Are there any planes with comfortable seats? Not wnating to whine, but is it too much to ask?

The Gulfstream G650 has good seats. You can probably find a charter.

If "good seats" means good padding and a comfortable seat cover, then even business class may not suit you. Lay flat seats are good for giving you your own space and the ability to stretch out, but they aren't wonderfully padded either. Have you flown first class domestically? That kind of seat seems to be what you are after. So, assuming this is more your issue than your wife's, maybe you can find a fight that doesn't have lay flat seats in business class, and you sit there while your wife can sit in premium economy and stare lovingly at you from a distance.

A friend of mine was booking a flight to Europe and asked his wife if she wanted to fly business class. She gave him the look and said “no”. On the departure date as they boarded the plane, she turned right as usual and he turned left toward his business class seat. When confronted by his wife he responded “you said no”. True story. Be like the husband!

I've never experienced an uncomfortable seat on an airplane. What was wrong with it exactly?

@ Mr Ê: The Bombardier Global 7500 works for me😅

So, it seems the answer is, yes, it’s too much to ask. Well, I guess I’ve gotten too old and have the disadvantage of remembering when flying was a better experience. So, I and my derrière will just have to suck it up. I will focus on the wonderful destination and not the short time in the air.
I am lucky to still be able to travel, so there’s that.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/scandinavia-14-day-on-a-budget-of-sorts-part-one

The author of this trip report tells about having success with a partially blown up cushion. No experience but perhaps consider g.

I fly internationally several times a year. An absolute game changer for my seat comfort has been to travel with a memory foam seat cushion. They are so comfortable, they usually have a handle to carry with ease. They don’t count as any carry on luggage as it is a ‘medical device’. Happy travels to you.

(My wife gives me THAT look when I talk about paying for business class seats.)

So saving for the gold plated coffin?

:-)

Unfortunately, there really aren't comfortable seats these days, paricularly if you are tall or larger or have arthritis or anything else which doesn't match the seat size. Not only are they hard, but the seat depth has shrunk so us long-legged folk only get a half a seat 😆. I highly recommend finding a high quality inflatable seat cushion for basic comfort. Sitting on the aisle also helps just for how frequently you can stand and stretch.

It is lamentable, but just remember: the airlines are not really going out of their way to intentionally make you as miserable as possible (though after 10 hours in a cramped seat, it may seem like they are). An inconvenient fact: The airlines are just giving customers exactly want customers keep saying they want, in fact are insisting on. Consumers demand one thing from airlines: the cheapest possible ticket, to the exclusion of every other consideration. Nothing else matters, ticket price is the only thing most consumers look at. Airlines have figured this out. Today’s typical passenger experience is the result. Industry professionals would call this “the wisdom of crowds” (I’d call it something else) but that’s business.

I crossed my last ocean in a coach seat many, many years ago (these days I fly up front happily, unless it’s a short flight), so I’ll leave it to others to share insights into relative comfort/lack thereof in various coach seats, but will just offer this: not all seats are the same (that’s true in all classes and on all airlines). Seat dimensions and layout varies, sometimes significantly, from one aircraft to another, even on the same airline (you need to look at the specific plane for your specific flight on your date). You should at least factor the variants into your ticket choice (look up you specific aircraft BEFORE you book a ticket, use aerolopa and other online resources to check seat dimensions and layout), of course consider other factors that will impact your experience - route, layovers, timing, etc). You may see seat dimensions/pitch vary by an inch or two (occasionally more); that might not sound like much (and it’s not) but after 10 hours stuck there, it can make a noticeable difference.

Good luck.

Love the humorous replies! All kidding aside, just pay the $, life is short, the airlines are determined to treat us like livestock...we started going business class a few years ago and have no regrets...

All kidding aside, just pay the $, life is short, the airlines are determined to treat us like livestock...we started going business class a few years ago and have no regrets...

We did the same, moved up to business class post pandemic for long haul flights.

I crossed my last ocean in a coach seat many, many years ago (these days I fly up front happily, unless it’s a short flight), so I’ll leave it to others to share insights into relative comfort/lack thereof in various coach seats, but will just offer this: not all seats are the same (that’s true in all classes and on all airlines). Seat dimensions and layout varies, sometimes significantly, from one aircraft to another, even on the same airline (you need to look at the specific plane for your specific flight on your date).

There is a caveat as noted above: not all business class seating is the same, particularly the layout...you have to do your homework. But with lie flat seats, I now sleep for at least a few hours vs never sleeping in coach or premium economy, and that has made a huge difference in jet lag, particularly on the outbound flight when it matters the most to your comfort and enjoyment of your trip. Nothing worse than being jet lagged for 4 or 5 days on your trip which is what I had been experiencing before making the upgrade...any reduction in jet lag I get from business class seating is worth it to me, but "worth" is an individual thing, what someone is capable of and willing to pay, for business class.

When I fly internationally, I don't expect a padded seat, only a seat that provides an acceptable level of comfort (or discomfort) for a flight lasting eight hours or more. For me, that means a premium comfort or premium economy seat, which provides more legroom. I find the difference in legroom makes a difference in how much I look forward to (or dread), and am able to enjoy (or bear) the flight.

On domestic flights, I normally fly coach, booking an aisle seat.

And according to many replies here, even the more costly seats are not too comfortable. The best people seem to mention is lie flat seats, which are only better because you can change position.

In business class, the seats when used in a more upright position, are definitely more comfortable than seats found in the rest of the plane. And the adjustability is a big factor, as is the extra width and leg room, and the fact you are not seated right next to anyone, you are not fighting for the armrest, etc.

But in lie flat mode, I find they are not particularly comfortable as a bed - it isn't a mattress. I don't actually like the fully flat mode, I like to place the seat in something akin to a fully extended recliner at home, and I find that position is the most comfortable for sleeping.

We have also reached that age where paying up for business class is almost de rigueur. I say almost because I did fly American Airlines premium from Philadelphia to Barcelona a few years ago. It wasn’t bad. The seats were about as comfortable as you can find these days and there was a footrest that helped. But on the way home I flew businessbecause it was only $50 more than premium on an older Boeing that had not been retrofitted. So the flight attendant had to help with tray tables, etc. but the seat did lay flat and I slept for a good 3 or 4 hours.

I am kind of tired of the oft repeated phrase that the airlines is only giving people what they want. This is defined as the cheapest possible seat. Not true. First of all no ever asked any of us what we want.

Of course it’s true. Everyone is asked what they want, each time they go to buy a ticket. The overwhelming majority of humanity answers that question clearly and repeatedly the exact same way. They want cheap tickets. Sure, they also want a lay flat seat, caviar, world peace, and a pony. But when it comes time to wave the credit card, none of that other stuff matters, at least not enough to move the needle.

Now, you and me and a hundred other folks here may have different priorities. Yep. We just vanish into the statistics below the “noise” threshold. The airlines are (mostly) designed to make money. The vast majority of their customers are not willing to pay for big comfy seats (or meals with caviar). The few that ARE willing to pay for something more are welcome to do so…but at a price that’s substantially higher than what 99+% are willing to pay (otherwise, the planes would be mostly business class with just a few rows of coach).

Plenty of airlines have tried different models, attempting to compete on greater comfort/service/other amenities. A handful still do that to some degree (none of them are US carriers), but most experiments along those lines fail spectacularly. The one thing and the only thing customers insist on are cheap seats. Those of us with different priorities have to live in the world of Ryanair, Walmart, Macdonalds, and the overwhelming majority of “highly price sensitive” consumers. We don’t have to like it. But that’s how businesses work.

My experience is one never knows the type seats that will be in any particular cabin on any particular flight. I can’t count how many times aircraft seat configurations were changed after booking. We generally fly British Airways internationally.

Building/designing a seat for an airplane is more complex than doing so for your home.

The structure has to be able to sustain/absorb more G forces, have greater flammability resistance, have minimal weight and be able to be in use 18-20 hrs a day, for folks, the majority of whom are (very) price sensitive.

Getting a seat design approved for use in an airplane is likely a 'process'.

If you want to become ( filthy) rich design the perfect seat; comfortable for everyone, costs no more than what is currently in use.

I started flying business class for long-haul flights a few years ago and never looked back. I travel solo and like having my own “pod” and am always able to get several hours of sleep. And I much prefer using the airport clubs during layovers. On my last two flights (Delta) they provided a bed-roll type mattress that you anchor on the headrest and unroll making the bed when in 180 (and even the seat) more comfortable. I decided awhile ago I was not done traveling to Europe and this (business class) has allowed me to continue. I’ve made peace with the cost.

Getting a seat design approved for use in an airplane is likely a 'process'.

It's not 'likely' a process, it's 'definitely.' Delays some new models/attempted retrofits from flying...

https://www.airdatanews.com/aircraft-seat-shortages-emerge-as-airlines-latest-operational-headache/

If you watch as many train vlogs as I do, you'll soon discover that train seats are NOT universally loved. Some British and French trains have seats that people love to hate.

And yes, it must be admitted that as soon as people started shopping and ranking fares by price, airlines started doing whatever they could to hit that magic number that puts them at the top of the list. And that means cramming in as many seats as possible. Same way hotels created that stupid resort fee so they could show lower room rates.

I've had good luck springing for premium economy. Life is short, travel is long.

I'm 6'3"/191.5cm tall, mostly in the femurs. So the decreasing seat pitch issue affects me.

For domestic travel in the U.S. I'm always looking at the Economy Plus style of seat for the extra legroom. And as I'm on the lean side I find most airline seats less padded but it's just how things are. As a minimalist traveler I don't bring extra pads (e.g. memory foam) with me because it's one more thing I need to schlep around. I get up and walk when I can.

And when I get the upgrades to business class on domestic flights I'm a happier camper.

For international flights I'm either in a "Premium Select" or business class these days. That extra legroom makes all the difference and I'm willing to absorb the cost by being more economical elsewhere in my trip. And that frequent flier status can - and does - help get upgrades every now and again.

Having had DVT and PE recovering from leg surgery many years ago I'm keenly aware that sitting in a constrained area for hours on end is not a good thing. So I try to avoid it whenever possible.

And to the OP: if you want more comfortable seats on DC to Rome, fly on one of the newer aircraft from Air France, connecting in Paris. Or fly Delta to JFK, Boston, or Atlanta and connect to Rome. If you can swing the Premium Select seats on the transatlantic leg you'll be happier. And a pro tip: sit in the first row of Premium Select so you don't have someone recline into your face.

The seats are not comfortable. Flying United the overnight Basic Economy from SFO to Paris or if need be, Frankfurt, for 11 hours, I am used to those seats.

They're not even satisfactory in comfort, you just put up with it because I have no desire to fork out more money, ie Premium Basic or Business class, to enjoy a measure of comfort and luxury over the course of the long flight.

Regardless, I know I'll sleep some , no matter what, maybe 3-4 hours , still better than not at all. At the end I know I'll walk off that plane, by which time it is indeed 11 hours after landing, taxiing, waiting, etc, with no jet lag being in Paris CDG.

I feel fortunate to be able to travel. Not everyone can afford to do so. If I have to choose between flying business or economy, and by flying economy we can travel longer or more frequently, I choose economy. We are not tall so leg room isn’t an issue and sleeping on a plane is difficult for me. I did go to Australia with a friend last spring and she wanted to fly business class. Since she bought my ticket I happily accepted (she actually wouldn’t take no for an answer, even though I told her I would be fine in the back of the plane) and I appreciated having that experience. Does that mean my husband and I will insist on upgrading in the future? No. We are currently in Paris in the middle of an 11 week trip. We can only afford to do this by prioritizing how and where we spend our money. We flew economy using airline miles. Using miles also helps. I’m happy for people who can afford upgrades, but there is no shame in flying in the back of the plane either.

The seats are not comfortable................
They're not even satisfactory in comfort, you just put up with it because I have no desire to fork out more money, i.e., Premium Basic or Business class, to enjoy a measure of comfort and luxury over the course of the long flight.
( Fred 10/06/2025)

The airlines are serving Fred and all those like him, which is why Chuck is not comfortable and is proof of what David in Seattle said in his 10-05-2025 post

Eric-- Thank you for confirming what I suspected, but I hadn't researched it , thus my qualifier of 'likely'.

I'm looking at the options for business class and seeing that Turkish Air has service to and from for a better price. The upside (other than the price) is they fly a 787-9 from DC which has a 1-2-1 seating arrangement, so everyone has an aisle seat. The downside is a longer duration, since they stop in Istanbul (singing: not Constantinople), 14 hours to and 16 hours back. United has a nonstop to Rome and 1 stop back, less air time but $1400 more.

We're meeting with our other travel buddies this week and will hash this out.

Thanks to all for their views on this. Everyone pretty much agrees the seats are uncomfortable and the industry is not concerned.

As others have mentioned, airline seats aren't known for being comfortable. I'm petite, which is both good and bad. On the plus side, I have plenty of legroom, and I can climb over my husband if he's sitting in the aisle seat. On the negative side, seats hit my body in all the wrong places. On long-haul flights in economy, I try to utilize as much extra cushion as possible. The provided pillow goes behind my back. I sit on top of the jacket I wear onboard. If I can snag a pillow or blanket from an empty nearby seat, then I add those in as well. I have an inflatable neck pillow. Not only does it help with sleep, but it also relieves the neck/shoulder ache of being upright for so many hours. By the end of it all, my lower back and bottom are usually sore. I look forward to walking through the airport labyrinth to Customs because it gives me a chance to feel normal again.

You get what you pay for and I put with up it. My aim is to pay the least, the most restrictive and cheapest among the various options, and put up with it, discomfort and all. A pity, isn't it?

All I need to do is to survive that overnight 11 hour flight, sometimes it's part ordeal too, intact, alert, no jet lag (that's not going to happen anyway, basically a non-issue) , counting the hours left, and I'll land in the morning fresh and fit in Paris ready to take the RER.

Chuck H - If you can swing it, I can share that Turkish Airlines business class is quite good. It’s one of my favorite ways to get to/from Europe (in fact, we are flying home this Friday on TK, in business class…that’s how we are getting home to Seattle after our trip to Italy). We do not mind the extra flight time or connection in IST at all.

The TK lounge in IST (and their lentil soup) is great. My wife asks for at least 2 hours in the lounge there.

The major downside (other than the expense) is that once you get to experience all this, you may find it hard to go back to coach (there’s a Seinfeld episode about that…). Just something to add for your consideration if you are indeed weighing that Istanbul connection.

David in Seattle- you should ask for a commission from TK. That is quite a recommendation. When my wife read the part about the IST lounge and their lentil soup, she got enthusiastic about business class. We both love lentil soup so nice work there. I have to look up that Seinfeld episode..