What Airlines to Use and Avoid When Traveling in Coach and Economy Class

With so many airlines offering flights in the continental United States, it can be hard to figure out which is best for your needs. Where some economy options for airlines excel, others fail to meet even the most basic standards or expectations. Be it the average seat pitch, row length, legroom space, or width, it can be easy to get stuck in an uncomfortable seat for an hours-long journey. While some airlines are the best for traveling in coach/economy class, others are the worst.

Overall, the problem with airlines these days is it's a seller's market. As the only game in town, all airlines have the benefit of scarcity working on their side. People need to get across the country and have no recourse except to fly the often paltry offerings. While air travel seems more like a public utility, it functions as a business. This means customers are often left with little choice but to accept the often abysmal offerings and benefits. While some airlines go above and beyond to provide comfort and benefits to their passengers like Delta Airlines, others like Spirit or Allegiant Airlines function more like a cattle call than trusted airline. In this article, we will explore the best and worst airlines for traveling in coach/economy class. (For more unbecoming airline behavior, discover airlines with the most delayed and canceled flights.)

To compile a list of the best and worst airlines for traveling in Coach/Economy Class, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of finance, lifestyle, and travel publications and websites including Reddit.com, Yahoo! Finance, and The Motley Fool. Next, we selected the best and worst airlines based on specific criteria including reliability, affordability, and seat pitch. After that, we confirmed aspects of the list using sites like The Points Guy and Condé Nast Traveler.

One of the best airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Delta Airlines. Using The Points Guy analysis of the best airlines, Delta scored high marks across the board in terms of reliability, experience, loyalty, and reach. While it may be less affordable than other airlines on this list, Delta still takes the cake in terms of everything else. Furthermore, Delta's average seat pitch for economy seats sits at an unselfish 31 to 32 inches, giving you plenty of room to spread out. While Delta's reputation has waxed and waned over the years, recently it's elevated its status to become one of the better airlines for traveling in coach or economy seating.

Another one of the best airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Southwest Airlines. Known as the casual, fun airline, Southwest doesn't skimp on its services. Besides excellent service, a formidable rewards program, and reasonable baggage fees, Southwest economy seats feature a solid 31 inches of seat pitch. While Southwest takes a more hands-off approach to the process of boarding and traveling, this doesn't detract from their solid customer service, comfort, and ample rewards for continued travelers.

Another one of the best airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is United Airlines. Professional opinion on United Coach class differs depending on your source. Some rate it as excellent while others consider it abysmal. It's hard to say, considering United Airlines flies hundreds of flights across the country every day. Your experience riding a United flight may come down to the type of airplane and route schedule. Nevertheless, United features an extensive route network and plenty of perks for frequent flyers. Furthermore, their economy seat pitches range between 30 and 31 inches.

Another one of the best airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Alaska Airlines. While Alaska fairs poorly in some sectors, its flight route network continues to grow. Though it started as primarily a service for the Pacific Northwest, the airline has expanded its offerings to include more easterly states and even Hawaii. Plus, the airline features some solid rewards/frequent flyer perks. While the average seat pitch starts at 31 inches, the width of said seats is considerably thinner than most, clocking in at 17 inches wide. For that reason, it fails to make the grade for the best airline when flying economy or coach class, but it does pretty well in the rankings regardless.

Another one of the best airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is American Airlines. Arguably the worst of the best airlines for flying economy, American Airlines has slowly but surely restricted options. If you fly economy on American you'll be treated to restrictions/fees on baggage, boarding order, seating, and the ability to make changes to aspects of your ticket. While their seats feature between 30 and 31 inches of pitch, with many including video screens, the perks end there. Recently, American Airlines made it so American Airlines AAdvantage members are no longer eligible for earnings on basic economy seats. Plus, if you bring a carry-on bag or change your seat at the last minute, it will cost you.

One of the worst airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Allegiant Airlines. As per The Points Guy's analysis of the best and worst airlines, Allegiant sits firmly in last place. While their economy seats feature a pitch of 30 inches, the benefits stop there. The airline has developed a reputation for the worst service in terms of punctuality, frequent flyer perks, family accommodations, and cancellations.

Another one of the worst airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Frontier Airlines. Frankly, there's not much to say in terms of benefits when flying Frontier. While the airline satisfies its mission as one of the premier ultra-affordable airlines, it leaves considerable room for improvement in practically every other aspect. For one, economy passengers are wedged into seats with a paltry pitch of 28 inches. This makes it one of the worst airlines in terms of average legroom. Besides that, basically, every aspect of choice is pay-by-play. To select a seat, Frontier charges you. If you decide to spring for the stretch seating option, the airline charges you $16 per leg. Beyond that, the airline nickels and dimes you the rest of the way. You'll be paying add-on fees for any perks. These include snacks, drinks, and carry-on luggage.

Another one of the worst airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaii is a premier destination for American travelers, so it's no surprise an airline popped up to fill that need. It's unfortunate, however, that Hawaiian Airlines doesn't meet or surpass the mark at all. While the airline economy seats feature a more ample seat pitch which averages between 30 and 31 inches, the perks stop there. There's not much in the way of quality customer service, perks for frequent flyers, or a sense of an overall good experience. If possible, try to find a different airline when making your grand trip to the Hawaiian islands. (For other Hawaii information, discover 20 things Hawaii is known for.)

Another one of the worst airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is Spirit Airlines. Much like Frontier, Spirit Airlines bills itself as one of the best ultra-affordable airlines. As such, it skimps on basically every perked that can be offered. It features paltry seat pitches of 28 inches, which makes it an airline with some of the skinniest rows in the sky. Sure, you're seat will be cheap but that's for a reason. Riding a Spirit Airlines plane is the equivalent of riding a municipal bus. There are no beverages or snacks, and no onboard Wi-Fi. What's worse, Spirit Airlines seats don't even recline. Unless you're desperate, Spirit Airlines should be avoided at all costs.

Another one of the worst airlines for traveling Coach/Economy class is JetBlue. At the turn of the millennium, JetBlue made its name by offering direct flights across the country while featuring live and cable TV for every passenger. In recent years, however, the airline has seemed to rest on its laurels a fair amount. While it offers arguably the best seat pitch of any of the worst airlines for economy and coach class, clocking in at 32 to 33 inches, it offers little else in the way of benefits. Besides mixed reviews regarding their customer service, JetBlue charges far too much for its baggage fees. (For more businesses that earn their customers' ire, discover 25 famous companies that make customers really mad.)