Which airline has the most legroom?

[mousy_in_canada]

I am looking to book a flight, but I have major issues with my legs, I have to stretch them out. I find that even driving over 1 hour causes major pain. Do you know which airline would be the best for me? I am wondering with a Doctors note or a noted disability on the reservation if I would be able to get the exit row, which I think has more legroom but what about one of the larger airlines... would I be able to upgrade to business class without paying the higher charge? Is there more legroom there? I am concerned about flying and my pain levels but I don't think driving 20+ hours would be good either! I am not sure I want to be drugged to the hilt, that would not make a nice flight for me lol.
Any thoughts of suggestions as to which airline I should look into?

 

[twinklebug]

seatguru.com shows the width and pitch (legroom) for all the airlines.

 

[crashbb]

I second using seat guru.

To answer your other questions - having a doctor's note or claiming a disability to get an exit row, may actually backfire on you. Most airlines will not allow someone with a disability to sit in the exit row. Many airlines allow you to pre-select these seats (for a fee) or hold them until airport check-in (when it is free).

Business class usually has more leg room, but you'd have to pay to upgrade to business class.

I see you are in Canada, do you plan to drive to the US and fly from there or are you flying directly from Canada?

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I always drive to Buffalo and then fly from there. It saves about $400 per ticket!
Good point about the exit row and a disability! never thought of that! My husband is able bodied but I think the exit row is just that.. a row so I may not qualify for it if I mention that I don't walk well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I just flew AirTran for first time. I am 6' 6" and do need legroom, just physically, if not for comfort. I did upgrade to business class at online checkin time, was not too costly. And now with the gift certificate promotion (see another thread in this forum), you could wind up with little or no out of pocket for the upgrade.

 

[DVC Grammy]

IMO, the bulkhead seats have the most room, SWA definitely. If you can get to a SW airport, you can get a pre-boarding pass, and you'll be among the first to board (if you also have a dr's note stating your absolute need for the legroom, they may "reserve" it for you when you get your pre-board pass).
I have found that JetBlue also has more legroom than many others, and with JB, I believe you can purchase an even roomier seat, possibly the bulkhead (using the dr's note again).
I see you're in Canada, so I don't know if either of these airlines is feasible for you.
Good luck.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I noticed my NorthWest flight had a lot of leg room.

 

[SnackyStacky]

IMO, the bulkhead seats have the most room, SWA definitely. If you can get to a SW airport, you can get a pre-boarding pass, and you'll be among the first to board (if you also have a dr's note stating your absolute need for the legroom, they may "reserve" it for you when you get your pre-board pass).
I have found that JetBlue also has more legroom than many others, and with JB, I believe you can purchase an even roomier seat, possibly the bulkhead (using the dr's note again).
I see you're in Canada, so I don't know if either of these airlines is feasible for you.
Good luck.

jetBlue actually has about 5 or 6 rows in the front with "more leg room". They're also one of those airlines where you can purchase the exit row seat in advance. Both the extra leg room seats, and the exit row are $20 more per seat, per flight. So if you have a layover both to Orlanod, and on the way back, it's going to be $80 per person r/t for the seats. ($20 for home to connection, $20 for connection to MCO, $20 for MCO to connection, $20 for connection to home)

 

[prncess674]

Legroom and cheap do not generally go together. Booking business class will usually cost at a minimum 2 to 3 times the average economy class ticket. United sells the front section of economy as "economy plus" and it has a few additional inches of legroom. The only way to prebook these seats is to be a United elite or buy a full fare econmy ticket which could easily run $1,000 from Canada to Orlando. They will open them up for a small upgrade fee at the 24 hour mark but there is no guarantee that there will be any available at the 24 hour mark since full fare and elite members may have snagged them already.

Your best bet is to just book the ticket you can afford and an aisle seat. Get up frequently and walk up and down the aisle to stretch your legs.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

Although the first several rows on Jet Blue have "even more leg room", even the rest of the JB seats have more legroom than standard coach seats.

Between that and the TV's, I'd fly Jet Blue all the time if I could.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Any thoughts of suggestions as to which airline I should look into?

This thread offers excellent advice.

What you're looking for is called seat pitch. That's the distance between rows of seats. The higher the number, the better it is. Depending on your height, you're likely to be wedged into your seat with 31" seat pitch, with no knee room and very little ability to move your legs. A 38" seat pitch offers substantially more ability to adjust your legs.

I agree that JetBlue Airways offers an excellent product with "Even More Legroom" for a reasonable additional price.

See http://www.jetblue.com/about/ourcompany/150seats/index.asp

Economy Plus on United is not as good at JetBlue's "Even More Legroom," but it's still better than the 31" and 32" seat pitch often found in economy class.

You might want to get an aisle seat. That way, you can get up and walk back to the lavatory several times (even if you don't need to use lavatory), without making other people get out of their seats each time. That can help.

Finally, I don't think you'll get anywhere with a doctor's note. The airline won't give you a free upgrade to first class / business class. And, as already noted in this thread, the airline is likely to consider the note to be evidence of a "physical impairment" that would actually disqualify you from the exit row.

 

[Lewisc]

SW doesn't allow passengers who take advantage of medical pre-boarding to select seats in the exit row.

Taking an aisle seat and planning on leaving your seat makes sense. How long is your flight? You might consider a booking a connecting flight.

PP are correct. A doctors note isn't likely to help.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Thank you so much for all the advice on this thread!
My flight is 2.5 hours long and that is from Buffalo to Orlando. I thought that you were not allowed to wander the isles.. so going to the washroom many times is a good idea. As far as my height, I am 5 foot 6, and I have long legs and a shorter torso, so as a result I found the SWA flight last time to be cramped and this was before my disability.. I think it would be a lot of pain now.
Thanks again for all the great advice. I appreciate it.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My flight is 2.5 hours long and that is from Buffalo to Orlando. I thought that you were not allowed to wander the isles.. so going to the washroom many times is a good idea.

I think you're in luck because JetBlue Airways offers nonstop service from Buffalo to Orlando.

As far as my height, I am 5 foot 6, and I have long legs and a shorter torso, so as a result I found the SWA flight last time to be cramped and this was before my disability.. I think it would be a lot of pain now.

Southwest, with 32"-33" seat pitch, is actually one of the better airlines.

Many airlines maximize the number of seats in economy with a 31" seat pitch. For example, on United, if you're not in Economy Plus, 31" is what you normally get.

Even one or two extra inches can make a difference. I'm 6' 2" so for me two inches is the difference between a negative one inch of space between my knees and the seat in front of me and a positive one inch between my knees and the seat in front of me.

 

[atigeg]

FYI

Westjet is flying direct from Toronto to Orlando with SW type fares

 

[So_Money]

Jetblue

 

[mousy_in_canada]

That may be true.. and westjet (from what I hear) is nice.. but it is the taxes that kill us up here.. in fact you can get a $69 flight that turns into $300 + because of the taxes. I find it much more economical to fly out of Buffalo.

 

[MAH4546]

JetBlue has the most average coach legroom among U.S. airlines.

FYI

Westjet is flying direct from Toronto to Orlando with SW type fares

And Canada-type taxes.