Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
50 New Routes Launching In September 2025
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Aviation sector faces steeper losses in FY26; passenger growth slows amid headwinds: ICRA - The Times of India
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike - Wikipedia
FAA EMAS: Proven Safety Wins Since 1996
Air Canada flight attendants try to build on US gains on unpaid work
Cathay Pacific warns of declining fares and cargo uncertainty, shares fall
Clear intentions, cloudy path: aviation's ongoing ESG challenge
Turkish Airlines is preparing binding offer for Spain's Air Europa, executive says
Air Canada flight attendants approve strike mandate
US criticizes use of AI to personalize airline ticket prices, would investigate
Ethiopian Airlines' annual revenue rises as it draws more passengers, adds routes
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department
United-JetBlue partnership gets US DOT approval
The aviation industry just got exactly what it wanted from Trump's EU deal
Allegiant Air leads among US ultra-low-cost airlines for most comfortable standard seating
Policy
Webp 21
Gregory C. Anderson, CEO | Allegiant Air

Ultra-low-cost airlines in the United States are often associated with tight seating and limited passenger comfort as they aim to keep operating costs and ticket prices low. However, passengers have options for improved comfort, including upgraded seat offerings on several carriers.

The main ultra-low-cost carriers in the U.S.—Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Avelo Airlines—each offer different seat configurations and upgrade packages.

Allegiant Air uses a single-class economy layout with seats that have a pitch between 28 and 30 inches and a width of about 17 to 17.5 inches. The seats do not recline, have minimal padding, and lack entertainment screens or power outlets. For more comfort, Allegiant offers Legroom + seats with up to 34 inches of pitch. The airline operates a fleet of 131 aircraft consisting of Airbus A319s, A320s, and Boeing 737 MAX 8 200s.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Frontier Airlines also features an all-economy class configuration on its Airbus A320 family fleet. Standard seat pitch ranges from 28 to 29 inches but can reach up to 32 inches on some rows in the A321 variant. Seat width is typically between 17 and 18 inches. Most standard seats do not recline and have minimal padding. Frontier offers Stretch seating with up to five extra inches of legroom in certain rows as well as an UpFront Plus product that blocks the middle seat for added space.

Spirit Airlines is known for offering less legroom than its competitors; standard seats average just 28 inches in pitch with widths between 16 and 17 inches. Seats are slim with little padding or recline capability. Since mid-2025, Spirit has introduced Go Comfy fare class seats near the front of the plane with four additional inches of legroom plus other perks like priority boarding. The Big Front Seats provide even more space at the front in a wider two-by-two arrangement.

Spirit's operations have been affected by ongoing Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine issues that led to grounded planes due to manufacturing defects requiring lengthy inspections and repairs. This situation forced Spirit to cancel flights, reduce capacity, delay growth plans into at least 2026, and impacted revenue significantly as engine turnaround times sometimes exceed one year. Financially strained since posting losses starting in 2020—and after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024—Spirit exited bankruptcy early in 2025 but warned it may not survive another year without new funding.

Avelo Airlines operates eight Boeing 737-700s and fourteen Boeing 737-800s but will begin receiving Embraer E195-E2 aircraft from 2027 onward for expanded service at smaller airports. Standard seat pitch is around 29 inches with a width of about 17 inches—slightly better than Spirit’s configuration. Avelo recently introduced Stretch (up to six extra inches of legroom) and Stretch+ (with blocked middle seat) options for added comfort.

When compared against major legacy airlines such as American Airlines (30–32 inch average seat pitch), Delta Air Lines (30–31 inch), and United Airlines (30–31 inch), ultra-low-cost carriers generally offer less space per passenger: Allegiant Air (28–30 inch), Frontier Airlines (28–29 inch), Spirit Airlines (28 inch), Avelo Airlines (29 inch).

According to the data reviewed, both Allegiant Air and Avelo Airlines provide similar average standard economy class seat pitches—around 29 inches—and allow passengers to purchase upgrades for more legroom if desired.

"However, taking into account Allegiant Air's more extensive route network, larger flight schedule, and variety of destinations served, this carrier seems to offer the best overall package."

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event will take place at the Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's Hotel in Brussels.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced a new partnership with Crunchyroll, the global anime streaming platform, to bring a curated selection of anime content to its flights.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has been recognized as one of the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women, marking its return to the list since 2019.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines marked its 100th anniversary by serving as the official airline of the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston.

Oct 23, 2025

American Airlines has announced that it will upgrade its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with new Flagship Suites, the airline's latest business-class product.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce a new in-flight dining partnership with Chef José Andrés, bringing Spanish-inspired cuisine to select cabins starting November 4.

Oct 23, 2025