The worst airlines for legroom revealed - and it's not Ryanair or easyJet
It's a familiar situation for many. You're excited for your holiday and take your seat on the plane - only to find your knees are wedged into the tray table in front.
Legroom - also known as 'seat pitch' - is a hot topic when it comes to flying, with the amount of space you'll get varying drastically depending on the airline.
Some budget airlines offer as little as 28 inches of legroom, while premium economy passengers often enjoy around 34 to 38 inches of space.
Ahead of the new year, a new study has revealed the airlines that receive the most complaints about cramped seating.
Researchers analysed almost one million TripAdvisor reviews of the 20 airlines carrying the highest number of terminal passengers across all UK reporting airports.
The study focused on TripAdvisor's one and two-star reviews, isolating negative comments that specifically mentioned 'legroom' to identify where passengers are most frequently dissatisfied with the space on board.
Despite being branded as the nation's 'flag carrier,' British Airways tops the table for being the worst, with a staggering 52.6 per cent of legroom-related reviews marked as negative - meaning more than half of passengers who mention legroom say it's bad.
One British Airways reviewer stated: 'The seat was so stiff and the legroom was non-existent.'
Legroom - also known as 'seat pitch' - is a hot topic when it comes to flying, with the amount of space you'll get varying drastically depending on the airline (file image)
One British Airways reviewer stated: 'The seat was so stiff and the legroom was non-existent'. A coach economy cabin on a British Airways plane is pictured
Other reviews echoed similar criticisms about space on board.
Snapping at BA's heels, in the study by OddsMonkey, is Ryanair on 51.4 per cent, with more than half of its legroom comments coming back negative.
Close behind are the North American giants - United Airlines at 47.2 per cent, American Airlines at 43.8 per cent, and Air Canada at 42.1 per cent - all drawing a high volume of complaints about tight seating space.
At the other end of the scale, one airline is streets ahead of the rest: SunExpress, where only 6.4 per cent of legroom reviews were negative - the best score in the entire study.
Jet2 also did well, coming in second place, with only 12 per cent of its legroom reviews negative.
The gap between the best and worst airlines is enormous, ranging from just six per cent of feedback complaining about legroom to more than 50 per cent per 1,000 reviews.
Especially on many short-haul fleets, flyers say comfort is becoming a major battleground.
And with hundreds of thousands set to travel in the new year, Brits will be hoping they don't end up trapped in 'cramp class' on their next getaway.
Snapping at its heels is Ryanair on 51.4 per cent, with more than half of its legroom comments coming back negative. Seats on a Ryanair plane are pictured
It comes as American budget carrier Southwest Airlines revealed the much-anticipated revamped interiors of its Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.
These 'elevated' additions, which the budget carrier has been teasing for a year, include extra legroom rows, larger overhead bins and power outlets, along with spacious new seats.
The plane will also debut an 'Extra Legroom' section, with more top-of-the-line snack options, complimentary premium beverages and earlier boarding positions once the airline starts offering premium and assigned seating on January 27, 2026.
More than half of the carrier’s planes have now been fitted with extra legroom as of mid-October 2025.
Extra legroom seats also come with two free checked bags, early boarding, premium drinks and snacks, and free Wi-Fi.
