Two have been named as the UK’s airlines with the least legroom, as they offer the smallest seat pitch according to a study.
Hopping on a plane, only to discover you’ve got minimal legroom, can be a major annoyance – especially when upgrading to a roomier seat comes with a hefty price tag. Truth is, airlines vary greatly when it comes to seat comfort and leg space, with some providing ample room, while others pack passengers in tight.
Back in 2023, Which? surveyed 12 top UK short-haul carriers to compare legroom and seat width. The study focused on “seat pitch” – the distance between your seat and the one in front – to measure legroom.
Interestingly, Ryanair and Easyjet, often criticised for being cramped, weren’t the worst offenders. Wizz Air and TUI took that title with the smallest seat pitch.
TAP Portugal and Jet2 offered varying legroom, averaging 28-31 inches. EasyJet had 29 inches, and Ryanair had 30 inches, reports the Express.
Which? also checked seat width, finding most airlines had similar sizes, around 17 inches. But easyJet, TAP Portugal, and Lufthansa fared better, offering 18 inches between armrests.
Here are the full results for the seat pitches, as recorded by Which?.
Airline legroom rankings (seat pitch)
Wizz Air – 28 inches (71 cm)
TUI Airways – 28 inches (71 cm)
Jet2 – 28-31 inches (71-79 cm)
TAP Portugal – 28-31 inches (71-79 cm)
EasyJet – 29 inches (74 cm)
Ryanair – 30 inches (76 cm)
British Airways – 30 inches (76 cm)
Aer Lingus – 30-31 inches (76-79 cm)
Lufthansa – 30-32 inches (76-81 cm)
Vueling – 30-32 inches (76-81 cm)
Air France – 32 inches (81 cm)
KLM – 32 inches (81 cm)
Turkish Airlines – 32 inches (81 cm)