Airline seats getting smaller while we're getting bigger

Disclose airline seat sizes: Our view

It's not our imagination.

The average woman in 1960 weighed 140 pounds and the average man 166. Now the average woman weighs 166 pounds and the average man 196. As to airline seats...

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As indicated, all of the Big Three—American, Delta and United—now offer at least some aircraft with a seat pitch of only 30 inches in economy. In years past, 31 or 32 inches were the absolute minimums. What's more, the roomiest pitch offered by the Big Three and Southwest (31-33 inches) are now tighter than they were at all four carriers in recent years, by anywhere from 2 to 5 inches. The only good news is some U.S. airlines are worse: Spirit offers pitch of just 28 inches on some aircraft, though the silver lining is those seats don't recline.

has it occurred to them that they're putting passengers at a greater risk for things like blood clots?

I've always ended up sitting in a super awkward manner on planes because I can't stand to keep my legs in a still, seated position... it starts to hurt after a few minutes and most of the time I end up with my legs in the seat or something else of the sort. I can't imagine that less leg space would be any better for taller people at all (I'm only 5'2")

pay more to get what you used to have is a business model that I really kind of hate

My ace in the hole for a few years now, has been to fly on JetBlue since they always advertise the most spacious seats in coach, and it's true. Their seats often have 33-34 inches seat pitch. However, I'm afraid their investors want more gains and JetBlue is folding to their greed. They will be adjusting their seating plan, meaning bringing that famed seat pitch advantage down to the sad, sad norm of the other airlines. That was the biggest reason I ever flew with them. That, and they have many nonstop flights between the two coasts, but now there's little reason for me to choose them over the other airlines, or at least when they finally implement the seat pitch changes.

It's a sad day for tall people. (I'm 6'2 btw) I can get by in a standard 32-33 seat so long as I don't slouch, but 34 made all the difference for those 5/6 hour flights.

i;m not big and can fit in small places pretty easily, so this won't be an issue, but i do hate when people lean their seats back and if a big person is next to me there's a chance they end up hitting me accidently. which i guess isn't a huge of a deal as the person who leans their seat all the way back. my only issues is the spacing front of me because i have long legs but i'm not super tall (about 5'7 less than 135lbs). i just wish they'd hurry up and get teleportation invented.

whatever said:

has it occurred to them that they're putting passengers at a greater risk for things like blood clots?

I've always ended up sitting in a super awkward manner on planes because I can't stand to keep my legs in a still, seated position... it starts to hurt after a few minutes and most of the time I end up with my legs in the seat or something else of the sort. I can't imagine that less leg space would be any better for taller people at all (I'm only 5'2")

pay more to get what you used to have is a business model that I really kind of hate

Click to expand...

No they don't care. They've said so. I know no one who would fly voluntarily, such as my husband who has to travel for work. He'll drive unless it's absolutely not possible. When he flies, he flies business class, he's 6'5 maybe 240 and even that isn't great as far as legroom. The only reason airlines pull the shit they pull is that they are the only game and people don't push back, they simply want to get it over with when they have to do it. Add the wonderful experiences of TSA pre-flight and the reasons not to fly rack up.

what can we do?

Ride the train instead. Airline planes have turned into Greyhound with wings.

^^ Argree, Blus I love travel. So for me, Greyhound is not only a better choice. (I can actually WITNESS going through multiple states) But also, rommier seating and becasue its not the FIRST choice of travel, it means more empty seating for you to kick your legs up, and greyhound comes with WIFI. Also, significantly cheaper then ariplane.

Downsides. What should take a 8 hour flights takes 3 days on a greyhound.

Worth it.