Originally Posted by Often1

It's not as though this requires legislation. If it's what consumers want, air carriers will provide it. But, they don't. They want cheap seats. That translates into more passengers crammed into the same number of cubic feet and thus less width/pitch.

Why do people purchase Y in cramped aircraft which they hate when F is available? Because it's cheaper?

Why do they purchase "basic" fares with no seat assignments when they could book aisle seats forward? Because it's cheaper?

Why aren't there two full meals served in Y on TCON flights when there are on TATL? Because consumers want cheaper fares.