Extra Legroom Seats 2025: The Cheapest and Most Expensive Airlines Revealed

A recent Senate investigation that was published in Business Traveler found that United, Spirit, Delta, Frontier, and American Airlines collectively generated billions from seat fees, with extra legroom seats among the priciest charges. In 2023, United led the industry, earning $1.3 billion from seat fees alone and charging up to $319 for extra legroom. The same publication said:

“Five of the nation’s largest airlines raked in more than $15.7 billion in seat fees between 2018 and 2023, a new Senate investigation has revealed, as it slammed American  Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier, and Spirit for nickel and diming travelers with complex and hidden fees.”

On a different note, an analysis done by Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) revealed that the most expensive airlines for extra legroom seats are from Europe. The same report also revealed some of the cheapest airlines for legroom seat prices for 2025. Let’s find out.

Carriers whose Extra Legroom Seat Prices Have Decreased

Extra-Legroom Economy Seats: Airline Comparison

Carriers whose Extra Legroom Seat Prices Have Heavily Increased

The following chart gives us a comparison between the different airlines involved:

Selecting Extra Legroom Seats in Airlines where whose prices have heavily increased

KLM provides two options: “Economy Comfort” seats at the front of Economy with extra pitch and recline, and true “Extra Legroom” seats located at exit rows. Virgin Atlantic labels extra-legroom rows behind Premium Economy or at bulkheads; passengers on standard fares can pay to upgrade, while “Economy Delight” fares include these seats automatically.

SAS allows booking of exit rows over the wings or at the front of the cabin for more legroom, while British Airways (BA) requires selection of exit-row seats during booking, which are clearly indicated on their seat maps. Across all carriers, the key is to select seats explicitly marked for extra legroom during booking or shortly afterward, either via the airline’s website or manage-booking portal.

When selecting extra-legroom seats, most airlines focus on exit rows or dedicated front-of-cabin zones. Air New Zealand passengers should choose “Exit Row Seats” for more legroom, particularly on long-haul flights. Air France offers “Seat Plus” options, typically at bulkheads or exit rows, guaranteeing additional pitch. Aer Lingus similarly highlights exit-row seats, which require passengers to meet age and mobility requirements.

Extra-Legroom Economy Seat Prices by Airline

These Carriers Have Seen a Moderate Rise in the

Extra Legroom Seat Prices (≤20%)

Extra-legroom economy seats across airlines are primarily located in exit rows and front-of-cabin rows, with small variations depending on aircraft and airline model. The differences emerge mainly in pricing, booking flexibility, and bundled perks rather than the amount of space itself.

Network carriers such as American Airlines, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines have kept fare increases modest:

• Prices generally rise with flight length: short-haul routes range from £15–£50, long-haul routes exceed £100.

• Seats are often selectable at booking or later via Manage Booking/Trips, with elite loyalty members sometimes gaining free or discounted access.

• Unsold seats may occasionally be claimed at online check-in, though availability is limited.

Here’s how you can book Extra-Legroom Economy Seats in these airlines:

The following table gives us a comparison of the old average fare vs the 2025 average.

On Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft, certain standard seats offer slightly more space, giving passengers an extra half inch of legroom:

• Seats D, E, and F in rows 3–15 provide a 29.5-inch seat pitch, compared with 29 inches on the left-hand side of the same rows:
• These seats can be selected for as little as £4.50 per flight, while officially designated “Extra Legroom” seats cost around £12.

Ryanair notes that the average seat pitch across the cabin is 29 inches, slightly above the industry standard of 28 inches.

Cheapest and Priciest Airlines for Extra Legroom in 2025

Many budget carriers and hybrid carriers now rank as the most cost-effective options for passengers who want additional space without paying premium prices.

• easyJet (U2): Offers some of the lowest extra legroom seats in Europe, with starting prices near £8 and average charges around £10. [Note that:

Feature	Airbus A321neo	Airbus A320-214
Seat Location / Side	Right-hand side, rows 3–17, seats D, E, F	Right-hand side, rows 14–29
Seat Pitch	29 in	28.5 in
Standard Seat Price	£0.99	£0.99
Extra Legroom Seat Price	£7.99	£7.99
Notes	Right-side seats gain 1 inch over left side	Half-inch more legroom than left side

• Ryanair (FR): Dynamic pricing sees £12–£37 range but often undercuts long-haul carriers.

• Jet2 (LS): Competitive mid-tier prices at roughly £8–£25 suggest value for leisure travelers.

These carriers typically reflect seat pitches that are close to standard economy but advertise specific rows with marginally increased legroom as “Priority” or “Extra Legroom.”

Passengers on low-cost carriers have responded positively overall, as price sensitivity remains high, although some travelers lament limited recline options and tighter cabin space overall.

By contrast, certain full-service network carriers command premium prices for enhanced comfort:

• British Airways (BA): Extra legroom can exceed £120 on long-haul sectors, driving a nearly 93% price increase since 2017.

• KLM (KL): Long-haul premium exit row seats may reach £159, particularly for transcontinental flights.

• Virgin Atlantic (VS): Significant increases reflect repositioning of comfort products within fare families.

One also has to note that the carriers with the highest fares for extra legroom are ones in Europe.