An extra inch can make all the difference when you’re crammed in like sardines
Travellers jetting off on holiday may be wondering which airlines offer the best for comfort and legroom.
Thankfully, there’s now a method to determine which budget airline offers the widest seats so you don’t have to compromise on your comfort.
Which? has worked out which airlines offer the most spacious seats, helping you get the best value for your money.
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For short haul flights, the seat width (the distance between each armrest) ranges from 17 to 18 inches, which might not seem like a lot, reports the Express.
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However, that additional 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 boasting widths of 18 inches.
This means that the airlines with the narrowest seat widths are British Airways, Jet2, KLM, Norwegian, Ryanair, Tui and Aer Lingus, all tied at 17 inches.
Meanwhile, Vueling sits in the middle with a seat width of 17.5 inches.
Below are airline seat width and legroom in inches.
If you’re looking to secure more space on your budget flight without shelling out extra cash, there are a few tricks you can try.
One of these is to reserve a seat in the bulkhead – the seats directly behind the walls, curtains or screens that divide the plane. These seats have no seats in front, allowing you to stretch your legs out fully.
However, these can be slightly narrower if tray tables are stored in the armrest.
If a bulkhead doesn’t appeal to you, choose a seat towards the rear of the plane where they taper.
This can sometimes mean fewer seats in a row – but of course, you might end up next to the toilet queue which can be a bit disruptive.
If you are on a flight that has already taken off and you notice extra empty seats, you can always politely ask the flight attendant if it would be possible to move.
Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get – and as long as you’re polite there is a chance they will grant your wish.
If you have additional needs that would benefit from more space, such as being tall or pregnant, you’ve got a non-zero chance of being moved to a more spacious spot.