This Helpful Visual Shows How Legroom On Most Major Airlines Stacks Up

CNN

People are often loyal to specific airlines when booking air travel, for a variety of reasons. Some people prefer a certain kind of service, others want a free checked bag or to collect frequent flier miles, while most of us just look at the overall cost of airfare.

But for some people—especially those with long legs—the most important part of choosing an airline is how much legroom you get when you’re on the plane.

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The amount of legroom each airline provides isn’t necessarily common knowledge, and it can take some time to figure out which airline is your best bet.

This visual created by CNN gives you all the information you need in one place. Not only does it list how many inches of legroom you get with each airline (using information pulled from SeatGuru), it also expands and contracts to correspond with each airline so you can see how the space actually compares.

legroom-anim-030116
CNN

These are all measurements pulled from economy class seats on two common, comparable single-aisle aircraft: the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, according to CNN.

The quick takeaway? If you’re someone who really needs that extra space, you might want to avoid Spirit Airlines on your next flight and consider booking Jet Blue instead.

jetblue airline photo
Getty Images | Joe Raedle

Varying amounts of legroom isn’t the only thing that differentiates airlines. They also have different compensation policies for delayed or cancelled flights.

It’s important to note that you won’t be eligible for compensation for things like weather, air traffic control or equipment delays. Similarly, if you miss your flight because you showed up late to the airport, you shouldn’t expect a refund.

airport ticket counter photo
Getty Images | Scott Olson

However, if you get bumped from a flight, you should be compensated with points, vouchers or a refund. You may also be entitled to compensation for things like poor service, broken seats or environmental equipment, and airline delays not related to weather or air traffic control.

RELATED: How This Woman Is Getting Paid To Travel The World For An Entire Year

So, which airlines have the best policies when it comes to compensating passengers?

European airlines are obligated to refund passengers in many circumstances, as dictated by European Union regulations. As for U.S. airlines, Delta offers refunds for canceled flights. Southwest, which has a generous cancellation policy, lets passengers automatically rebook if flights are delayed or canceled.

southwest airlines photo
Getty Images | Scott Olson

JetBlue waives rebooking fees when flights are canceled because of weather, and customers may receive a credit for flight delays (credits range from $25 to $200 depending on the length of the delay). Alaska Air provides accommodations for travelers who get stuck more than 100 miles away from their homes because of a flight cancellation or delay.

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But if you really want to avoid the hassle of delays (whether or not the airline will compensate you), try to book flights with carriers known for being on time. In 2016, a company called OAG analyzed flight data to determine which are the most and least punctual airlines.

So, what did their results show?

delayed flight photo
Getty Images | Joe Raedle

The top spot went to Hawaiian Airlines, which is perfect because no one wants to be late for their tropical beach vacation! The second-most punctual airline is Copa Airlines, and KLM came in third place.

One American carrier did make the top 20 and that honor goes to Delta.

delta airlines photo
Getty Images | Joe Raedle

Now, if you’re truly looking to ease discomfort on your flights, you’ll want to check this out. Make your next flight more comfortable by doubling your armrest space! Here, we showcase a simple gadget that can end battles over those tiny little armrests between airplane seats.

Flying is often necessary, but not always the most comfortable. If you can use this information to make your plane trips easier, it’s a win!

[h/t: Mental Floss]

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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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