83.82cm |
Air Berlin | 78.74cm |
Air Astana | 78.74cm |
Air New Zealand | 78.74cm |
American Airlines | 78.74cm |
Brussels Airlines | 78.74cm |
China Eastern | 78.74cm |
China Southern | 78.74cm |
Cyprus Airways | 78.74cm |
Dragonair | 78.74cm |
Hainan Airlines | 78.74cm |
Jet Airways | 78.74cm |
Norwegian | 78.74cm |
S7 Airlines | 78.74cm |
Virgin Atlantic | 78.74cm |
Air Malta | 76.2cm |
ArkeFly | 76.2cm |
Ryanair | 76.2cm |
Thomson Airways | 76.2cm |
Ukraine Int'l | 76.2cm |
Condor Airlines | 76.2cm |
AirAsia | 73.66cm |
easyJet | 73.66cm |
Thomas Cook | 73.66cm |