An extra inch of seat width, a little more space between rows, a better-shaped headrest or even somewhere separate to put your drink can make a surprising difference eight hours into an economy flight.
And when flying in the back of the plane can mean cramped seats, mediocre food and hours spent trying to get comfortable, the airlines that get the basics right can feel dramatically different.
Check out more from the BBC - The world's five best economy airlines for 2026 - and what makes them so much better