Seat Width is the usable lateral cushion space between the armrests of an airplane seat, typically 20-24 inches in business class.
While legroom is important, seat width is often the most critical factor for overall comfort, especially when sleeping. Standard economy seats are notoriously narrow, often hovering around 17 inches wide. In international business class, you can expect widths between 20 and 24 inches. However, the most spacious products in the sky—like Singapore Airlines’ A380 business class or ANA’s "The Room"—boast widths exceeding 30 inches. A wider seat allows you to shift positions naturally while sleeping, bend your knees, and find a comfortable resting posture without bumping into hard plastic armrests. When comparing products, pay close attention to width, as airlines densely packing staggered layouts sometimes shave off an inch or two, which is highly noticeable on a 14-hour flight.
In many modern business class seats, one or both armrests can be lowered flush with the cushion when in bed mode, adding valuable inches to your sleeping width.
Singapore Airlines and ANA (The Room) are famous for offering some of the widest business class seats in the industry, feeling almost like small sofas.
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