One of the biggest complaints of passengers on commercial economy flights is the lack of legroom. Because airlines need to transport as many passengers as possible on flights, they pack as many seats as they can in their airplanes. This means that here is not a lot of leg room for passengers in economy class because the seats are so close together.
The amount of room between seats it referred to as pitch, and it varies widely between airplanes and airlines. If you are looking for the most legroom it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the pitch of each major airline. With this information you will be able to plan a more comfortable flight.
If you can afford to travel first class, also known as business class, you are assured much more legroom than you economy counterparts, usually more than twice as much. The amount of room and comfort is the reason that business class tickets cost so much and if you are going to pay a premium you should get the most for your money.
US Airways have the most legroom in their business class seats with a very roomy 94 inches of space for travelers. American Airlines has the next roomiest business class with 89 inches of legroom and United Airlines is a close third with 88 inches. Business class is by far the most comfortable way to fly but most casual travelers cannot afford it. Premium economy is another comfortable solution.
Many airlines have premium economy seats which are more expensive and roomier than the cramped economy class but less expensive than business class. On average you get about 20 extra inches in premium economy than economy class, and although 20inches does not sound like much it can make the difference between being able to stretch out or having to keep your legs tightly folded.
American Airlines has some of the roomiest premium economy seats with 59 inches of space. The other major carriers, US airways, United Airlines and Continental Airlines give premium economy passengers 55 inches of legroom.
Even if you have to fly economy class you can still do your homework so that you get the roomiest ride. The major carriers allot 31-33 inches of space for legroom in their economy seating section although if you get a seat behind the bulkhead you may get a few inches more.
It is important to stretch your legs during long flights to keep the blood flowing and prevent a very serious complication that can occur called deep vein thrombosis or DVT which is a blood clot that forms in the leg because of the lack of movement. Always get up and stretch your legs for a few minutes for every hour you fly. This condition is sometimes known as economy class syndrome because it most commonly affects people who are sitting in confined spaces for hours at a time.
If you have to take a long flight make sure you get the most comfortable seat. Knowing which airlines have the most room will allow you to choose a flight that will be comfortable and enjoyable.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/finding-the-most-legroom-for-your-flight-710840.html