Cardboard Thin? The Ultra-Low-Cost Airline With The Most Comfortable Seat

Ultra-low-cost carriers across the US are known for their limited legroom, having sacrificed some passenger comforts in order to keep operating costs, and therefore, ticket prices, as low as possible. However, that does not always mean that passengers need to suffer in discomfort, as there are plenty of options available, and even some great-value upgrade packages to consider.

In this article, we will take a look at the seats found onboard some of the country’s largest ultra-low-cost carriers – Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Avelo Air, to determine which one is likely to offer the most comfortable ride for passengers. We will also consider the airlines in the context of the wider commercial aviation industry.

Allegiant Air

Let’s start with Allegiant Air. This airline’s passenger seats are designed with simplicity and cost efficiency in mind, reflecting the airline’s ultra-low-cost business model, and all the carrier’s flights offer a single-class economy layout, typically arranged in a 3-3 seating configuration.

Standard seats feature a seat pitch of between 28 and 30 inches, which is relatively tight compared to legacy carriers but typical for ultra-low-cost carriers. The seat width on Allegiant Air’s aircraft is around 17 to 17.5 inches, and none of the seats recline, allowing the airline to squeeze in an extra few rows. Seat padding is minimal, and there are no seat-back entertainment screens or power outlets, so passengers need to bring their own devices and chargers for inflight use.

All of the above features together mean that passenger comfort may be limited, particularly on longer flights. Allegiant Air’s longest flight is currently on the 2,034-mile route between Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). For those looking for a little more comfort, Allegiant Air offers a slightly upgraded economy class product called Legroom +. These seats feature an increased pitch of up to 34 inches, but everything else remains the same as their standard equivalents.

The latest data from ch-aviation shows that Allegiant Air currently has a total of 131 aircraft in its fleet comprising three different aircraft types: 31 Airbus A319s, 84 Airbus A320s, and 16 Boeing 737 MAX 8 200s. The latter is Allegiant Air’s highest-capacity aircraft, capable of carrying up to 190 passengers. As more 737 MAXs join the carrier’s fleet over the coming years, they are set to replace the older Airbus A320s.

Frontier Airlines

As one would expect from an ultra-low-cost carrier, Frontier Airlines also uses an all-economy class configuration on its fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, typically in a 3-3 layout. Standard seat pitch typically ranges from 28 to 29 inches on most aircraft, but it increases slightly to up to 32 inches on some rows onboard the A321. Seat width is also an industry standard, typically ranging from 17 to 18 inches.

Just like Allegiant Air, most of Frontier Airlines’ standard seats do not recline and have minimal padding, often leading to complaints from passengers on longer flights. One of the carrier’s longest flights is currently the 2,248-mile service between Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

However, Frontier Airlines does offer more comfort with its Stretch seating. This product is found in the front row and overwing exit row, providing up to five inches of extra legroom thanks to the location of the emergency exits. Frontier Airlines also has an UpFront Plus product, which allows passengers to block the middle seat in the first two rows for additional comfort, space, and privacy.

Frontier Airlines currently operates a fleet of 163 Airbus A320 family aircraft, spread across the following variants:

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines has a reputation for being one of the least generous ultra-low-cost carriers in the US when it comes to legroom, and the numbers speak for themselves – the carrier has an average seat pitch of just 28 inches and an average width of between 16 and 17 inches. The airlines’ standard seats are also slim, with minimal padding, basic headrests, relatively little recline, and tight legroom.

Because of the tight spacing and slim profile of standard seats, taller passengers often find these flights somewhat uncomfortable, especially on longer journeys. The space under the seat in front tends to be limited, and there’s little wiggle room for stretching. All of these factors help Spirit Airlines to keep its costs low, but they come with noticeable tradeoffs in comfort.

However, Spirit Airlines has recently introduced a number of significant improvements in passenger comfort. Since mid‑2025, the carrier has rolled out a new Go Comfy fare class, which includes an extra four inches of legroom. These seats are located near the front of the aircraft and include a number of other perks such as priority boarding and reserved overhead locker space. Spirit Airlines also offers Big Front Seats, which are wider, have up to 11 inches of extra legroom compared to a standard seat, and are located at the front of the cabin in a 2-2 configuration.

Spirit Airlines operates a large fleet of 195 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including 91 A320neos and 32 A321neos, as shown in the table below:

However, the carrier has been severely impacted by Pratt & Whitney’s ongoing PW1100G engine issues. A manufacturing defect in the engine’s powdered metal components forced Pratt & Whitney to recall and inspect hundreds of engines, grounding a significant portion of Spirit Airlines’ fleet. As a result, the carrier has had to cancel flights, reduce capacity, and delay growth plans, and this is expected to continue well into 2026 due to long turnaround times (sometimes over 400 days) for engine inspections and repairs.

Financially, Spirit Airlines has received up to $195 million in credits and compensation from Pratt & Whitney to offset the impact of grounded planes. However, the disruption has significantly affected revenue and forced the carrier to reconsider future deliveries and staffing levels. The airline has recently faced financial issues, having not generated a profit since 2019 and having accumulated billions in losses since 2020. In November 2024, Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure its debts and operations. Since exiting bankruptcy in early 2025, the carrier has warned that it may not survive another year without additional cash. Its ongoing woes with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G engines will not help this challenging situation.

Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines operates an all-Boeing fleet, made up of eight 737-700s and 14 737-800s. However, that will change from 2027 onwards, when the carrier takes delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The new aircraft will allow Avelo Airlines to serve smaller airports, improve fuel efficiency, and expand its route network.

Avelo Airlines’ standard seats are slimline, with a typical pitch of around 29 inches and a width of 17 inches. This configuration is standard for an ultra-low-cost carrier, although still more generous than that found onboard Spirit Airlines.

To address passenger demand for more legroom and space, Avelo Airlines has recently introduced two upgraded seat categories – Stretch and Stretch+. The Stretch option provides passengers with up to six inches of extra legroom, while Avelo Airlines’ Stretch+ product ensures that the middle seat is blocked, adding to the sense of space and privacy.

Avelo Airlines is unique in that its operations focus primarily on underserved regional airports and secondary US towns and cities. The carrier’s operating bases include Tweed New Haven Regional (HVN), Wilmington International Airport (ILM), and Bradley International Airport (BDL). The carrier’s base at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is set to close in October 2025.

How Do They Compare With the US Big 3?

For comparison, the table below outlines the average seat pitch found in a standard economy class seat onboard the US’s primary ultra-low-cost carriers and its three largest legacy airlines – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines:

The Most Comfortable Seat

As the previous table shows, the ultra-low-cost carrier with the most generous average seat pitch is a toss-up between Allegiant Air and Avelo Airlines. Both airlines offer an average seat pitch of around 29 inches in their standard economy class seats. They also both give passengers the chance to purchase a slightly upgraded economy class product, providing a small amount of extra legroom, which can make all the difference on a longer flight.

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.