Summary JetBlue offers up to 39 inches of legroom in their "Even More Space" seats, making them one of the most spacious options worldwide. Southwest Airlines maintains a consistent 32-33 inch seat pitch on their newer Boeing 737 models, with slightly wider seats on the 737 MAX 8. Delta Air Lines provides a comfortable 30-32 inch seat pitch on their narrowbody aircraft, along with a spacious 34-inch pitch in their "Delta Comfort+" extra-legroom section.
Flying economy isn't always a walk in the park, especially when you're squeezed into a jam-packed plane. Over the years, some airlines have been cramming in more seats, resulting in tighter rows and less legroom. However, a few airlines still prioritize giving passengers a bit more breathing room.
We’re diving into some of the best options for those who value a little extra space. It's worth noting that comparing airlines can be tricky because many of them operate different types of aircraft, and seat layouts can vary even within the same fleet. The seat and cabin details shared here are based on data from SeatGuru.
com and ch-aviation.com . JetBlue When it comes to spacious seats among US airlines, JetBlue takes the crown.
The seat pitch varies depending on the aircraft, but you can find up to 34 inches of legroom on some of their planes. For instance, out of their 130 Airbus A320s , 12 are configured with a generous 34-inch seat pitch, while the others offer a still comfortable 32 inches. On the non-Mint Airbus A321s, passengers can expect a standard 32-inch pitch, but on the Mint-equipped A321s, that increases slightly to 33 inches.
Both configurations also feature several rows in economy with extra space. Meanwhile, JetBlue's Embraer ERJ 190 aircraft consistently offer a 32-inch pitch across the board. JetBlue goes the extra mile with its "Even More Space" offering across all its planes, featuring several rows of economy seats with added legroom.
Depending on the aircraft, this extra room ranges from at least 37 inches on all aircraft and 39 inches on the ERJ 190, making it one of the most spacious economy options available worldwide. It's JetBlue’s affordable answer to the sweet spot between economy and first class JetBlue also shines when it comes to onboard amenities. Every seat has a seatback screen, and passengers can enjoy free WiFi on all flights —something no other US.
domestic airline offers. Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines is another top contender for economy class on domestic US flights. With an all- Boeing 737 fleet, the airline maintains a consistent economy configuration.
On its older Boeing 737-700 planes, Southwest offers a 31-inch seat pitch. However, the newer Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 models have bumped that up to a more comfortable 32 to 33 inches. Plus, Southwest has managed to slightly widen the seats on the 737 MAX 8, offering 17.
8 inches of width compared to the 17 inches found on their other aircraft. While there’s no dedicated extra-legroom section, passengers can still snag some extra space in the bulkhead and exit row seats. Delta Air Lines Among the major US legacy carriers, Delta Air Lines is one of the airlines that provides the most spacious economy experience, though there are still some differences depending on the aircraft.
On its narrowbody planes, Delta typically offers 30 to 31 inches of seat pitch. However, on the Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757, and Airbus A220, that stretches to a more generous 32 inches. When it comes to seat width, most Airbus narrowbodies offer 18 inches, while the Boeing 737s have a slightly narrower 17.
2 inches. The Airbus A220 stands out with a particularly roomy 18.6-inch seat width, making it one of the most comfortable options in Delta’s fleet.
Similar to other legacy carriers, Delta Air Lines provides a few rows of economy seating with extra space, known as “Delta Comfort+”. These seats come with a standard 34-inch pitch across all aircraft, giving passengers a bit more room to stretch out and relax. United Airlines United Airlines generally provides 30 to 31 inches of seat pitch on its narrowbody aircraft.
Its Airbus models feature a standard 30 inches of legroom. The Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 also offer 30 inches, but if you’re flying on a 737-900, 737 MAX 9, or an older Boeing 757 , you’ll get a bit more space with 31 inches of pitch. The way United Airlines compensates for this is with more generous legroom in its premium economy section.
The “Economy Plus” seats provide 34 inches of pitch on the A319, 35 inches on the A320, and a standard 35 inches on all Boeing narrowbodies. American Airlines American Airlines offers a mixed bag when it comes to economy seating, which isn't too surprising given its merger with US Airways and the resulting fleet consolidation. On its Boeing 737 narrowbodies, including the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8, economy passengers have to make do with a tighter 30-inch seat pitch.
The situation improves slightly on their Airbus aircraft. The A321, including the transcontinental A321T, offers a 31-inch pitch, but the A319 falls back to 30 inches, similar to the Boeing models. American Airlines provides a paid upgrade for those seeking more legroom with its “Main Cabin Extra” option.
This upgrade offers 33 to 34 inches of legroom, with the A321T boasting an even roomier 35 inches, giving passengers a bit more comfort for their journey. Your spot is secured at the front of the economy class cabin. Here is a summarized table of all major US airlines that offer the most spacious economy seats: Airline Aircraft Seat Pitch Seat Width Special Features JetBlue Airbus A320 32–34 inches 18 inches "Even More Space" seats with up to 39 inches Airbus A321 (non-Mint) 32 inches 18 inches "Even More Space" seats with up to 37 inches Airbus A321 (Mint) 33 inches 18 inches "Even More Space" seats with up to 37 inches Embraer ERJ 190 32 inches 18.
25 inches "Even More Space" seats with 39 inches Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 31 inches 17 inches Consistent configuration across fleet Boeing 737-800 / MAX 8 32–33 inches 17.8 inches Slightly wider seats on 737 MAX 8 Delta Air Lines Various Aircraft (e.g.
, A320) 30–32 inches 17.2-18 inches Some aircraft with "Comfort+" extra-legroom American Airlines Various Aircraft (e.g.
, A321) 30–32 inches 17–18 inches "Main Cabin Extra" seats for more legroom United Airlines Various Aircraft (e.g., 737) 30–32 inches 17–18 inches "Economy Plus" seats for additional legroom.
