BA Long Haul Economy
Jan 19, 2020, 6:44 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
BA does kind-of do this already, via the seat fee mechanism.
So on both 787-8 and 787-9 there is row 30, which effectively has limitless legroom in front (it's by an exit door), ditto row 41 on the A350-1000. These attract premium seating fees and effectively status passengers get first dips on them for free - so less frequent flyers may struggle to get them.
So if you take a £260 return fare, LHR to PIT, the cheapest seat fee is £23 each way. But for row 30 it goes up to £75, so a £52 premium for the legroom.
I would actually suggest the problem isn't legroom so much as width. Unless you are in well into the final 0.5% of height distribution then there is going to room for your legs under the seat in front. But the width on the 787s and to some extent the 10-a-side 777s is going to affect rather more than 0.5% of the population.
So on both 787-8 and 787-9 there is row 30, which effectively has limitless legroom in front (it's by an exit door), ditto row 41 on the A350-1000. These attract premium seating fees and effectively status passengers get first dips on them for free - so less frequent flyers may struggle to get them.
So if you take a £260 return fare, LHR to PIT, the cheapest seat fee is £23 each way. But for row 30 it goes up to £75, so a £52 premium for the legroom.
I would actually suggest the problem isn't legroom so much as width. Unless you are in well into the final 0.5% of height distribution then there is going to room for your legs under the seat in front. But the width on the 787s and to some extent the 10-a-side 777s is going to affect rather more than 0.5% of the population.
The A380 and A350 are about 18" wide and you really notice the difference. Is it an Airbus thing to make planes wide enough for passenger comfort, but Boeing make them just that little bit too small? I know the airline ultimately chooses the seat, but to go from 9 to 10 seats across means it was a planned for option at the sales stage.
