My three sons (all over 6 Foot) and I (5'10") flew from New York to Atlanta a few days ago. No First available, so we flew coach. No need to mention that the flight was full...

I was shocked by the fact that almost everyone was clearly lacking for space.

Haven't the airlines realized that within the last 20 years people have been growing and cannot indefinitely fly like sardines?

Isn'it the duty of every member of FT to protest against such a situation? I believe we are a strong group and we should start some kind of an email campaign to, some day, be able to finally sit adequately.

Or does nobody mind?

Charter flights.

Well, I don't think you're going to see that happening. If you want more room, you upgrade or pay a higher fare.

Airlines have discovered that for 99% of the flying population, selection of airline is based on price, price and price. (I've heard that seats on the low-cost carriers in Europe such as RyanAir are even worse.) I think AA is even backing off its "more room throughout Coach" stance.

Two days ago on a flight from MCI to ATL, we (husband, son and I) had seats reserved in the second row of Coach. We traded for the bulkhead row with a couple who arrived with a service dog, thinking they'd reserved 3 seats. She was overweight (degenerative muscle disease) and needed to raise the armrest to accomodate her bulk, whcih she couldn't do in the bulkhead row.

We thought we'd made a great trade till it turned out they'd reserved only TWO bulkhead seats and my husband had to give up the bulkhead aisle seat to a paying passenger and sit in the aisle seat next to Mrs. Bulky- with the armrest between them raised. He's a good soul and just figured, "There but for the grace of God..."

But, I digress. This is the marketplace. Start-up airlines that have tried to offer bigger seats and premium service have failed. Unfortunate but true. Partly due to tactics of the Big 6 but partly due to the demand for cheap, cheap, cheap.

Your husband should have cancelled the seat trade saying to the large lady:

He thought he was getting three bulkhead seats but only got two,

He wanted to sit with his famly,

Her occupying part of his seat was not acceptable.

The choice of staying put but lowering only the arm rest in question and squeezing the other way against her companion.

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[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited Dec 25, 2003).]

Some low cost carriers have not only larger seats but in Leather also.

Wow, whats wrong with the big 3?
Regards,
Robert

protest by moving your business elsewhere.

Umm. No. I don't think it's my "duty" to take action against something you don't like.

Or does nobody mind?

I fly AA (MRTC), UA (E+), or pay for upgrades/F. Free market = take your business elsewhere. Loss of revenue hits them a lot harder than letters and e-mails.

..........................

If it were all economic survival, maybe someone could explain how Midwest Express continues to survive with its 2+2 business class-like seating on its MD-80s. Their fares are not any higher than it's competition.

And now ATA has gone to MRTC with its increased legroom.

I think it's just an excuse by the big airlines, because they are so poorly mismanaged.

......................

Bingo! Real personal protest involves your wallet.

I did not ask you to complain for what I don't like, rather I thought that most of the frequent travellers don't like to be cramped. You must really be joking in pretending that a single person taking his business elsewhere might "hurt" an airline...
A few years ago, I spent an average of $120'000.- on one airline alone. They changed their schedules, so I was forced to switch to another. Although I had reached the highest status, they never bothered once to ask why I wasn't flying with them any more.

Did every single American win Independance alone?

You are comparing your flying experience with British colonialism? A bit dramatic I see.

If you want more room, you walk with your wallet----it's that simple. Instead of acting like a victim, why don't you find a better airline which meets your needs. They all are not the same. For you to think so makes me wonder how long you have flown. Have you ever flown Midwest Airlines for example? Look them up.

Hello Amnalise,

I have been flying for 32 years at the rate of about 500'000 miles a year.

I fly coach only when there is nothing else available and this for the shortest hauls possible.

On one of my last flight (14 1/2 Hrs.), I wanted to walk a bit, so I walked into Business and then Y. I met some passengers trying to do the same and we started chatting. The plane was full and it was not difficult to see and overhear, that people felt cramped and uncomfortable. Not everybody cann afford to fly F, but I thought nobody should also be treated like cattle... Well, broaching this subject here was a mistake, it seems everybody is perfectly satisfied. So, why should I have feelings for others?