Although airlines aren't required to adjust their seating arrangements for long-haul and international flights, several elements go into providing more room if you're traveling a long distance in the economy section.

First off, if you’re embarking on a transatlantic or transpacific international flight, you’re likely going to be flying in one of the following planes: Airbus A330, Boeing 767, Boeing 777 or Boeing 787. These are some of the largest commercial planes available and, thus, have a larger variety of comfortable seating options when it comes to air travel as opposed to a smaller plane used for a domestic flight.

Aircraft Specs

The larger planes used on these long-haul flights have all the standard bells and whistles you’ve grown accustomed to seeing like airline seats that recline, moving armrests and exit row seating. Typically, these larger planes have seat configurations of three columns of seats, three coach seats wide and in many cases only two wide for first class seats.

These flights might afford an inch or two of extra legroom in economy class, but the seat width usually remains the standard 17 or 18 inches. SeatGuru.com provides information on whether your airline uses planes with more legroom for international flights. Purchasing premium economy or business class seats provides you a bigger seat with a little extra seat pitch and leg room. Sometimes these even come with wider seats but even then, these still aren’t the best seats on the flight.

First Class

If you’re searching for peak comfortability on your long international flight, there’s only one option. Different airlines refer to it by different names. American Airlines, Air France, United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Jetblue might all have their own specific terminology for what is essentially the same thing- first class. First class cabins provide you with infinitely more perks than economy class seats. Earlier check-in times, seats that recline into beds, better meals blankets and pillows are just a few of the luxuries you’ll enjoy that make that red-eye flight from New York to Singapore pass in the snap.

Two-Aisle Planes

International flights that use two-aisle planes tend to be roomier. They offer more head room and, because of the aisle structure, at total of four aisle seats. If you sit in the aisle of the middle section, you might luck out by not having a seatmate right next to you.