Hidden Treasures in Coach: The Hunt for the Perfect Seat Continues

Some estimates put the number of Americans who are clinically obese at one in five. And in a country where people are growing bigger and bigger, airplane seats seem to be shrinking at an alarming rate.

According to Fromers.com’s Sascha Segan, the standard U.S. airline seat is now 17 inches wide, with between 30-32 inches of legroom. That causes a lot of problems for taller and wider folks, as well as their seat mates.

But don’t despair, Segan gives her readers a hefty list of the last secret places where you can still get decent leg room, even in coach. I’ve picked the best tips below.

For $299 a year, you can join the Economy Plus club at United. The seats are still 17″ wide, but they have 35″ of leg room. And once you hit the 25,000 mile mark on United, membership in the Economy Plus club is free.

Rows 13-25 on most JetBlue planes are 17.8″ wide with 34″ of seat pitch.

When in doubt, snag the exit row.

For international flights, Air New Zealand, Asiana, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airlines all offer 34″ of seat pitch in coach.

Check with SeatGuru before booking any flight. You’ll be sure to get the best seat on the aircraft, no matter where you’re flying.