Is it Time For Government Action on Airplane Seat Size?

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I am not one to call for Government interference lightly, but I think it is time for a government mandated passenger bill of rights and for the government to mandate space just as they do for air quality. The reasoning is that markets have not worked to establish humane air transit so it is the duty of the government to step in.

Once you pick yourself up off the floor after the shock of me calling for more government please tell us your take on this subject.

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On Sunday, United Airlines Flight 1462 from Newark to Denver was forced to divert to Chicago. When the plane landed at O'Hare International Airport, city police and TSA officers escorted from the aircraft two passengers who had caused an in-flight kerfuffle. The cause of their fight? Legroom.

The fight began after the first offending passenger (the Transportation Security Administration declined to give names) deployed the Knee Defender. This pocket-sized travel device locks in place the fold-out tray on the back of airline seats, preventing the person in front of you from reclining. It retails for $21.95, which seems a small price to pay for uninfringed legspace during an otherwise crammed flight. From the AP:

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The fight started when the male passenger, seated in a middle seat of row 12, used the Knee Defender to stop the woman in front of him from reclining while he was on his laptop, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak.
A flight attendant asked him to remove the device and he refused. The woman then stood up, turned around and threw a cup of water at him, the official says. That's when United decided to land in Chicago. The two passengers were not allowed to continue to Denver.

The Knee Defender, as it turns out, is not strictly prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration but is banned by most major U.S. airlines, including United.* Still, you can't really blame the passenger for trying, especially since airlines seem in the business of cramming ever-more passengers into ever-smaller seats. Seats that spanned 18.5 inches throughout the 1990s and early 2000s today have dwindled to just 16.5 inches in width. The space between rows has dropped by about 10 percent, from 34 inches to just 32 or 30 or even a measly 28 inches. At the same time, the typical passenger has grown taller and packed on extra pounds.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/08/26/knee_defender_fight_united_airlines_flight_1462_diverted_over_legroom_kerfuffle.html

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@hawkeye10,

There has to be some sort of logical seat size. The last flight I was on -- there was a very large man next to me -- way too large for his seat. As a result, he could not put down the arm rest because his body was so large it wouldn't allow it. Also his body then was overflowing into my seat.

Of course the plane was full and I was traveling with my daughter so I didn't want her by herself or want her next to this man. It was a red-eye and believe me in the morning my eyes were red.

It really isn't fair for a smaller person to have to give up part of their seat for someone larger -- I paid for a seat and should have full access to it. According to the airlines website they do not have any rules about oversized passenagers requiring to purchase another seat or purchase a seat in the rows with more room so those sitting next to them have to suffer.

I think I have an idea for the inventor on here -- something that prevents the person next to you from oozing into your space.

Not that even an average size person can fit comfortably in one of the seats. I have also heard certain airlines (to avoid the reclining situation) have taken out the reclining of the seats. I think soon there will be a standing room only flight.

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@Linkat,

Quote:

I think soon there will be a standing room only flight.

we are not, in fact, cattle.

People want to pay as little as possible which I totally understand as most classes have less wealth then they used to and tend to think they can suffer through a few hours if need be. But this business has gotten ridiculous. I rarely fly anymore but a few years back I was on 4 different planes for a trip (last minute so had to get creative to find a seat) ....one of the planes was about to be retired, looked a bit ratty inside actually, but my word what BIG seats it had.

How about this rule....seats need to be big enough to comfortably accommodate 85% of americans? We have a law that changes min wage to adjust to inflation, so why not seat size law that adjusts to the size of the fannies that have to fit into them?

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@hawkeye10,

I agree about the flying -- I have avoided and as a result have flown much less than I used to. But a wedding on the other side of the country -- a bit too far to drive.

Even last summer when we went on vacation, I suggested driving over flying - was about 16 or 18 hour drive, I think. Pointing out the fact that you need to get to the airport so early (especially as we bring our dog so we need to checkin regular) - and then wait possibly change planes, then gathering your luggage, getting the car rental, etc. A 3 hour flight can then become 6 or more with all the crap. Then you need to be strip searched (last flight both my daughter and me had to be checked for explosives -- dog didn't have to be checked though just carried through the xray).

It seems more a hassle than to just drive -- then you already have your car and can pack whatever you want and stop and walk around when you want to.

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@Linkat,

Quote:

Boeing's future 777 promises some relief. The proposed 777X's cabin will be 4 inches wider than current versions, giving almost half an inch more per seat at 10 across. But that space won't arrive until about 2020.

The solution, said Mr. Clark at Emirates, is to offer distractions like big meals, frequent snacks and lots of electronic entertainment. Mr. Goodwin, the Emirates passenger from Birmingham, said attentive service did distract him from the seating.

"With food and TV," said Mr. Clark at Emirates, "people are mesmerized."

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304384104579141941949066648

Actually, no I am not.

Quote:

I have avoided and as a result have flown much less than I used to.

I never liked flying, but now I avoid it if at all possible. I take Amtrak when I can, but here again what we have is third world. I used to do a lot, and I mean a LOT, of traveling when I was young. The journey is half the fun I always thought. Now traveling by any means in America is stressful and not fun. Old age maybe, but when I look at facts such as seat size I doubt it.

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Is it Time For Government Action on Airplane Seat Size?

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