The US Airline Infamous For Having The World's Most Uncomfortable Plane Seats

Economy seats are known to be uncomfortable on most planes, though there are some ways to improve your experience in coach. For one, you can avoid sitting in the worst rows on the plane or reserving a spot near the lavatories. You can also test out some of the many hacks to make your economy seat more comfortable. However, if you book your flight with Allegiant Air, know that discomfort might just be an inevitable part of the journey.

The Nevada-based airline is notorious for having uncomfortable seats, and it was even named the worst carrier for coach seats and cabin features (tied with Frontier and Spirit) in a 2021 The Points Guy report. The study noted that Allegiant offers the bare minimum to economy passengers, and Wi-Fi, seatback screens, and outlets are hard to come by on its flights. Additionally, Allegiant cabins are relatively crowded, with little personal space for travelers.

Even if you wanted to pay extra for comfortable seats, in most cases, you can't when flying with Allegiant. The airline doesn't offer your typical business and first-class upgrades like many of its competitors. However, some flights are equipped with special "Giant Seats" and "Legroom+" seats that offer a little more room. Expect a 30-inch pitch and 17-inch width on standard seats and a few more inches of space in the larger ones.

It's a good thing that most Allegiant flights only last a few hours, given how uncomfortable the seats are. Many travelers who have flown with the airline agree with its reputation for having some of the worst plane seats in the U.S. One Tripadvisor reviewer who goes by KZooHouse wrote on the website, "They have smashed you in like sardines, zero leg room, and almost no cushion on the sets [sic]. 2.5 hr flight and my rear end was numb when we landed on both flights." Multiple Skytrax reviewers also noted a lack of padding on the seats, causing physical pain during even brief flights.

Some fliers have also complained about Allegiant's no-frills seats, including reviewer Butter575 on Infinite Flight. As the traveler wrote, there were seatback trays on their Allegiant plane, yet there were no pockets to store small items in. The armrests were also exceptionally small, according to the review. And when flying with the carrier, you don't have to worry about airplane seat reclining etiquette. Allegiant seats don't recline at all, a common complaint mentioned in many online reviews.