CONTACT US
  • get the app
img
Travel Partners
  • Business Travel
    • For Travelers
    • For Travel Arrangers
    • For Companies
  • Vacations
  • Destinations
  • About Us
    • Partner Locations
    • Community Involvement
    • Global Network
    • Blog
  • Newsletter

Travel. Simplified.

Travel doesn't have to be complicated. With over 40 years of experience and relationships with the best suppliers we can ensure your trip is smooth.

Connect with Us

See the World

There is so much to see in this big world! UNIGLOBE Travel can help you plan the perfect adventure, or relaxing get away.

Start Exploring

Vacation. Simplified.

Go on more vacations. Make more memories. Enjoy Travel.Simplified. Let us take care of the rest.

Contact Us
Blog  /  The Seat Beat – Part 1 of 3: The Basics

The Seat Beat – Part 1 of 3: The Basics

April 18, 2019

For business travelers, a good airline seat can make the difference between being productive and comfortable or being behind in your work with an aching back. But despite best efforts, it can be very hard to parse through information available online to understand the differences in the seating options available. Our UNIGLOBE Travel expert start a 3-piece series to clear through the clutter by providing some clarity on airline cabins and seats. This month, we start with understanding the seat measurements and terminology. 

Seat Width 

This measurement is not universal but is most commonly the “cushion width”. On most economy seats, it is the width between the midpoint of two armrests.  However, on first/business class seats where it is typically the cushion width, the wider/solid armrests will provide you with much more space than the stated width. 

Seat Recline 

This is generally the distance that the top of the seat moves when reclining (The seat moves a greater distance at the top than at the point of the fulcrum…we could go into more detail but don’t want to take you back to 9th grade math). This also isn’t a universal measurement as some airlines actually display this as the number of degrees of recline. 

Some airlines, such as Allegiant and Spirit, have no recline on any seats. This is a cost savings measure as the seats are cheaper to buy and maintain. 

Delta Air Lines recently announced that they were limiting the recline of seats on its A320 aircraft. Specifically, seats would still recline, but the distance was to be reduced by two inches. This is a measured plan (pardon the pun) to provide a balance between recline comfort and the ability for the passenger behind to use a laptop or view the seatback TV screen. The aircraft that will have this change generally fly business-oriented routes shorted than two hours.  

Seat Pitch   

This is the most standard measurement, but also the least informative and most misunderstood. It is the distance between any point on a seat (such as the front edge of the cushion) to the same point on the seat behind. 

The seat pitch measurement is an almost irrelevant data point because the relationship between it and the amount of space you have is also affected by the thickness of the seats themselves.  Many airlines have opted for “slimline” seats which use thinner materials, less seat back cushioning and a lighter frame. An airline using these seats and indicating a 30 inch seat pitch might offer more legroom than an airline using older/thicker seats with a 31 inch seat pitch.  

Online Comparisons 

Many travelers use seat comparison websites like Seatguru.com to compare seats stats. Due to the shortcomings with the measurements, we think its problematic to use sites like that to compare seats across different airlines, or even different aircraft from the same airline.  However, when choosing your seat on a specific plane, it is a good resource for avoiding seats that might not be as desirable.  

Read part 2 of 3

Recent Posts

Tips for Business Travel During the Holiday Season

Tips for Business Travel During the Holiday Season

For the frequent business traveler, heading into a more-chaotic-than-normal airport filled with new travelers, ...
read more
Understanding the Major Shifts in Airline Alliances and Joint Ventures

Understanding the Major Shifts in Airline Alliances and Joint Ventures

In late September, Delta Air Lines shocked the aviation world with the announcement that they would be investi ...
read more
CONTACT US
logo

UNIGLOBE Travel Partners - Denver
5353 West Dartmouth
Suite 201
Denver, CO 80227
1-888-732-2084

UNIGLOBE Travel Partners - NJ
111 Howard Blvd.
Suite 210
Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856
1-973-601-1040

UNIGLOBE Travel Partners - OC
2211 Michelson Drive
Suite 460
Irvine, CA 92612
1-800-891-9215

UNIGLOBE Travel Partners - Atlanta
31-A Postal Parkway
Atlanta Metro Area
Newnan, GA 30263
1-800-442-5749

UNIGLOBE Red Carpet Travel
1812 Marsh Road,
Suite 413, Branmar Plaza Upper Level
Wilmington, DE 19810
1-302-475-1220

UNIGLOBE Associated Travel
419 Rena Drive
Lafayette, LA 70503
1-337-2335521

UNIGLOBE Golden Empire Travel
#220-9201 Camino Media
Bakersfield, CA 93311
1-661-3231213

UNIGLOBE Travel Partners - Pacific Northwest
15150 SW Bangy Rd
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
1-800-544-2575

UNIGLOBE Travel Partners - Bay Area
18 Crow Canyon Court Suite 330
San Ramon, CA 94583
1-925-838-4445

Privacy PolicyTerms of Use

© 2004 – 2019 UNIGLOBE Travel International Limited Partnership - All agencies independently owned and operated.