JMN57

It's a 763

mvoight

Wasn't the AA flight in question a 763?
When was the last time Y seating space has been reduced on the AA 763?
Why would the "boiling point" have been reached now instead of when the space was reduced?

mvoight

But this passenger was on the same aircraft that was used when the airline was losing tons of money. I don't think AA's 763 seating space has been reduced recently.

frank_10b

There is a difference in Y when the plane is full 100% and when the plane is at 70 or even 80%. More people knocking knees in the aisles on the way to the bathrooms so the aisle seated pass move into the center seated pass space etc.

With standing lean-to "seating" for pass I think that while the aisles will fill up with more pass at least the recline issues will be resolved and the airlines with more pass in Y will of course lower prices for everyone.

austin_modern

... just make everyone stand if you can't play nice.

NotDuncan

Yes, airlines are responding to the demand curve put in place by their customers, ie., the lowest fare, with no regard to personal comfort. Thanks for reinforcing my point I already made.

And wait....do mean to tell me airlines are in business to make a profit??? Who knew?!

travelinmanS

There is so much price signaling and monopolistic behavior by the airline oligarchy today that your demand curve analogy no longer makes sense. The reduction of pitch to inhumane levels is another reason why the US government should step in and force the airlines to accept at least a few regulations. After all they are using our tax dollars to provide for their necessary infrastructure and technology. The least they could do is provide a seat that doesn't threaten blood clots or fights every flight you take. The current state of the airline industry in the USA is indicative of the current state of society in general, everyone chasing the maximization of profits no matter what the consequences. This will end well for no one.

grrizzli

The US airlines are already heavily regulated. There is no need to impose any additional regulations. People who are so inconvenienced by low seat pitch should be advised to buy seats in a premium cabin. It won't cost any more than a coach seat in the days before the industry deregulation, when only the rich could afford to fly.

ADDED: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...oticed/273506/
"In 1974, it was illegal for an airline to charge less than $1,442 in inflation-adjusted dollars for a flight between New York City and Los Angeles."

tom_MN

My observation is that about 10% of passengers recline seats. Most passengers do not want this feature available. Even transatlatic overnight in coach most passengers do not recline.

If there is the possibility of an upgrade to a non-reclining section of coach I am not aware of it but I would pay for it.

Spoddy

What this will simply boil down to is the airlines taking away the ability to recline.

Removing the reasons for the complaining, instead of addressing them.

RaflW

Some of us do vote with our wallets. We opt for SWA when we're gonna haul tons of stuff. DL when one checked bag per person is sufficient.

On the larger issue, I do think US airlines having 31" pitch on TATL or longer flights is "past the breaking point." Delta's pre-tax income for the June 2014 quarter was $1.4 billion, so there probably is some fiscal room to increase pitch one inch on A330s without the airline going bust. But would they? hahahahaha.

Edit: Of course, if they offered 32 pitch in Y, they'd have to do 35 in Y+ for people to bother. My experience with Y+ on the A333 was that it sucked, I was dubious that it was even a 34" pitch.

RaflW

Load factors? Airlines are posting amazing numbers. Which are good for the bottom line (and for greenhouse gas per pax), but bad for comfort. In the past one felt at least an OK possibility of scoring an empty seat next to one, even if it was maybe a 20-25% chance, it helped with the feeling of a treat once in a while, or a relief.

Those days are gone. And pax are getting both taller and fatter (the second is a variable that admittedly is more in the pax control, but in reality our whole culture is getting fatter). Seats are getting smaller (witness the 777 10 abreast longhaul), pitch is 31 (or 30). It really is miserable, and when Y is often 100% full, it is an endurance run, not a travel experience.

austin_modern

Yet people will still whine when their flight is 20 dollars more. "I paid 200 bucks for this flight 15 years ago... why is it 220?!?!11!1one!one"

Rus925

Exit rows

whining ≠ not buying

Stripy

Rolling your eyes, failing to address my question and sarcasm really don't do much for your argument.

In case you failed to understand it my point was that if airlines were to agree on a "max load" per aircraft type then they could still make the exact same profit they're making now by charging a bit more. Where would pax have to go if they didn't like the new prices?