December 24, 2013--Pre-Reclined

I have very long legs and even under the best of circumstances am not comfortable on a long trip when flying coach. I even once developed the beginning of a case of Deep Vein Thrombosis as the result of being packed in like a sardine on a flight from New York to Raleigh-Durham.

Now, with nearly every flight sold out, to extract more money from the flying public, airlines are finding ways to cram in more seats at the expense of even normal-height customers.

The New York Times has the details.

First, airlines have been reducing the amount of space between rows of seats. From about 34 inches twenty years ago to between 30 and 32 now. When it comes to airline seats, every inch literally counts. Two fewer inches means that one's knees are crammed against the seat ahead even if it is in the full-upright position. And this in turn makes it virtually impossible to recline since, if you care, it means crippling the person in the seat behind.

To create  a sliver more seat space--and I mean a "sliver"--airlines are making seats out of cheesier, thinner materials. Less padding in the seat back means maybe an extra quarter-inch of space. And, of course, for any flight of more than an hour this means you arrive at your destination with an aching back, hardly ready for an arduous day of business meetings.

Air carriers are also reducing the angle of the pitch of seats, which makes it nearly impossible when flying from Houston to Newark to recline enough to be able to take a nap.

In fact, since passengers are so angry about cabin discomfort there are increasing numbers of fights breaking out among travelers. We have all had the experience of the person being crushed in the seat behind us repeatedly jabbing his knees into our backs in an effort to get us to keep our seats upright.

Spirit Airlines, one of the newer low-cost airlines, to avoid fisticuffs among flyers, is installing seats that do not recline at all. Ever clever in the way they spin the benefits of making passengers miserable, they call this "pre-reclined" seating. As if one is getting special treatment such as "pre-boarding."

In those cabin configurations where seats still recline, albeit if less than in the past, frustrated customers have taken to using seat-jamming devices known commercially as "knee guards." Passengers jam them in the mechanisms of seats in front to prevent being maimed by reclined seats. The airlines are not happy about this but have little choice since incipient mass rebellion is close at hand.

Then I have another concern that is not about comfort--safety.

This is not yet part of the discussion; but if in an emergency it is impossible to pull oneself out of a claustrophobic seat to make one's way to an exit, isn't that something the FAA should be concerned about?

If fire departments set limits on the number of seats that can be installed in a movie theater or even a restaurant, is there no limit to what the airlines can get away with in their quest for profits? In addition, with passengers on average 20 pounds heavier than a few decades ago, obesity too compounds the hazard.

In the meantime, I am using my frequent flyer miles to get upgraded to business class. I do feel a little guilty when I see coach passengers glaring at me resentfully as they proceed down the aisle, knowing they will be tortured for hours while I will at least be able to recline.