The best airlines to book for the most legroom in economy
Being comfortable is one of the key factors when booking a flight.
Regardless of whether you shop in the petites section or stoop to get through doorways, more always equals more when it comes to getting enough legroom when you're sitting for hours on end.
For those of us whose budget doesn't extend to the indulgent roominess of business class (let's face it, most of us), here's a breakdown of the airlines you need to book to get the most comfortable seat possible.
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Cramped confines often make a lengthy trip seem even longer. Getty
Flying out of Australia
When it comes to looking at how much legroom you get, it's important to look at seat pitch, that is, the gap between your seat and the one in front of you.
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Qantas
If you're jet-setting between Australia and Singapore, London and LA, you might have the pleasure of flying onboard an A380.
If so, be prepared to stretch out and enjoy a roomy seat pitch of 81.2cm.
Those flying internationally or to domestic destinations on Qantas' A330-200s and A330-300 get a still-substantial seat pitch of 78.7cm.
Maximise your comfort levels by booking a seat on Qantas' A380.
Virgin Australia
According to their website, all passengers on Virgin can expect a seat pitch from 75cm.
More specifically, if you're hoping to get the maximum legroom you can on this airline, make sure you're flying on an Airbus A320 for a seat pitch of 78.7cm.
Jetstar
This budget airline is often the pick of the bunch for travellers counting their pennies, and sadly this does mean you're likely to get less legroom.
Passengers flying on the airline's Airbus A320, which travels throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia, can expect a seat pitch of 73.7cm.
With most flights often busy and crowded, seat space is at a premium. Getty
Flying in Europe
Starting to think about planning a European summer trip away? Lucky then that consumer report company Which? has done the leg work by listing the top airlines flying out of the UK to keep in mind for spacious seating.
In their results released in 2023, the experts revealed the popular short-haul airlines with the most legroom, and surprisingly, it wasn't premium British Airways that came first.
- Aer Lingus: 78.7cm-81.3cm
- British Airways: 73.7cm-78.7cm
- EasyJet: 73.7cm
- Jet2: 71.1cm-78.7cm
- KLM: 73.7cm-83.8cm
Aer Lingus topped the list of airlines with the most leg space. iStock
Top tips for more legroom
If all else fails, there are some travel hacks that could nab you some coveted spacious seats.
General manager of Flight Centre New Zealand, Heidi Walker revealed she always chooses the bulkhead window seat when travelling.
"It's near the front of a cabin section and usually results in more leg room and can allow for a quicker exit when disembarking," she told Stuff.
Meanwhile, if you're lucky enough to land yourself on a flight that hasn't been booked out, it's worthwhile politely asking the flight attendant if you can move to a less busy row to stretch out once you're in the air.
