Last Thursday, the United States Senate refused to uphold an amendment that would have kept airlines from reducing seat width, padding and leg room.
Over the past few years, both the average width of an airplane seat and the space in between seats have shrunk in order to pack more passengers onto airplanes. This tactic is yet another way for airlines to get more money out of increasingly uncomfortable customers.
Airlines are charging those who desire additional legroom or seat space more money, even if the kind of space which passengers desire used to be the standard amount they received. But shrinking seat sizes in order to fit even more people on flights benefits nobody but the airline companies profiting from ticket sales and “additional” services.
The close proximity in which airlines place their passengers also leaves me concerned about the well-being of anyone who has a larger frame or struggles with claustrophobia.
Furthermore, plane rides already leave passengers highly susceptible to illness, due to the confinement in a small area and circulated air. Smaller seat spaces mean people will be closer to each other than ever before, increasing their risk of getting sick.
Our legislators should have fought against airline companies. But if changing seat size and legroom back to the old standards is out of the question, then airlines should at least take the initiative to adjust the airflow within planes such that it moves from top to bottom, which reduces passengers’ risk of illness.
Flying is expensive, and if we’re paying for tickets, airlines shouldn’t be forcing us to pay even more for what used to be standard.
Keelia Moeller welcomes comments at [email protected].
