Get ready for another possible round of airline seat-space shrinkage, as the major airlines and the ultra-low-costs have a race to the bottom to squeeze out the last dollar of fares and fees.
Consumers who had hoped that Congress might act to set a lower limit on seat space lost out this week, when the Senate rejected, 42-54, a proposal by Sen. Schumer of NY to put a hold on further shrinkage while the FAA worked to set a minimum standard for passenger comfort and safety. A similar provision also died in the House of Representatives.
Schumer echoed many passenger complaints and feedback from consumer organizations when he said “consumers are packed in like sardines in a can on every flight…Flying is not pleasant any more.”
He pointed out that over the past 30 years or so, seat widths have shrunk from an average of 18.5″ to 17″ and the space between seats has dropped from around 35″ to 31″ or even as low as 29″ even as passengers have been getting bigger. Many experts have suggested that there is a limit at which passengers cannot safely sit, or worse, cannot get out in an emergency.
More details from the Washington Post HERE
