As Long as I get a window seat, I don’t care how the layout is…

I found it uncomfortable, but it should be pointed out that they have a significantly deeper pitch than normal in an attempt to compensate.The main problem with 2-2-2-2 is simply that it's 8 abreast, not 9. The very crude easy calculations suggest you'd need a 12.5% increase in fares to maintain the same trip revenue on a full aircraft, or else you're going to take a hit on trip revenue whenever your Y load factor would exceed 89% of the 9-abreast configuration. Unlike the EK compensation measure, it would be difficult to reduce pitch below normal scheduled economy levels now found without generating significant extra discomfort.

2-2-2-2 would be the exact same layout as 2-5-2 with the middle middle seats replaced by an aisle.

In case the flight is empty, the middle middle seats would be empty anyway, so not much gained there, except for the people in the next-to-middle seats who now have an aisle instead of an empty seat next to them.
In case the flight is full, they can't sell as many seats as with 2-5-2.

Actually, it wouldn't. You'd also need to remove some more seats to allow access to that aisle.

They have a 34" pitch, which isnt much better than most airlines, except BA, KL and VS. Air Canada, Malaysian Airlines, PIA, American Airlines & Saudi Arabian all offer 34" pitch. With Emirates, either you will have an average seat, or an average pitch, never both. For example on the A340-300 the width is good but the seat pitch is 31"!! This is the same on the A330, A345 (but with 32" pitch)

I'm sure someone will come out with all the figures (and maybe prove me wrong) but I would have said that on the whole 31-32 inches is more the norm for Y pitch, and 34 inches is generous. AA advertises this very pitch as "More Room", after all.

Post deleted

American Airlines pitch is only 34"??? When I flew them, I measured it to be 36"... it certainly felt more roomy than that.


Here are some airlines with 33"-34" pitch

JetBlue 34"
South African 34"
Southwest 33"
Estonian Air 33"
Midwest 34"
Air Namibia 34"
Gulf Air 34"

but yes... 31"-32" is definately industry average.

Emirates 34" is on the generous side.... but its by no means good enough to compensate for a 3 x 4 x 3 configuration...

Ethiopian Airlines offers 35" so I hear...

Actually, you said that - although IIRC AA's international Y pitch is less than its domestic Y pitch. And MRTC seems to be being progressively withdrawn anyway.

Contrary to popular belief airlines do not have a fixed pitch for all their seats, some of those quoted here are averages, others are minima. Even in one aircraft there can be different pitches in different places due to the spacing of bulkheads, doors, etc that the seats must be fitted in between. And there are usually noticeable differences between aircraft types.

Then there are airlines where even on one fleet the seats are laid out differently. This is most noticeable where operating secondhand aircraft (it is surprisingly difficult and expensive to rearrange seating once installed). Finnair for example has 6 MD-11s in their long haul fleet, all done differently. The original pair are quite OK, a recent acquisition is a real dog for pitch. But they look identical from the outside !

Oooh, I certainly doubt that. My sibling just flew on ET, and complained at the fact that legroom on their latest 763 is appalling, having connected from Air Canada. I also remember a few years back when I tried sitting in coach on a 752, and my knee was literally stuck to the seat in front of me. Luckily, I was whisked into their Business class without any suffering.

Hehe I think its on their regional aircraft only