Top 10 most comfortable air carriers in the USA: which airline to choose
If your trip takes place within the United States, then, naturally, you have wondered which of its airlines are the best for a comfortable flight. To make it as comfortable as possible, you can use the AirAdvisor rating of the 10 most comfortable air carriers from the United States. For this purpose, they were analyzed according to several criteria: seat comfort, free food and drinks, in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi and the availability of comfort items (pillows, plaids and the like).
Well, some of the results of this top of the best US airlines may surprise you: budget carriers aren't necessarily uncomfortable, and major carriers aren't always at the forefront in terms of comfort.
Top 5 most comfortable US airlines
Each of the airlines reviewed here has different types and models of airplanes, so only economy class cabins and average values of the criteria were used for comparison.
The standard seat width in the U.S. airline industry is 17 inches and seat pitch (legroom) is 30-32 inches. To measure seat pitch, the distance from any point on one seat to the same point on the seat in front or behind is determined.
No. 1 – Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines was the absolute winner of the top of the most comfortable carriers in the US, so you can safely use its services for both short and overseas flights. In terms of criteria, Delta earned good marks on many points. It has an excellent seat width of 17.2 to 18.5 inches, and seat pitch averages between 30 and 32 inches.
On board Delta Airlines, passengers are provided with free soft drinks on any flight with a range of 250 miles or more, and at least a light snack to accompany them. On long-haul overseas flights, pillows and blankets are provided.
Onboard entertainment also scored high: on domestic flights, you can watch news and sporting events during live broadcasts, and there's Wi-Fi (free for SkyMiles members).
No. 2 – JetBlue
This airline distinguished itself with the widest seats, ranging from 17.8 to 18.4 inches, and legroom is 32 to 34 inches.
On the remaining criteria (free Wi-Fi on domestic flights, free drinks and snacks), JetBlue ranked second, thus earning the No. 2 spot in the top U.S. airlines for comfortable flying conditions. This carrier is a bit let down by the availability of comfort items (pillows and plaids): they are available, but for an additional fee.
No. 3 – United Airlines
The width of economy class seats on United Airlines planes is 17.3 inches at most, but the company also has a few flights with very narrow seats with a width of 16 inches. That said, legroom is a reasonable 30-31 inches.
Soft drinks are available on all United flights, and alcohol is included on transatlantic and a few other select flights. On North American and Latin American routes over 500 miles, complimentary snacks are available.
There is Wi-Fi access on domestic, short-haul (to Canada and Mexico), and some other international flights. It costs $8 for MileagePlus frequent flyer members and $10 for everyone else. During the flight, passengers are offered an abundance of movies, TV shows and more than a hundred TV channels, as well as comfort items to get as comfortable as possible. So United definitely deserves a spot in the top three most comfortable air carriers in the United States.
No. 4 – American Airlines
Almost on all routes of this operator Wi-Fi is available, the cost of which starts from 10 dollars and more depending on the flight. They also offer comfort items to their passengers.
Among all American airlines, American Airlines has the largest fleet. In its typical cabins, the average seat pitch adheres to the standard and is 30-32 inches. But passengers have the risk of getting a rather narrow seat. There are boards where the seat width is 16.2 inches, although in most planes it is within 17.5 inches.
American Airlines also offers passengers free soft drinks and in-flight entertainment if the flight is over 250 miles. If the flight distance exceeds 2,200 miles, meals are also added.
No. 5 – Southwest Airlines
The top 5 most comfortable airlines is rounded out by budget carrier, which is also on the list of safest US carriers. As we noted earlier, budget carriers can also offer the passenger a comfortable and enjoyable flight.
The average seat width on Southwest Airlines is 17.5 inches, and seat pitch is 31-33 inches. Wi-Fi is available on board: A-List Preferred status holders can use it for free, while other passengers must pay $8 per device. Entertainment is arranged in a special way: the passenger uses his device to connect to the airline's entertainment portal and watch the offered content without paying for Wi-Fi.
Southwest Airlines failed to get high marks for comfort items, simply because they don't have them, even for an additional fee. In fact, they removed this service back in 2009, including on international flights. But passengers can bring their own pillow or small plaid on board as a personal item.
Five more U.S. airlines from the top 10 most comfortable airlines in the world
The following five U.S. carriers failed to rank higher in the rankings due to failing to meet comfort requirements in several categories.
No. 6 – Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines can't boast the largest seat widths and legroom, but they are still within the average range: 16.8-18 inches for seats and 31 inches for the pitch between them.
Passengers on long-haul flights between Hawaii and Australia get a free blanket. Hawaiian Airlines' in-flight entertainment operates the same way Southwest Airlines does: through access via the passenger's own device.
Wi-Fi is only available on a few select flights, but Hawaiian Airlines' partnership with Starlink is expected to provide it on all flights by the end of 2024.
Free soft drinks, meals and snacks are available on South Pacific, North American and Asian routes.
No. 7 – Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines' average seat width and legroom are pretty decent: 17 inches and 31 inches, respectively. There's also Wi-Fi on board, with prices ranging from $8 to $24.99, which depends on the length of the flight. But that wasn't enough to make it to the top of the list of the most comfortable airlines in the United States.
There are no screens in the seat backs, po passenger can watch broadcasts on their device for free. But on regional and short-haul flights, there is no access to the in-flight entertainment system.
If the flight range exceeds 350 miles, complimentary soft drinks are provided, over 775 miles, snacks are provided, and on flights over 1,100 miles, passengers receive meals based on departure time.
No. 8 – Spirit Airlines
This is an airline with ultra-budget offerings and some perks that are basically not expected of it.
Spirit Airlines' average seat width is 17.5-18.5 inches (it's one of the widest seats in economy class), and you have to pay from $3.99 for Wi-Fi access.
But the negatives for comfort are also plentiful. Spirit doesn't offer complimentary drinks, entertainment or comfort items, and the average seat pitch is less than standard at 28 inches.
Nos. 9-10 – Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines
These two carriers shared the title of most uncomfortable airline in the United States.
Allegiant Air's average seat pitch is good at 31 inches, but the average seat width, while acceptable, is still less comfortable at 16.5-17 inches. Flight prices are quite affordable, but it can be argued that there are no free drinks, Wi-Fi, in-flight entertainment or blankets on board.
Frontier Airlines tops the rating of the cheapest airlines in the United States, but here it is at the very end of the top in terms of comfort. The low ticket price explains the lack of Wi-Fi, comfort items and in-flight entertainment. Seat pitch also falls short of the standard - 28-30 inches - and any drinks and food have to be paid for separately. But surprisingly, Frontier Airlines has some of the widest seats, averaging 18 inches..