A couple years ago, I decided to take a very long flight to visit a friend who had recently moved to South Africa. Being that it was a few years ago, and I hadn’t quite achieved my travel snobbery that I currently have, I went for the cheapest flight option possible. The cheapest option possible at the time included flying out of Seattle (instead of Portland), connecting through London and then going on to Johannesburg. All in all travel included 40 hours in the air, six in the car, and I can’t even remember how many in layovers.
Now, I am not a tall person and fit relatively well in airplanes, but after 40 hours in an airplane, even I was complaining about the small accommodations. Upon my return, I emailed my friend who works for Boeing to complain about the leg room. She informed me that while Boeing builds the planes, each individual airline chooses their seat sizes, layouts, etc. After hearing this, I decided to forgive my friend for being part of the uncomfortable airline industry. Now I could focus my irritation on the airlines themselves.
Since that trip to South Africa, I have become more of a travel snob. I like direct flights at decent times, even if it costs more. I recently went with a friend to Hawaii and instead of meeting up with his flight in Seattle and having to deal with a layover; I went for the direct flight and met him at the airport. I just bought a plane ticket to Vegas, and although the flight down has a very brief layover in Seattle, it was at the time I wanted. I have decided in my old age, that comfort and convenience is well worth a few extra bucks.
With the memory of being stuffed like a sardine into an airplane still fresh in my memory, even at my vertically challenged size, you can imagine my surprise when I saw in article in the WSJ today. Turns out, airlines are again making the decision to reduce leg room. Airlines are buying the same size planes, but squeezing 10-12 more seats in each plane! Some are even taking food galleys out of planes and putting in smaller chairs. Again, I’m not a large person, but I barely fit in an airplane seat.
The one benefit of the planes with smaller seating areas is that many offer bigger over head bins. Great idea, since they all now charge for checked luggage. Anyone else noticed that it takes longer to board a plane since everyone is overstuffing a carry on suitcase and still trying to stuff it into a tiny bin? Although with more seats on the plane, more people will bring more suitcases and be fighting for space.
I understand that traveling is a privilege (as long as it isn’t for work), especially being able to afford air fare instead of having to drive places. And while I’m small and can actually fit into an airplane seat without an excessive amount of discomfort, I always end up next to the giant on the plane who has to overflow their body parts into my space. Not comfortable to start with, but imagine if you have an exceptionally large personal space bubble too.
If I barely fit into an airplane seat, I can’t fathom being around 6 feet tall and having to fit into an airline seat for hours at a time. Is it really in the best interest of the airlines to for go customer comfort to squeeze in a few extra people? All of our previous air privileges have already been taken away to save a buck – do you really have to treat us worse than sardines too?
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