I keep pointing this out to everyone who says this will all end swimmingly for United, because, well EK, AF, AC etc have used these seats.

Americans are FAT. We are the third fastest people -at 180.6 lbs average - in the world only Tonga and Microneasia are fatter. The world average is 136lbs.

Asia averages 127 lbs, africa 133 lbs, Europe 156 lbs.

France is 147 lbs on average, Canada 153 lbs (and note people complain mighty about AC's 3-4-3 birds)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/eart...u-compare.html

United is trying this configuration with a population that is (1) much heavier, and (2) has far more disposable income to avoid these kind of torture seats, and (3) flies far more, so the loss of repeat business is far more likely.