Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > TravelBuzz
Reload this Page >

Why rows across cabin?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Why rows across cabin?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 2:43 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,452
Why rows across cabin?

Can someone explain why aircraft seating rows normally go across the plane? Is it easier or safer to use an aisle if the seat across the aisle is located besides the seat on the other side, rather than between the seats on the other side of the aisle?
chornedsnorkack is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 6:54 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: my posts are my sole opinion and do not represent the opinions of UAL CORP and their subsidiaries
Posts: 711
Originally Posted by chornedsnorkack
Can someone explain why aircraft seating rows normally go across the plane? Is it easier or safer to use an aisle if the seat across the aisle is located besides the seat on the other side, rather than between the seats on the other side of the aisle?
Maybe I need more coffee, but .....

flygirl94 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 6:59 am
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BER
Programs: Hilton Diamond, SAS Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 15,758
Originally Posted by flygirl94
Maybe I need more coffee, but .....

here, too
chrissxb is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 7:23 am
  #4  
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
Originally Posted by chornedsnorkack
Is it easier or safer to use an aisle if the seat across the aisle is located besides the seat on the other side, rather than between the seats on the other side of the aisle?
This sentence does not compute.
jpatokal is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 7:30 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 10,045
Lightbulb

It would hinder evacuation in the event of a water landing if the airline were to position rows between the other side which are side-by-side with the ones they're in between.
jib71 is online now  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 7:30 am
  #6  
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Rio Rancho, NM - USA
Programs: DL, UA, WN, Amtrak, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 1,795
OK, I think I get what the OP is asking. He wants to know why rows of seats are lined up all the way across the plane, so that each row is exactly on the same "line" as the row across the aisle.

I was on a Southwest 737 yesterday where the rows were not aligned. I found it a little odd.
Dianne47 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 7:38 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
Originally Posted by Dianne47
OK, I think I get what the OP is asking. He wants to know why rows of seats are lined up all the way across the plane, so that each row is exactly on the same "line" as the row across the aisle.

I was on a Southwest 737 yesterday where the rows were not aligned. I found it a little odd.
Yep... that's my interpretation too. I am drinking coffee... but that is coincidental. We'll never know if it helped...

I too have been on configurations where they don't line up. I've always assumed they just go for the configuration where they can pack the most seats in which will often mean they line up, especially behind the curtain.
jimbo99 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 7:45 am
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by jib71
It would hinder evacuation in the event of a water landing if the airline were to position rows between the other side which are side-by-side with the ones they're in between.
Er, would it?
In cramped economy cabin, seat pitch is around 75-80 cm. If you and the passenger across the aisle try to stand up simultaneously when the plane stops, you could get two people standing in 75-80 cm of aisle - but you would bump into each other between the seatbacks and armrest ends.
chornedsnorkack is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 7:50 am
  #9  
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
40 Countries Visited
60 Nights
3M
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,775
Unless the bulk-heads don't allign for each side of the plane or an airline will have variable pitches between different seats, the current seat allignments are probably the way to get the most seats in the cabin.

It has been a couple of years since I have flown Southwest, but don't they have some seats that actually face backwards (i.e. toward the row behind them?) If so, that may be one reason that their rows don't always line up.
hhoope01 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 8:00 am
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by hhoope01
Unless the bulk-heads don't allign for each side of the plane or an airline will have variable pitches between different seats, the current seat allignments are probably the way to get the most seats in the cabin.
Well, at the ends of cabin, there are often features like galleys, storage, toilets, crew jumpseats. If they are asymmetric, the space could be handled there.
chornedsnorkack is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 8:04 am
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1MM, Delta Plat
Posts: 11,224
Originally Posted by chornedsnorkack
Can someone explain why aircraft seating rows normally go across the plane? Is it easier or safer to use an aisle if the seat across the aisle is located besides the seat on the other side, rather than between the seats on the other side of the aisle?
Originally Posted by jib71
It would hinder evacuation in the event of a water landing if the airline were to position rows between the other side which are side-by-side with the ones they're in between.
Looking for the button to switch to the English version....
redbeard911 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 8:05 am
  #12  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ICN / 평택
Programs: AA, DL Gold, UA Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 8,713
Are you suggesting that the aisle should be situated differently on aircraft? Where it is now provides the most headroom for people walking down the aisle. I know on a CRJ / ERJ I'm half ducking just to walk down the aisle as it is.
etch5895 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 8:10 am
  #13  
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred
Posts: 3,617
Originally Posted by hhoope01
Unless the bulk-heads don't allign for each side of the plane or an airline will have variable pitches between different seats, the current seat allignments are probably the way to get the most seats in the cabin.
That's the way I've seen it, if there are closets, lavs, or galleys that offset the bulkhead from one side to the other, then the rows behind will be staggered also. Otherwise, staggering rows on each side just for the sake of staggering just wastes space.

Originally Posted by hhoope01
It has been a couple of years since I have flown Southwest, but don't they have some seats that actually face backwards (i.e. toward the row behind them?) If so, that may be one reason that their rows don't always line up.
WN got rid of the rear facing seats, I think it has been a couple of years now.
djk7 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 8:12 am
  #14  
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
40 Countries Visited
60 Nights
3M
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,775
Originally Posted by chornedsnorkack
Well, at the ends of cabin, there are often features like galleys, storage, toilets, crew jumpseats. If they are asymmetric, the space could be handled there.
I did think of that, and I just assumed (OK, usually a bad thing to do. ) that the size of those things, like the galley, were designed to match up with the original seat pitch of the airplane. IOW, the galley would match to exactly twice the seat pitch for the plane. That way no wasted space.

But you are right in that even if they did do that for the original design, what happens if the airlines change the seat pitch?
hhoope01 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2007 | 8:44 am
  #15  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 10,045
Originally Posted by redbeard911
Looking for the button to switch to the English version....
It's under the space which is perpendicularly situated to the ones between the parallel area. Got it?



Oh... and um... I do believe that gets me to... Mornington Crescent!
jib71 is online now  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.