Pack your can opener! Airlines squeezing in more seats
Filed under: Travel, Consumer Complaints, Buyer Beware
Short people rejoice! You're at an advantage in the travel universe.The Wall Street Journal reports that the airlines are falling over themselves in a rush to cram more seats into already-tight cabins.
The race is motivated by the same impulse that has caused them to throw luggage fees at us in the past year: Trying to stay one step ahead of bankruptcy. More seats equals more potential income. There goes your legroom.
For example, American Airlines is taking delivery of some new 737-800s, which up to now have carried 148 passengers. The new planes, though, will carry 160 in the same amount of space.
Even though the space crunch is fueled by profit, the airline will actually have to pay an additional flight attendant to make it happen, since federal law mandates one attendant for every 50 passengers. So how much, exactly, do they really stand to make out of our misery?
In the mid-1990s, carriers like American bragged about their generous "seat pitch" (which is the amount of breathing room your knees have), but they're mum now. There's not much to boast about.
American's benchmark, which is still reflected on its Web site, was 32 inches, while some rows used to have 33 inches. These days, all the major legacy carriers, including American, have reduced their standardized seat pitch to a tight 31 inches.
Where did American find all that extra room? You're gonna love this one: Thinner seats.
Tight quarters are uncomfortable enough on a short domestic flight, but on a long transcontinental one, they're the equivalent of an enhanced interrogation technique. (Sorry, Air France, I know you're going through hard times right now, but on that flight from Paris last week, your papier-thin seats and kneecap-chipping pitch made me toss and turn worse than when I had the flu and a 103-degree fever.)
American claims that the new seats won't be uncomfortable because the bottom part pivots forward slightly when reclining, giving the person behind you a soupcon of additional space, but we all know that's spin. That's now how it will play out in flight, where many passengers don't recline because they're working.
Just because the airlines are getting new planes or refitting old ones doesn't mean in-flight service will improve. The new American jets will have more power outlets for laptop users (the better to sell in-flight Wi-Fi to them, of course), but they'll still have the same old flip-down overhead screens for communal entertainment, a mode I find at least a decade behind the times. They will, however, burn 35% less fuel than an old MD-80, although I wouldn't go looking for a 35% decrease in price on my ticket price as a consequence.
Which airlines have the most generous standardized space now? As so often is true in the topsy-turvy airline industry, the ones with the reputation as the cheapest. JetBlue leads the pack with 34 inches, and it has TVs at each seat. Frontier, Alaska, and Virgin America can claim 33 inches, and Southwest offers 32 or 33 inches.
Even American's bulkhead seats are losing some space. The only place on an airplane where there's still a bit of room is the exit row, and airlines such as JetBlue, Northwest, and AirTran have long since charged customers a little more for the semblance of the human dignity available there.
Qantas, an airline doing so poorly it's parking planes and scrapping more and more premium-class seating, started charging US$125 for the right to sit in one on a long-haul flight.
Because all the airlines are doing this together (anyone else find something fishy about that?), it's impossible to exercise our rights as consumers and patronize an alternate carrier that offers a better product. We can't put our money where our feet are. We can't even scratch our elbows.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
6-04-2009 @ 8:09PM
Naomi Bushwoman said...
I am 5'4" and I have a hard time in those seats. Put a 250 pound man in there and you are sardines! Get real!
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6-05-2009 @ 11:24AM
Kelly Van Rijn said...
I am that 250lb man- at 6'5" to boot. I fly when I absolutely have to. If I don't get an aisle, I cancel the trip...
6-04-2009 @ 8:28PM
Joseph Blazewicz said...
n/a
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6-04-2009 @ 8:15PM
roger said...
Im 6'1 and 225 pounds does that mean i have to buy two seats.Does the larger person have to buy 3 or 4. That is a bunch of crap. Id rather drive anyway.
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6-04-2009 @ 8:18PM
Joseph Blazewicz said...
If airlines are going to squeeze in more seats,than they should follow suite like United and give you an option to purchase 5inches of legroom. I'm going to write to the other airlines and tell them I am not doing business with them until they do. Leg room for tall people like myself isn't a luxury, its a necessity.
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6-04-2009 @ 8:21PM
Thomas Lowther said...
The airline industry is just getting plain ridiculous. If they keep running OFF their customers because of people getting fed up with crappy service, where's the logic in trying to cram MORE people in there in the first place? The worse you treat your customers, the less customers you'll have in the long run. Why can't they get this simple fact through their greedy little heads? I used to go on pleasure trips all the time, but now, I'm much more conservative in my plans to do so simply because of the physical and emotional pain of flying --- which used to be one of my favorite parts of the trip!
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6-05-2009 @ 1:09AM
martha said...
Between TSA rules, smaller seats, less leg room and charges for beverages, etc. flying is getting to be a nuisance even if it means getting to a vacation spot in less time. I'm beginning to think the staycations might not be such a bad idea.
6-05-2009 @ 12:27AM
Marilyn said...
I so agree with you... I used to love to fly. It was the best part of the trip and we always arrived refreshed and relaxed instead of bug eyed and bushed from driving. We flew often and enjoyed it. We recently flew from Orlando to Seattle, connecting through Houston on Continental. I am a 5'9" woman and I darn near had my chin on my knees. Not to mention that both of our connecting flights were delayed for 2 and 3 hours respectively. I am diabetic in my older years and my doctor tells me to stretch my legs.. yeah, right. Impossible on these sardine cans. Flying is a miserable experience from start to finish these days and I avoid it whenever possible. So they have alienated a person who was once an often flyer and repeat flyer!!!! Good job airlines... my father used to say when companies were going in the wrong direction that they are trying to "put themselves out of business". The airlines need to get back to basics..... great customer service.
6-04-2009 @ 8:25PM
Mick said...
Indy car jockeys, Horse racing jockeys and little bit by little bit the short inherit the highways of the sky.
When do tall people claim descrimination?
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6-07-2009 @ 8:57AM
Glenn said...
This does it for me. I'll be an Amtrack customer from now on. Comfortable seats, good meals and a compartment for resting along with accomodations for enjoying the scenery.
6-04-2009 @ 8:32PM
Bob said...
This is ridiculous. To make the seats even smaler than they are now is a crime. I was on a flight where the person next to me was way overweight and overlapped my seat space. Nothing was done to alleviate the problem. I for one will not be flying anywhere. I would rather drive and take the extra time, than be tortured on a flight with no room, or maybe being stuck on the tarmack for 11 hours while the pilot decides my fate and the authorities arrest me for trying to get off the plane.
If more of us would rebel against these disgusting airlines maybe they would see the light and change for the better not the worse. But alas we are wiling to be kicked in the ass and fed a lot of bull cause that is the way it is. And God forbid our congresspersons should stand up for us with the Federal Aviation Authorities. After all we did elect them to help protect us. No guts to stand up and be counted Americans!
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6-07-2009 @ 8:08AM
Tim said...
That is a joke. The only time our Congress and Senate act like they care for the average American is the time between May and Nov when they are trying to get our votes.
6-07-2009 @ 9:17AM
Sprinkle Cookie said...
I agree with you, Bob. I am a large woman, and I don't like overlapping your seat any more than you do! It's very uncomfortable to try and sit (even if it's just an hour) without "touching" the person next to you, because you know they are looking sideways at you thinking "Ewww! Cooties!" This is not good for large people or tall people either. You remember those thingies they used to use to measure carry-on baggage? (Bag could only be Xtall Xwide and Xdeep to be allowed on the plane as carry-on luggage.) Maybe they should make one of those for the customers: you have to be Xtall to ride the ride.
6-04-2009 @ 8:33PM
Rose said...
These airlines are nuts, never find the over weight people, what about the tall people? My son is over 6'and his girl is close to 6'. There is no legroom as it is now! Then the medical profession warns you about blood clots, it is going to become more common in these cramped seats. American Airlines WAKE UP!
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6-04-2009 @ 8:40PM
joe Downey said...
After 9/11 the Federal Governent gave the Airlines Billions to keep flying. Instead of using them to keep flying they took that money to buy smaller Private Jets and a seperate set of Books NICE WORK If I have a choise I NEVER Fly American dirty aircraft rude employees and they put the Air pacs on the Lowest possible setting I am just waiting for the day some net cases gets on a plane with the Plague or Ebola and give it to the whole Plane.
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6-04-2009 @ 8:47PM
Blue Dog said...
I haven't flown since before Sept., 2001, and as I read more and more of these nightmare stories about airlines I doubt that I ever will fly again.
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6-04-2009 @ 9:00PM
John Tibbs said...
I am one of the 250 lb persons that already feel like a sardine when I sit in airplane, to add insult to injury injury my legs are already cramped to the point of feeling like all blood circulation has left my lower extremities. I just experienced one of US Airways delays that left us sitting in the plane for hours. I will drive anywhere in the USA if possible, before I have to endure another torture session because of the greedy airlines. I hope they go bankrupt before they receive a dime of stimulus money.
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6-04-2009 @ 9:16PM
Joan said...
This is just plain crazy. Chalk it up to the greedy airlines. Charging for all bags, charging excesively for snacks and drinks, etc. I am 5'6" and weight 125 and I'm not comfortable in those seats. And it's not because of overweight people on either side of me. Flying is so much faster (if you get a direct flight) and is perfect for those who have a limited amount of time in their vacation. But I just may take the train instead or drive.
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6-04-2009 @ 9:11PM
Joe said...
The standard seat pitch on transit vehicles (city buses, streetcars, interurban light rail, etc.) is 30" although the seat backs are 2" or less thick so things could get worse on the airlines once they realize how short they can go.
It's time to realize the flying fad has run its multi-decade course and to think about taking the train or even Greyhound type buses for a much less stressful trip.
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6-04-2009 @ 9:15PM
Jerry said...
Jason,
You had a 103 degree temperature and "flu" and you flew? You should have been arrested and quarantined! You could have caused an epidemic, or even caused the death of passengers with a weak immune system. Shame on you.
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