American, JetBlue, Southwest, United Airlines Shrink Legroom on Planes

[marmar]

American, JetBlue, Southwest, United Airlines Shrink Legroom on Planes

Books & Review | Cole Garner Hill
Updated: Aug 23, 2012 11:30 AM EDT


Fuel prices are rising once again. So, prepare to get to know the guy who smells like Axe body-spray in 3A a whole lot better. Airlines are shrinking legroom on planes across the board.

Everyone from American, to JetBlue, Southwest, and United are looking for creative ways to save money and increase revenue beyond fare increases, and charging add-on fees. Many airlines are adding seats and decreasing legroom in the economy section by reducing seat pitch - the amount space from one point on the seat to the same point on the row ahead - swapping out thicker seat cushions for thinner ones or installing new seat architecture.

.....(snip).....

Southwest Airlines:

Southwest began retrofitting its fleet with a new interior in March. Seats are now six pounds lighter than previous models with thinner cushions. In a blog post on Southwest's website, the airline admits this allows them to increase the number of seats on board from 137 to 143 on some aircraft. It claims that seat comfort and space isn't sacrificed, but hey, you do that math and see if that means less space.

JetBlue:

JetBlue announced this month that the company has added enhanced legroom seats, dubbed Even More Space, to its fleet of Embraer 190 aircraft. Of course, this has come at the expense of a tighter seat pitch for those seated further back in the coach cabin. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.booksnreview.com/articles/780/20120823/american-jetblue-southwest-united-airlines-shrink-legroom-on-planes.htm

[xchrom]

1. we are cattle to them -- and those planes are cattle cars. nt

[Berlum]

2. "Moooooooooooo" - Miserable Sweaty Flying Proles

[xchrom]

3. they must hate people my age and older.

we remember a world of flying very, very different from this one.

and you know how us old people are -- we LOVE to talk and REMEMBER how it used to be to who ever will listen.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Will be a matter of time before a passenger dies from a blood clot in the leg

due to the decreased leg room in the cabin (deep vein thrombosis).

http://www.everydayhealth.com/dvt/blood-clot-risk-and-air-travel.aspx

[liberal N proud]

5. I long for the days of old, where travel was a pleasure

Where you boarded the plane and were treated like you were special and the flight attendants were not rude. Where the passenger was precious to the airline and were respected instead of the prodding like cattle and stuffed into rock hard seats in a contortionist position.
Where they asked you if you were comfortable instead of yelling at you to shut the window shade so everyone will sleep.

They can do this because we have no other option, it's come fly with us because you can't get there any other way. We need high speed rail in this country so badly.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Another Example of "Deregulation" Gone Bad...

The airlines know they can get away with treating people like cattle...no food, no pillows or any real comfort. Of course you can "upgrade" for $200 extra to sit in First Class. Don't Like It? Walk From New York To Miami...

It used to be we'd drive if the trip was 300 miles or less...now its 500 miles. As a kid flying was something "special in the air"...today it's a necessary evil.

[CBHagman]

7. I really didn't think they could possibly show more contempt for customers than they already do...

...but I was wrong, wrong, wrong. Today travel by air is a completely different game from what I remember.