Passengers Feel the Squeeze as Airlines Add More Seats
Joe Cortez December 08, 2016
Cramping problems include space to bulkhead, as well as overhead space.
On a flyer’s next economy flight, it might not be just the legroom that makes passengers feel cramped aboard their aircraft. The Wall Street Journal reports as more airlines struggle to add more passengers, headroom is coming at a premium as well.
The case of shrinking headroom can be traced back to a 2006 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision about the distance of front row of seats to the bulkhead. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on the end-of-year decision to reduce the amount of space between the bulkhead and the passenger. As a result, the potential existed for someone over 74 inches tall to make contact with the bulkhead if the aircraft pitched forward.
To complicate the matter, aircraft manufacturers have also begun reducing the vertical space in aircraft. In 2015, Boeing introduced overhead “Space Bins,” which lowered the overhead clearance by two inches. As a result, a Boeing 737-900 aircraft outfitted with the new bins can carry up to 174 carry-on bags – an improvement of over 50 bags.
As a result of slimline seats and less personal space on aircraft, psychologists studying the issue say that the bubble can result in some major issues for flyers. The perceived lack of space can make some flyers hostile, which in turn can boil over into “air rage” incidents.
“The head [room] is probably the most important part,” psychologist Dr. Martin Seif explained to The Wall Street Journal. “Higher density leads to a greater chance of losing your temper and even air rage.”
Both Airbus and Boeing defended their manufacturing practices to The Wall Street Journal. A spokesperson for Airbus told the newspaper they study the major comfort points of flyers and have not heard complaints from airline customers, while Boeing said they work with airlines to customize configurations to maximize revenue.
@woodduck Headroom isn't clickbaity enough for FT...
This article is primarily about headroom, not the adding of seats. Might want to change the title?
cynosura, it's simple: Airbus is not hearing complaints from customers, because people who fly airplanes, when they complain, they don't send those complaints to the airplane manufacturer, do they? They complain elsewhere, and those complaints are probably not passed on to the airline manufacturer, and so the airline manufacturer doesn't hear the complaints. It doesn't mean there aren't any complaints, just that the complaints may be going to the wrong places.
"Boeing said they work with airlines to customize configurations to maximize revenue." Translated: we don't care about passengers, we'll cram them in like sardines as long as we get paid.
Article states: “Higher density leads to a greater chance of losing your temper and even air rage.” If this can be proven, it could very easily be used in a case in a court of law. If you put to many mice in a cage, they'll get quite aggressive with one another. People need space. As for Airbus "not hearing complaints from customers"--seriously? They obviously haven't been reading or listening. And to Boeing's comment, as we all know, "maximizing revenue" rarely makes for a better customer experience.