10 Most Comfortready Economy Class Seats for Lengthy-Haul Flights

The considered flying long-haul in financial system class is sufficient to ship a shiver down most vacationers’ spines, particularly for those who’re making an attempt to go to sleep on an in a single day flight. The most inexpensive airline seats have a nasty repute for having little private house, inflexible seats, and ultra-cramped legroom—not precisely a successful mixture for touchdown in your vacation spot refreshed and able to go.

But there are particular seats in the back of the aircraft that really do supply a decent quantity of consolation, if you understand how to seek out them. A major variety of airways at the moment are designing financial system cabins on their longest routes to supply above-average legroom pitch and wider seats, together with handy design options to assist vacationers maximize their house.

We’ve rounded up essentially the most snug financial system class seats for worldwide and long-haul flights, primarily based on standards like seat measurements, snug facilities, and considerate contact factors. Keep in thoughts that these are nonetheless common financial system seats, so don’t anticipate a number of the flashier facilities that include a premium financial system or enterprise class fare. However, all of those are strong choices for flying on an hours-long flight when you’ll be able to’t swing an improve.

JetBlue is likely one of the finest US carriers in the case of legroom, even in financial system.

Brett Moen/JetBlue

JetBlue Airbus A321

The New York-based service is likely one of the high US airways by way of legroom. Its Airbus A321 long-range planes, used for its transatlantic routes to Europe, aren’t any exception. In common financial system, referred to as “Core” on JetBlue, anticipate to see 32 inches of pitch and 18 inches of width, and three inches of recline at your seat. You’ll additionally discover a headrest with adjustable wings and energy retailers (although not sufficient for each passenger to have their very own charging port). On planes that additionally characteristic Mint enterprise class, the Core cabin has 102 seats in a 3-3 format, so the one downside is a possible lack of elbow room because the A321 is only a single-aisle aircraft.

Japan Airlines Airbus A350-1000

Much of the eye on board JAL’s new A350 aircraft, which debuted in January 2024, has been centered on its luxurious first and enterprise class suites. But even the again of the aircraft gives fliers a decent quantity of consolation. In the common financial system cabin, seats supply about 34 inches of legroom pitch and greater than 18 inches of seat width, making them one of many roomiest long-haul financial system choices available on the market. Plus, within the absolutely upright place, the seats sit again at a deeper angle than normal financial system seats—earlier than you even interact the recline perform, which additionally gives a number of extra inches of tilt. Extra bells and whistles embody a big 13-inch 4K leisure display screen, water bottle pouch and separate cupholder, energy outlet, and USB-A and -C charging ports. The solely draw back to the cabin is that the 155 seats in common financial system are specified by a 3-3-3 configuration, which implies extra dreaded center seats. But the rows are spaced far sufficient aside that financial system passengers shouldn’t really feel too cramped. You’ll discover these jets working nonstop routes from New York JFK and Dallas Fort Worth to Tokyo Haneda.

All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

Another Japanese service that gives one of the vital snug financial system class seats is All Nippon Airways. Its coach cabin aboard its Boeing 797-9 Dreamliners that fly between Tokyo and Los Angeles gives comparatively spacious seats with 34 inches of legroom pitch and 17.3 inches of width. The seats additionally include a built-in footrest—a rarity exterior of premium financial system—plus a number of inches of ordinary recline. Instead of the seat merely tilting again, nevertheless, the seat pan additionally slides ahead in order to not intrude an excessive amount of on the passenger behind, giving every flier a bit more room. The seats are in a 3-3-3 format, so avoiding the tight center seat might be powerful; although additional options like common PC energy ports and USB ports at each seat, thick cushioning, and a headrest that adjusts up and down, ought to assist ease the ache.

The excessive ceilings and extensive physique of the double-decker Airbus A380 jets assist to create an ethereal, spacious really feel.

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Emirates Airbus A380

Emirates’ double-decker Airbus A380 jets are the stuff of aviation legend—even on the decrease stage in plain outdated financial system. The cabin class gives seats with 34 inches of pitch, 18 inches of width, and a strong 4 inches of recline. With a complete of 399 normal financial system seats configured in a 3-4-3 format, the cabin feels like a crunch. But for those who take into accout what an unlimited, superjumbo jet the A380 really is—with increased ceilings and a wider footprint than most jets—these numbers begin to sound quite a bit much less stress-inducing. In truth, fliers who’ve skilled the A380 in financial system constantly say that the cabin has an ethereal and spacious really feel, regardless of its excessive passenger capability. There’s additionally a padded adjustable headrest, a 13.3-inch leisure display screen, and over-the-ear headphones offered at every seat. From the US, you’ll be able to catch Emirates A380s flying from Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles to Dubai, and in addition on particular fifth freedom routes, like between New York JFK and Milan.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380

Singapore’s financial system class aboard its Airbus A380 planes is one other spacious cabin, even for those who’re using all the best way in the back of the superjumbo jet. The pitch in common financial system is a decent 32 inches, and seats are a roomy 19 inches extensive. When it’s time to calm down after meal service, you’ll discover the seatback in a position to recline six inches, which is kind of a deep angle hardly ever discovered exterior of premium financial system class. (But don’t fear, the seatback leisure screens have adjustable angles so you’ll be able to maintain watching even when the individual in entrance of you absolutely tilts again.) Just like aboard Emirates’ A380, Singapore’s financial system class on this double-decker aircraft is specified by a 3-4-3 seating chart, however with the A380’s wider physique and better ceilings, it shouldn’t really feel too crowded. Extra contact factors on the seats including to the comfort and luxury embody a cup holder to release the tray desk house, cellphone storage, and a comfortable six-way headrest. You can discover the A380 on the airline’s long-haul routes from Singapore to Hong Kong, London, Tokyo, and Melbourne, in addition to its fifth freedom flights between New York and Frankfurt, amongst different locations.

The exterior rows of Hawaiian’s A330 fundamental cabin are perfect for {couples} hoping to keep away from the center seat, because of its 2-4-2 configuration.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330

These environment friendly Airbus jets fly the vast majority of Hawaiian’s long-haul routes, like its nonstop flights from New York to Honolulu (which can not technically be a global route, however at greater than 11 hours every, it is one of many longest home flights within the US). Seats within the A330’s Main Cabin supply 31 inches of pitch, which is kind of a bit tighter than what different airways supply on this listing. But for those who can rating a seat on the sides of the cabin, your spot is prone to really feel a bit extra spacious. That’s as a result of the rows are specified by a 2-4-2 configuration, making the seats nearest the home windows on both facet a first-rate choose for {couples} or different journey duos. All 192 financial system seats additionally supply seat width between 16.5 to 18 inches and a a number of inches of recline. If you’re fearful about legroom, you might spring for one of many 68 Extra Comfort seats, which provide 36 inches of pitch, however these normally value a pair hundred {dollars} additional on the airline’s longer routes.

Delta Boeing 767-400ER

With a mean age clocking in at greater than 23 years outdated, Delta’s Boeing 767-400ERs are definitely older planes. But in the case of consolation in financial system class, don’t rely out these workhorse jets that fly lots of Delta’s transatlantic routes out of Atlanta and New York JFK, amongst different lengthy hauls. The Main Cabin on these old-reliables accommodate 156 seats that every supply 31 to 32 inches of legroom pitch, 18 inches of seat width, and three to 4 inches of recline. What’s extra, the seating chart is configured in a 2-3-2 format, eliminating center seats on the sides of the cabin for extra respiration house close to the home windows. Additional options like an adjustable headrest, USB ports, and a large leisure display screen make the flight really feel smoother, even within the least expensive seats.

The new Swiss Senses financial system seats on the Airbus A350 supply an additional inch of knee house, because of the seatback’s molded design.

Swiss Airbus A350

Zurich-based service Swiss launched a model new financial system cabin idea in March 2025 referred to as Swiss Senses. The new product, rolling out now, options seats upholstered in tasteful checked beige materials and supply 31 to 33 inches of seat pitch, with an additional inch of knee house, because of the seatback’s molded design. The roomy seats are as much as 19.5 inches extensive with a 6-inch recline. Additional conveniences embody a 6-way adjustable headrest, USB charging port, a 13.3-inch leisure display screen with Bluetooth connectivity, and a cupholder. Cabins on the Airbus A350 jets—the primary plane to obtain the brand new cabins—might be configured in a somewhat-cramped 3-4-3 seating format. But when the airline’s A330 jets are retrofitted with the Swiss Senses product beginning in late 2025, they’ll characteristic a extra favorable 2-4-2 configuration. The first A350 aircraft will debut on Swiss’ Zurich-to-Boston route on January 1, 2026, adopted by a phased rollout to its different long-haul routes all through the US.

Qantas Boeing 787-9

On its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets, Australian service Qantas gives an financial system cabin with strong design parts to maximise passenger consolation. Each of the 166 seats within the cabin have 32 inches of pitch and are 17.2 inches extensive. The cabin is designed in a 3-3-3 seating association, so armrests may grow to be a battle floor. But that downside is balanced out by different design perks. A shelf for private digital gadgets and a water bottle holder assist maximize house, and each passenger has a big 12-inch leisure display screen. The spotlight of the financial system cabin is perhaps the distinctive “footnets” positioned beneath each seat. This small hammock is actually a mesh footrest that offers a bit of additional assist to fliers’ ft and legs. Combined with the seats’ six-inch recline, passengers have likelihood of getting some significant relaxation on board. As an added bonus, financial system passengers have entry to a self-service space the place they’ll seize drinks or snacks at any time through the flight. US-based vacationers can discover the airline’s 787-9 planes on routes from Dallas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.

Cathay Pacific’s financial system class on its Airbus A350-1000 planes characteristic a darkish mode choice for watching motion pictures whereas the cabin lights are dimmed.

Courtesy Cathay

Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000

Hong Kong service Cathay Pacific was awarded the mantle of World’s Best Economy Class in 2025 by Skytrax. Looking on the seats on its Airbus A350-1000 planes, it’s simple to see why. Each seat within the jet’s financial system cabin is eighteen inches extensive and gives 32 inches of legroom pitch with as much as six inches of recline. Seats are configured in a 3-3-3 format with design parts like an adjustable leather-based headrest, a devoted shelf for private gadgets, cupholder, and private USB port, making every spot really feel extra environment friendly and comfy. Entertainment screens have additionally been thoughtfully designed with a darkish mode for watching motion pictures whereas the cabin lights are dimmed (with out waking your neighbors). In the US, Cathay operates its A350-1000 out of Dallas, New York, Chicago, and Boston.

This story has been up to date with new info since its unique publish date.