I had to laugh at the post suggesting UA (or any airline, frankly) employees ride in coach middle seats. I for one think that is a great idea.

For whatever reason, the airlines have determined a bare minimum of personal space that can be marketed and sold as a seat for transportation. It generally appears most of us agree that amount isn't enough.

I don't know the answers, but suggest much of the upgrade angst would simply GO AWAY if the basic coach product was acceptable.

This means seats that are at least 19" wide, with at least 35" of pitch. First and Business products could and should be even more lavish and luxurious, for the huge sums of money paid.

Of course fuselages would have to be just a bit wider and maybe longer to accommodate wider seats with more space between rows. (Any Boeing engineers reading this? <g> )

Perhaps fares would climb more.

The thing is, FF's just don't seem to be enough of the 'bulk' of the travelling public to really be able to create an upswell for this kind of change in the basic product. (Which is why I smile when thinking perhaps it WOULD change if more airline decision makers had to fly in coach middle seats more often.)

I read a newspaper article recently that new stadium seats (Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, inside arenas, etc.) are being made wider with more legroom. Movie theatres did it about 3-5 years ago.

AA started the recent trend with MRTC and UA refined it with E+. Maybe we're headed toward a better basic coach seat, albeit slowly. It sure can't happen soon enough for me! I'd LOVE to stop playing the upgrade game, knowing a perfectly decent, comfortable seat was waiting at the back of the plane.