Seats: Main cabin seats are arranged with 30 to 32 inches of pitch, depending on the aircraft type. That's not spacious by any means, but it's a couple more inches of legroom than the 28 inches of pitch you'll find on Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines.
Located in prime areas of the main cabin, Main Cabin Extra seats receive 3 to 6 inches of additional legroom. These seats are in the bulkhead, the first few rows of the plane, or in exit rows. In addition to extra legroom, Main Cabin Extra customers receive free alcoholic beverages.
Both premium economy and Main Cabin Extra offer more legroom and complimentary alcoholic drinks.
With most airlines, there's no difference between the actual seats in the main cabin versus basic economy. But the policies outside of your seats — like how much luggage you can bring and how easy (and cheaply) you can change your flights — can be significantly different.
Main Cabin features traditional economy seats and is located in the rear of the aircraft. These seats usually feature inflight entertainment (except on regional jets) and are where the majority of customers sit.
Exit rows, aisle or window seats, and anywhere close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On a short business trip, you might want an aisle seat near the front of the plane so you can debark as quickly as possible on arrival.
Seats: Main cabin seats are arranged with 30 to 32 inches of pitch, depending on the aircraft type.
Main Cabin tickets include a complimentary seat selection when you book your flight. You can also buy Preferred seats or a Main Cabin Extra seat for benefits like extra legroom and early boarding. On the other hand, Basic Economy charges a fee if you want to select a specific seat (waived for AAdvantage members).
There's not much of a difference between American's main cabin and basic economy offerings. All travelers get a full-size carry-on bag, mileage earnings and the flexibility to change flights on the day of travel for a fee.
Usually, it's best to pick a seat toward the front of the plane for several reasons: It's usually quieter, and you can get on and off faster. There's a balance between choosing front/back and window/aisle.
Best seat for legroom: A bulkhead or exit-row seat. Best seat for sleeping: A window seat in a bulkhead row. Best seat for extra space without a seatmate: A seat towards the back. Best seat for a tight connection: A seat closest to the front exit.
In the U.S., the airlines JetBlue and Southwest consistently offer the most legroom with an average of around 32 inches per seat, although you can find a few JetBlue planes with 33 inches of legroom. Alaska and Hawaiian seats typically have 31 or 32 inches of legroom, too.
Sometimes found at the front of the cabins in large-bodied aircraft, exit row seats are in very high demand for long-distance economy class flights, especially for tall passengers. On a Boeing 737, for instance, the front cabin or over-wing exit seats have an extra 6-8 inches of pitch with unlimited legroom.
More Control in Main Cabin. When you purchase Main Cabin, enjoy more freedom and flexibility. Select an available seat in advance for more peace of mind and manage your trip easily without change fees for tickets originating in United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.
Business class is a premium cabin available on international long-haul flights. Seats are typically lie-flat or angled, not just recliners, offering far more space than in the economy or premium economy cabins.
Additionally, if you need to cancel or change flights within 24 hours of departure, it is not allowed on a regular main cabin ticket. On the other hand, a flexible main cabin ticket gives you more freedom when making changes or cancellations as long as they are made before departure time.
You will be fine, you probably won't even need an extender on your belt. A size 22 won't have difficulty fitting in a airline seat, and doing up the seat belt. Don't worry.
JetBlue. JetBlue is America's trailblazer when it comes to the most spacious aircraft seats. Although seats vary between different aircraft types, the airline offers up to 38 inches of legroom in their standard economy class.
Air Asia has the shortest seat pitch in economy, at 29 inches. Forty years ago, seat pitch was 31 to 35 inches. Seat width was approximately 18.5 inches. Today it's 17 to 17.5 inches.
So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.
Economy and premium economy seats are often listed under "main cabin" seats when you make a reservation. If you're flying to an international destination, roomier seats with more legroom are in more desirable locations, like in the front of the airplane.
The best seat for maximum legroom: Any exit-row seat. The best seat for sleeping or limited noise: A window seat away from the bathroom and cabin crew areas. The best seat for minimal turbulence: A seat over the wing.
Delta says these seats have up to three more inches of legroom compared to the standard economy seat, although the exact amount varies by aircraft. On most Delta planes, it's between 34 and 35 inches of legroom (although some aircraft have exit rows with a few more inches).
Reviewing a list of seat pitch measurements, you'll see the typical range is roughly 30–31 inches. Note, however, that while a higher number can mean more legroom, it's not always a direct correlation—if the seat back is thicker, for instance, that means less legroom even if the seat pitch number might be higher.