I draw from the healthcare bill (ACA) as a parallel - granted, it is not a perfect parallel, but...... premiums have been increased due to mandated benefits (that doesn't benefit everyone such as maternity) and added taxes in the HC bill...AND the requirement for everyone to have the same benefits at the same cost - regardless of physical size (obese) or health conditions.

Why can airlines get away with providing seats that they know are too small for reasonable accommodation for much of the flying public?

So, why would it be so far-fetched to have Federal regulation on airline seat size and pitch? Yes, it would require higher fares - but the HC bill ended up requiring higher premiums overall (can vary of course on a case by case basis - and full disclosure, I am an actuary working in the health insurance field, so I'm educated on the impacts of the law).

There was an article today that seat width was as a big of a problem as pitch. Most widths are in the 17" range (talking economy here) - but 25% of women have an average hip width of 19" or more.... and shoulders is where most people are widest (don't we all know that when sitting next to a broad shouldered person on a plane)....

So, I'd like to see the Federal government set minimums - 20" of seat width and 35" of seat pitch. Doing so will make the reclining issue moot.

Right now, it is discriminatory to tell tall/heavier people that they must purchase a seat that is more expensive (EC/1st) to be comfortable. Think of the HC bill - the whole idea is that the limited few were being surcharged too much (even though they cost more) - we wanted everyone to pay the same for insurance when they are the same age - whether they were built like Lance Armstrong or Refrigerator Perry. Why shouldn't the same concept apply to airlines - everyone, no matter how big or small, should have a reasonable chance to be accommodated and be somewhat comfortable?

Wonder how we get a groundswell to get this done. All the issues with reclining, short tempers, etc - these are, IMHO, the fault of the airlines by causing seats and pitches to be way too small.

Where else in life are you jammed into such an uncomfortable area - not at restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

Folks, they are going to keep getting smaller and smaller - while we Americans get bigger and bigger. We need to find a way to fight back now - but it will need a united front.

Let's face it - nobody is happy with the small seats in airlines. Seems like this could be a winning strategy. Sure costs will go up - for a better product (this was the same argument used in the HC bill passing).

What say you?