The most spacious economy seats revealed as airline wins title 6 years running

At the grand height of 5ft 3, I’ve never struggled for legroom on a flight. But I can appreciate that airlines don’t always do a great job accommodating taller travellers.

Thankfully, there are a few heroes in the field working to ensure that everyone can enjoy a degree of comfort on their journey.

In 2025, SKYTRAX World Airline Awards tipped Japan Airlines as the carrier with the best economy class seat, judging factors such as design, seat recline, and headrest.

Beating out big names like Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines has won the award for six years running.

So, what is so special about these seats?

How do you measure the comfort of a plane seat?

When it comes to relaxing at 35,000ft, one of the most important things to consider is the pitch.

This is the distance between the back of your seat and the back of the seat in front, including everything from leg room and the depth of the seatback structure and cushions to the tray table.

While there is an average that most airlines adhere to, each differs in how much they’re willing to give passengers.

Ryanair, for example, has a seat pitch of 30 inches, or 76cm. In comparison, Japan Airlines has a seat pitch of 34 inches, or 86cm.

It might not sound like a huge difference, but when you’re confined to a seat for hours on end, four inches can go a hell of a long way.

The economy seats across Japan Airlines’ fleet vary by aircraft. This is because two designers were commissioned to create them.

Still, the carrier has gone above and beyond to ensure their economy class seats are at the top of their game.

The seats are laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration, rather than the standard nine seats across, which gives each one an extra 5cm of space.

Plus, each is designed to be in an almost fixed reclining position, a real luxury for anyone who’s fallen victim to a budget airline back.

A good economy seat is about more than just dimensions

A comfy seat is one thing, but a good economy class experience involves a lot more than a functioning recliner.

Japan Airlines economy seats also include a charging point for all your technological needs, a 10.6-inch touchscreen monitor with a variety of audiobooks, movies, games, and TV series to browse, and – for all our Stanley Cup queens – a dedicated water bottle holder.

Alongside the traditional accessories pouch, there are also several pockets and storage spaces on the seatback for passengers’ personal items.

While not available on all Japan Airlines’ aircraft, some of the fleet also include ‘hammock’ style headrests that can be easily adjusted to support the neck.

If you’re interested in trialling one of these luxury perches yourself, Japan Airlines flies from London Gatwick and London Heathrow — with round-trip flights to Tokyo in the second week of May starting at £1,179.

And, because Japan Airlines is partnered with British Airways, you can use Avios points at checkout.

Talk about a win-win.

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