The Most Comfortable Airlines in the US - AirAdvisor Ranking 2026
Explore the most comfortable US airlines with the 2026 overall rating by AirAdvisor. Get to know the top 5 airlines for comfort in the USA for an enjoyable flight.
If you're planning a flight, you've probably wondered which is the most comfortable airline in the US. This is especially important for long-distance flights, and so our team set out to determine the best airline to use when comfort is of the utmost importance. To come up with our AirAdvisor Airline Comfort Score, we reviewed:
- 9 different US-based airlines.
- 5 comfort factors: seat comfort, in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi, complimentary food and beverages, and the availability of comfort items, like blankets and pillows.
Some of the results may surprise you. Budget airlines don't have to be uncomfortable, and some of the larger airlines fall short in some categories.
Key findings
- Overall, Delta is the most comfortable airline in the USA for 2026.
- 6 out of 9 US airlines offer free Wi-Fi for rewards club members.
- The least comfortable US airlines are Allegiant and Frontier.
- JetBlue is the most comfortable discount airline.
- 7 out of 9 US airlines reviewed have some form of in-flight entertainment.
Top 5 Most Comfortable Airlines in the US
It's important to note that each airline we reviewed has multiple different kinds of planes, so we used the averages to determine which airline has the biggest seats and the most legroom, the presence of seatback screens or other in-flight entertainment, and the availability or cost of Wi-Fi. In every case, we looked only at economy class.
Across the US airline industry, the seat width standard is 17", and the seat pitch (also known as legroom) standard is 30-32". Seat pitch is measured from any point on one seat to the same spot on another seat, either directly in front or behind it.
#1 Delta Air Lines
For overseas flights and even short-haul ones where you want to be comfortable, Delta Airlines is the overall winner. Delta scores well for seat comfort, with its seats anywhere from 17.2" to 18.5" wide. The legroom is bang on average and is typically between 30" and 32".
Delta also offers complimentary refreshments on any flight over 350 miles, and while this isn't necessarily a meal, you'll be provided with a non-alcoholic beverage and a light snack at a minimum.
Blankets and pillows are available at no charge on long-haul international trips, and the in-flight entertainment is top-notch. You can even watch live news and sporting events on most domestic flights. The Wi-Fi on board is free for SkyMiles members (also free to join).
#2 JetBlue Airways
When you want to know which company has the widest airline seats (on average), look no further than JetBlue. The carrier's seats are always from 17.8" to 18.4" wide, with the best seat pitch in the industry: 32" to 34".
JetBlue comes second for its other perks, including free Wi-Fi „at every seat on every plane," free snacks and drinks, and an enviable entertainment system. The only place it falls short is in the availability of comfort items. It has them, but you have to pay extra.
But where JetBlue lands in first place is on our 2026 list of the best airlines in the US.
#3 American Airlines
American Airlines does a lot of things right. They offer comfort items, and Wi-Fi is available for free for AAdvantage members. 90% of American's fleet is equipped with Wi-Fi currently.
As the largest airline in the world by fleet size, let's have a look at the comfort conditions in the typical American Airlines cabins. The average seat pitch meets the industry standard of between 30" and 32", but you have a chance at getting a fairly narrow seat. The carrier's fleet has planes where the seat width can be as small as 16.2". Most of the time, seats will have a width of around 17.5".
American Airlines also provides in-flight entertainment and free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks on flights over 250 miles and meals on long-distance international flights.
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#4 Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines doesn't have the widest airline seats or the most legroom, but they are generally within the industry averages. Seats range from 16.8" to 18" in width in economy, and the seat pitch is typically 31".
If you're taking a long-haul flight with Hawaiian Airlines between Hawaii and Australia or a longer red-eye flight, the airline provides a complimentary blanket. Hawaiian Airlines has an in-flight entertainment system with screens on the seat backs on most flights or a network that you access using your own device, depending on the aircraft.
Speaking of entertainment, there's free access to Wi-Fi for US and international destinations for Atmos Rewards members.
You can also expect free non-alcoholic beverages and a snack on all flights. Starting July 1, 2026, Hawaiian Airlines will no longer offer complimentary meals for flights between Hawaii and the US mainland. Now, passengers need to pre-order and pay between $10.99 and $16.99 for the meal they want.
#5 United Airlines
United Airlines has some planes with a very narrow 16" seat width, with their economy seats maxing out at 17.3". The seat pitch is reasonable and is within the average, between 30" and 31". Wi-Fi is available on most flights. The cost starts at $8 for MileagePlus members and starts at $10 for everyone else on domestic and short-haul international flights (like Mexico). The prices increase as your flight gets longer.
Non-alcoholic drinks are free on all of United's flights, and even alcoholic beverages are included on trans-Atlantic flights and other select routes. Every flight over 300 miles also qualifies for free snacks.
Add this to the comfort items and an enviable selection of movies, TV shows, and over 100 live TV channels, and United has a lot going for it. The main reason it's in the 5th position is that even reward club members have to pay for Wi-Fi.
The Next 4 Most Comfortable US Airlines
As we move down the list, we'll encounter more airlines that fall short in some categories. All but one are discount airlines, which makes sense - you trade a bit of comfort and some extra services for a cheaper fare.
#6 Southwest Airlines
For comfort (other than JetBlue), Southwest Airlines is our highest-ranking low-cost carrier. It's also among the safest airlines in the US. Southwest Airlines has a generous average seat width of 17.5" and a seat pitch to match that hovers between 31" and 33".
Wi-Fi on board is free for Rapid Rewards members; otherwise, it costs $8 per device.
As for the in-flight entertainment, Southwest does it a bit differently. You use your own device to access their entertainment portal and watch everything from there on flights without Starlink Wi-Fi. If the aircraft has Wi-Fi, the entertainment isn't operational, and you need to use the free Wi-Fi to access your own entertainment. To make sure you get the free Wi-Fi, sign up as a Rapid Rewards member before your flight.
Southwest doesn't rate higher because it does not offer comfort items, even if you're willing to pay extra. In fact, they stopped offering these back in 2009, even on international flights. The only good thing is that if you need this type of comfort, a small blanket plus a pillow can count collectively as your personal item.
#7 Alaska Airlines
The average width of an Alaska Airlines seat is a respectable 17" with a seat pitch of 31". The carrier also offers free Wi-Fi for Atmos members. Since Hawaiian Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Alaska Air Group, it makes sense that they share a rewards system.
There are no seatback screens on Alaska Airlines flights, but you can stream using your own device at no charge. The in-flight entertainment system won't be available on short or regional flights, though.
Free non-alcoholic drinks are provided on trips over 350 miles. There are complimentary meals on international flights.
#8 Allegiant Air - Worst Airline for Comfort
Simply put, the Allegiant Air seats aren't bad. They average a pitch of 31" and a width of 16.5" to 17". Perfectly acceptable but not all that comfortable. There is no Wi-Fi, complimentary refreshments, blankets, or in-flight entertainment, which is why this airline is tied for last place.
#8 Frontier Airlines - Also Last Place
It's a shame that Frontier Airlines ranks so low on the AirAdvisor Airline Comfort Score because the carrier tops the list of the cheapest airlines in the US. But that low price obviously comes at a cost. None of their flights have Wi-Fi, in-flight entertainment, or comfort items. Any food or drinks are purchased. The seat pitch is also below average at 28" to 30".
On the flip side, Frontier is one of the airlines with the widest middle seats. They recognize that it's no fun to sit in the middle, so those are typically 19.1" wide. Overall, the seat width average is 18".
Comfort on Long-Haul Flights
The further you travel on a flight, the more important comfort becomes. Which international airline has the most comfortable economy seats in the US? That depends. Technically, any flight that leaves the US is an international one. What we set out to determine is, more specifically, which US airline has the most comfortable seats for long-haul and overseas flights.
Delta is a solid choice for long-distance flights as the minimum seat width is usually 17.2". JetBlue is also worth consideration since, on average, they have the widest airline seats in economy class. The only caveat is that they don't fly to very many overseas destinations - mainly the UK, Dublin, Paris CDG, and Amsterdam from New York's JFK Airport and Boston Logan Airport.
And remember that AirAdvisor is here to help if your international flight is canceled or you encounter a delay. We can make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
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AirAdvisor US Comfort Rating - Top 9 Airlines Ranked
Overall rank | Airline | Seat comfort | Wi-Fi | Free snacks & drinks | Comfort items | In-flight entertainment |
1 | Delta Air Lines | Yes | Yes (free for SkyMiles members) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2 | JetBlue Airways | Yes | Yes (free) | Yes | Yes - for purchase | Yes |
3 | American Airlines | Yes | Yes (free for AAdvantage members) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
4 | Hawaiian Airlines | Yes | Yes (free for Atmos members) | Yes | Yes - select routes | Yes |
5 | United Airlines | Yes | Yes ($8 for MileagePlus members - otherwise $10+) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
6 | Southwest Airlines | Yes | Yes (free for Rapid Rewards members) | Yes | No | Yes - own device |
7 | Alaska Airlines | Yes | Yes (free for Atmos members) | Yes | No | Yes - own device |
8 | Allegiant Air | No | No | No | No | No |
8 | Frontier Airlines | No | No | No | No | No |
Our Criteria and Methodology
The 5 comfort categories we took into account are:
- Seat comfort: The width and pitch (legroom) provided on average in the main cabin's economy class.
- Wi-Fi: Is Wi-Fi available on the carrier's flights? And if so, what is the cost? Free and lower-cost Wi-Fi rank higher.
- Complimentary food and beverages: Whether or not free refreshments are provided, and the distance thresholds to trigger them.
- Comfort items: Are pillows and blankets available? If yes, and they're free, they rank higher than those available for purchase and those without.
- In-flight entertainment: Is there an in-flight entertainment system available, whether using seatback screens or a portal that uses your personal device? More points are given to those with seatback systems to avoid the inconvenience of bringing (and charging) your own device.
Comfortable US Airlines for 2026
The next time you book a flight and want to be comfortable, use the AirAdvisor Airline Comfort Score to guide you. You can prioritize individual factors, like which airline has the biggest seats or complimentary refreshments, or take an overall view and book with either Delta or JetBlue, depending on your destination. At the very least, even if you choose an airline lower on our list, you'll know more about what to expect.
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FAQ
Which airline has the widest seats?
On average, the US airline with the widest seats is JetBlue. Passengers can expect an average width between 17.8" and 18.4" in economy class.
Which US airline offers the most legroom?
JetBlue tops the US airline legroom list with an average seat pitch of between 32" and 34". Seat pitch is a term used to convey legroom, as it's the distance from one arbitrary point on a seat to that exact same point on the seat directly in front or behind it.
Which airline has the least amount of legroom?
Anyone with long legs will want to avoid Frontier Airlines if possible. Their seat pitch is only 28" to 30", whereas the industry standard is 30" to 32". Those 2 to 4 inches can really make a difference!
Who has the most comfortable airline seats?
For overall comfort, Delta Air Lines ranks first for 2026 thanks to strong scores across all five categories - seat width, legroom, comfort items, in-flight entertainment, and complimentary refreshments.
Author:
Amy LancelotteJob/Position: Senior Writer & Content Creator
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with more than seven years of experience producing research-driven articles for global audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
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