Passenger Kicked Off Horizon Air Flight For Being Too Tall
Apr 25, 2011, 8:03 pm
#106
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DTW or FNT
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Posts: 635
Exit row isn't a "bonus" or "perk", though airlines are making it so by charging to sit there or only allowing elites to select it. The row doesn't offer more legroom, it offers more room for people to maneuver through in the event of an emergency.
Apr 26, 2011, 9:32 am
#107
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Flying Blue, easyJet Plus (!)
Posts: 1,762
And I very much doubt tall people earn *twice* what short people do.
The solution, IMO, is for the airlines (and society in general, to be fair) to end the "race to the bottom" typified by a certain Irish operation and instead charge a realistic price for a proper service that can accommodate people (in all their various forms) properly. If seat pitch was such that it would accommodate, say, someone who was 6' 6" and of average proportion, and wide enough to accommodate the typical male's shoulders, people wouldn't be fighting over the exit rows and empty seats and there'd be enough to accommodate the few people who are *very* tall or broad, for whom they could be reserved, with elites receiving other benefits, such as perhaps a guaranteed empty middle seat where the flight wasn't full rather than having to play games to get one.
IMO, that's a minimum seat pitch of 33-34". I imagine the FAA/JAA are the only ones that could enforce that. For now, the Asian airlines are offering it, of course - I really enjoyed flying with Thai, Kingfisher and Malaysia for that reason (and the service was superb as well).
Neil
Last edited by pacer142; Apr 26, 2011 at 9:39 am
Apr 26, 2011, 12:44 pm
#108
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Programs: Lifetime AA Gold-1MM
Posts: 4,909
The solution, IMO, is for the airlines (and society in general, to be fair) to end the "race to the bottom" typified by a certain Irish operation and instead charge a realistic price for a proper service that can accommodate people (in all their various forms) properly.
Apr 27, 2011, 7:21 am
#109
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Flying Blue, easyJet Plus (!)
Posts: 1,762
AA tried that for a while with their "More Room Throughout Coach" program that had significantly more legroom. They gave it up a few years ago, probably when they discovered that most people seem to shop by price for airline tickets. You can get economy plus seats on United if you're willing to pay more.
Neil
Apr 27, 2011, 7:30 am
#110
Join Date: Jan 2010
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AA's more leg room didn't work because they didn't charge for it, and it reduced capacity without generating revenue. An Economy Plus product lets airlines charge extra for extra space for some customers and reward their elites with it. The economics work and the extra space goes to people who pay for it with cash or loyalty.
Government regulation is likely to be heavy handed and have unintended consequences.
Apr 28, 2011, 4:20 am
#111
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Flying Blue, easyJet Plus (!)
Posts: 1,762
Sometimes, legislation is necessary to ensure that minorities *are* catered for. Though it could be catered for easily enough here if airlines would just go back to the idea of allocating extra legroom at check-in to those who need it, not those who just happen to want it and not as an elite benefit.
Neil
May 9, 2011, 8:55 am
#112
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: LHR / IAD
Programs: BA/AA/UA
Posts: 2,955
This guy was apparently able to accommodate his extra height by putting his legs and feet over in the aisle. If he were to buy an extra seat he could sit slightly sideways and have plenty of room.
Telling fat people to eat less is like telling someone to breathe less air. Most really aren't able to do it, yet I certainly expect them to buy an extra seat if they need it. The same goes for tall people.
Buy as much seat as you need. Studies show that all other things being equal, tall people make more money than short people. They can use some of those extra earnings to buy the extra space they need.
Telling fat people to eat less is like telling someone to breathe less air. Most really aren't able to do it, yet I certainly expect them to buy an extra seat if they need it. The same goes for tall people.
Buy as much seat as you need. Studies show that all other things being equal, tall people make more money than short people. They can use some of those extra earnings to buy the extra space they need.
Finally, again, diet and exercise can do little to modify one's god-given height.
May 10, 2011, 9:38 am
#113
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Programs: Lifetime AA Gold-1MM
Posts: 4,909
Wow. First of all, "all other things" are seldom equal and second, an extra sideways coach seat (if two contiguous seats happen to be available) does little to accommodate extra height. You need a business or first-class seat and they cost a whole lot more. Thanks anyway.
