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Image Credit: Suhyeon Choi/Unsplash

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

Source: Skytrax, a U.K.-based travel consultancy that runs what it calls the "world's largest review sit." The body awards winners of its annual World Airline Awards from reviews by more than 18 million passengers that represent more than 100 countries.