For the majority of travelers, who fly in economy class, airplane cabins are getting tighter and tighter. Seat pitch — a term airlines use for the distance between a point on one seat and the exact same point on the seat directly in front of it — has shrunk from an average of more than 33 inches in the 1980s to around 30 to 31 inches today. But some airlines shrink that even further by squeezing more seats into their cabins. These are often budget carriers, and for customers, the tradeoff for tight legroom is usually a low fare. But if you’re tall or simply looking for a little more room to spread out, you may want to avoid these airlines that offer the least amount of legroom in economy class. 

Frontier Airlines

Typical seat pitch: 28 to 29 inches

Frontier Airlines is America’s largest ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), serving over 120 destinations. It’s known for its low-frills, bare-bones service — just about the only thing passengers don’t have to pay extra for is a small cup of water during the flight. To keep fares low, the airline crams as many seats as possible into its fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The typical seat pitch on Frontier is 28 to 29 inches, compared with 30 to 31 inches on legacy airlines such as American, Delta, or United.

While 1 to 2 inches might not sound like a lot, it can make a noticeable difference in terms of comfort. Most Frontier seats don’t recline, either, but at least you won’t have to worry about the passenger in front of you impeding your already-limited space. If you’re looking for a little extra clearance, rows at the front of the cabin and at the exit rows offer a few additional inches of legroom. In late 2025, Frontier also began installing two rows of first-class seating on all of its aircraft. 

Allegiant

Typical seat pitch: 28 to 30 inches

Allegiant, another ULCC, focuses on offering service to underserved airports in the U.S. For many travelers, it’s their only nonstop option to places such as Florida or Las Vegas, but there’s a tradeoff — limited legroom on board. 

Like Frontier, Allegiant outfits many rows with just 28 inches of seat pitch, which is the tightest you’ll find at any U.S. airline. The airline’s newest plane, the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200, has the exact same fuselage and dimensions as the standard 737 MAX-8 you’ll find at airlines such as American and Southwest, but its manufacturer, Boeing, added an extra pair of exit doors so airlines can add even more seats. Allegiant’s high-density version has a whopping 190 seats, compared with 175 at Southwest. 

Sun Country Airlines

Typical seat pitch: 29 inches

Allegiant recently acquired Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines, but for the time being, the two airlines are still operating under separate brands. Sun Country operates a small fleet of Boeing 737-800s from its main hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and they’re configured with 186 seats in an all-coach configuration. The vast majority of them have a tight 29-inch seat pitch, but a few rows of seats sold as “better” or “best” offer more legroom.

International Budget Carriers

If you’re traveling overseas, the story is similar: Flying with a low-cost airline equals less legroom (typically 28 to 29 inches). In Canada, the list includes Flair Airlines and select aircraft on WestJet, though the latter airline recently announced it was backtracking on its decision to reduce seat pitch in some rows after consumer backlash. In Mexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris both have similarly restricted legroom. 

In Europe, the continent’s largest airline, Ryanair, has long led the charge on densifying cabins — its CEO has even been a vocal proponent for standing-only seats. For now, the airline configures its Boeing 737 MAX 8-200s with 197 seats — which is seven more than Allegiant’s version. Ryanair’s biggest competitors in Europe, easyJet and Wizz Air, are also known for their tight cabins. 

In Asia, you’ll find a standard 28- to 29-inch seat pitch on airlines such as AirAsia, IndiGo, and Cebu Pacific. The latter airline, based in the Philippines, offers one of the world’s tightest configurations of the Airbus A320NEO, with a whopping 194 seats. For comparison, JetBlue operates all-economy Airbus A320s with just 162 seats. 

U.S. Airlines With the Best Legroom

So, which airlines offer the most room to spread out in economy class? In the U.S., JetBlue proudly proclaims to offer the most legroom in coach, with a standard of 32 inches across its fleet. However, the airline recently announced plans to add first-class seats, which will eventually reduce the legroom for passengers in economy. 

Southwest Airlines, meanwhile, recently reconfigured its planes so it could sell some seats with extra legroom. Now, those premium seats at the front have 34 to 36 inches, while standard coach seats have 31 inches — which is still an inch more than you’ll find on many American, Delta, and United planes.