I have to agree with OP, look where the US is heading. Everyone is looking for the cheapest flights possible every time they fly, so thats what the airlines are giving them. Although, with how cheap flights are getting, more and more people are able to fly. I've been flying PE on my last few flights out of YVR to SE Asia. I rather pay a few hundred dollars more than get to my vacation destination in pain. I'm not a big guy, 5'9" 170 LBS. I doubt econ cabin is going to get any better anytime soon. Basic Econ just came out, its a race to the bottom. People rather sit in a uncomfortable seat with barely any leg room, no over head bin space, pay for check baggage, and sit beside a random stranger because they didn't want to pay for a seat selection finally, when they get off the plane they will go straight to CBC and complain how horrible flying in econ was then cough up some extra dollars. AC will continue to improve the premium product at the expense of their Econ Cabin. AC knows they dominate they market in Canada, yes they have to compete with WJ on a lot of routes domestically, in the US and to Europe, but WJ still does not have a premium cabin which is where the bulk of the revenue is generated.

So flying in Econ will only get worse and worse. Sadly, until someone gets seriously injured or a death occurs, its just going to be a race to the bottom. How can we make Econ so uncomfortable that some people will start paying for Premium products.