Airline Seat Shrink Even More...Confrontations Increase...
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/23/bu...ml?ref=us&_r=0

especially for those of us stuck in economy class!

I haven't noticed any change in the width or distance on the planes I take. They say it used to be 34 inches and is now 30-32 (between rows). I don't think it has been 34 inches on the flights I've taken for a very long time, not in my memory, at least for international flights. I only fly coach, though. It is 32 inches on Air France in the economy section, for example. United is even worse, it's only about 31 on them for international. I think you can get more room on domestic flights often than international.

I think Southwest reducing the recline is fine as they don't have overnight flights. In fact, I thikn it's a good idea in that case. I really dislike people reclining into my lap when it is normal hours or even mealtime. I really really dislike it, and I have asked some guy not to recline so much when he reclined his seat fully into my lap barely 30-60 minutes into the flight and we hadn't even had dinner yet! (this was overseas). Of course, he didn't care and stayed reclining anyway. But while I hate that and think it is really rude to recline during normal hours or meals, I think the guy in the article was out of line asking someone not to recline on a red-eye flight. If I understand it, those are flights in the middle of the night, coast to coast, so I think that might be expected.

What sounds really dumb is their description of Spirit having seats permanently in a 3" reclining position. What on earth is the purpose of that? Luckily I don't fly them. I guess if they all were tilted back maybe you'd end up the same, but I don't actually like being reclined that much if I'm reading.

What sounds really dumb is their description of Spirit having seats permanently in a 3" reclining position. What on earth is the purpose of that?>

One reason the article says is less maintenance if the seats do not have to recline - always in one position - no need for making sure they recline as they should - well every penny!

There was an idea floating around last year that some short haul flights might have the passenger standing instead of sitting (Ryanair), in order to generate more revenue for the airline, but It now appears that if you want to continue flying as cheaply as possible, you'll have to get used to having someone sitting on your lap (coming soon to an airline near you).

Meanwhile, there's even more room in first and business class, especially on international flights.

I "like" how they airlines have ads on the TVs in coach to show how great 1st class is. As though flying coach wasn't cramped enough, they decide to show us how good it is elsewhere to make us feel worse - because OF COURSE we are all in coach because we just never realized that 1st class was more comfy and spacious :)

I love flying sometimes in Delta's old MD-88. there is a lot of room, shows you how they have changed. I like economy comfort for anything over two hours. I not big so don't know how the bigger men do it. I read this article this am and there is some flight rage going on.

Topping Pal. I didn't see this and just posted the same link.