It can be disappointing to step onto the plane for that eagerly-awaited holiday to find you don’t have as much room as you would like. Comfort when flying is key for many, so it may be worth checking how much legroom you can expect ahead of booking.
Some airlines offer more room than others, and consumer platform Which? took it upon themselves to shed light on the situation in a survey conducted back in 2023. Its experts compared the legroom and seat width on offer from 12 major short-haul carriers that fly from the UK.
Which? measured each airline’s “seat pitch”, or the distance from your seat to the one in front. Wizz Air and TUI had the least legroom, or smallest seat pitch, according to Which? research.
TAP Portugal and Jet2 were found to have mixed offerings, averaging from 28 to 31 inches, while EasyJet provided 29 inches of legroom. Ryanair had 30 inches.
Seat width also came under scrutiny, typically around 17 inches across carriers. However, easyJet, TAP Portugal, and Lufthansa flyers can breathe a bit easier with the extra inch they provide, stretching to a more comfortable 18 inches between armrests, as reported by the Express.
Full list of airlines and their legroom
- Wizz Air – 28 inches
- TUI – 28 inches
- Jet2 – 28-31 inches
- TAP Portugal – 28-31 inches
- EasyJet – 29 inches
- Vueling – 29-30 inches
- British Airways – 29-31 inches
- Norwegian – 29-31 inches
- KLM – 29-33 inches
- Ryanair – 30 inches
- Lufthansa – 30-32 inches
- Aer Lingus – 31-32 inches