Savvy holidaymakers are discovering that not all economy seats are equal, with some offering up to an extra inch of legroom for little or no extra cost.
New Which? data shows that knowing exactly which seat numbers to pick could make a cramped budget flight noticeably more comfortable this summer, sometimes for as little as £10.
A few minutes spent choosing the right seat can make a noticeable difference to your flight comfort, without paying extra for premium seating.
With airlines increasingly charging for legroom, knowing where to sit has become one of the easiest ways to upgrade your journey for less.
Here are five seat types and specific spots to look out for.
1. EasyJet right-hand seats (A321neo) with extra space
On EasyJet’s Airbus A321neo, certain seats on the right-hand side quietly offer more legroom than others in the same cabin.
Seats D, E and F in rows 3-13 offer 29-inch seat pitch - a full inch more than left-hand seats in rows 6-17 and rear sections which offer only 28 inches.
These seats are often assigned randomly for free, or available as the cheapest category to select.
That extra inch is usually enough to notice on shorter flights, especially if you’re tall or travelling with kids.
2. Ryanair’s 'best standard seats' in rows 3 to 15
According to AeroLOPA seat plans verified by Which?, seats D, E and F in rows 3-15 on Ryanair's Boeing 737 aircraft are the roomiest standard seats available.
These can often be selected for as little as £10, despite offering comparable legroom to more expensive options.
Knowing which standard seats offer hidden perks has never been more valuable.
3. Bulkhead seats (the free legroom win)
Bulkhead seats sit directly behind cabin dividers and often come with noticeably more space to stretch your legs.
The trade-off is that tray tables are stored in armrests, which slightly reduces seat width.
However, for many passengers, the extra legroom more than makes up for it - and these seats are often left unclaimed.
4. Aisle seats near the back (for a chance of empty rows)
Seats towards the rear of the plane are often the last to be filled, particularly on quieter flights.
Travel experts say checking in later can sometimes increase your chances of getting an aisle seat or even an empty middle seat next to you.
Mark Wolters, travel expert at Wolters World YouTube, reveals: "The best seat in economy overall is one where nobody is sitting beside you."
Which? research shows that checking in late - between 24 hours and two hours before departure - increases your chance of getting aisle or window seats, or even an empty row.
Airlines including Ryanair, KLM and Wizz Air deliberately assign the worst seats first, meaning late check-in can work in your favour.
It’s not guaranteed, but on less busy services it can be a simple way to improve comfort for free.
Recommended reading:
- The Lakeland ‘insider’ page savvy shoppers swear by - and what they always buy
- The free airline perk most parents never think to ask for and when to ask for it
- How to avoid the £189 holiday mistake thousands of UK families are still making
5. Airlines with naturally bigger seats (up to 4 inches more)
Not all budget flights are equal when it comes to space. Seat pitch can vary from around 28 inches on some airlines to 32 inches on others on short-haul routes.
A spokesperson from Noble Life, luxury travel experts who analysed the seating data, advises: "There can be as much as four inches difference in legroom between budget carriers on the same route.
"Turkish Airlines offers 32-inch pitch on short-haul flights compared to Wizz Air's 28 inches - that's the difference between arriving refreshed or cramped.
"Always check the specific aircraft type when booking, not just the airline.
"The same carrier can operate different aircraft with vastly different seat configurations on similar routes."
Are you travelling soon? Let us know in the comments below.
Share