Are economy class and budget airline seats comfortable? A legroom of 31 inches is the key starting point.

▲ The width of economy class seating is a key factor in comfort. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

By Rita

To stay competitive on ticket prices, some airlines cut costs on meals and drinks. While “legroom” may not catch passengers’ attention as much as those two, taller individuals can quickly feel very fatigued after just three or four hours on a plane.Lonely Planet websitecompared “legroom,” and travelers shouldn’t forget this hidden yet important detail when booking tickets.

According to Seatguru.com, legroom varies greatly among different airlines. For example, WestJet in Canada offers legroom of about 31–38 inches, with slight differences between aircraft models. Among 20 other airlines, China Southern and Thomas Cook Airlines have the smallest legroom, at around 29–33 inches.

Most airlines offer a starting legroom of about 31 inches in economy class. For instance, Virgin Atlantic in the U.S.provides 31 inches in economy and 38 inches in premium economy; Delta Air Lines ranges between 31–35 inches. In Europe, Air France offers 31–34 inches in economy and 38–40 inches in premium economy.Norwegian Air and Qatar Airways also offer the standard 31 inches in economy, while Norwegian provides up to 46 inches in premium economy.

Of course, legroom can also be purchased. The report also mentioned the best value options, such as Turkish Airlines, Air India, Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Etihad Airways.

Note: 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (cm)