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Comments (15)
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Save/ShareI recently asked a bunch of airline spokespeople if legroom on planes has shrunk in the past couple of decades. I heard back a resounding "No." But I had trouble believing it.
Yesterday, I felt vindicated. The Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney reported some anecdotal evidence that there really is less legroom. His report:
"New Boeing737-800s now being delivered to American Airlines have the same-size cabins as the existing 737-800s in American's fleet. But the new planes have 12 more coach seats, pushing the total number of seats to 160. Delta Air Lines has also added 10 seats to its 737-800s, raising the total to the same 160. So has Continental Airlines."
This means that legroom is shrinking. For American's planes, many rows used to have 32 or 33 inches of legroom, depending. Now it will be 31 inches throughout the coach class cabin. Even the "bulkhead" seats—the ones in the first row of economy class—will lose legroom. And we shouldn't pick just on American. A few other major airlines are making the same move.
What to do? Here's the advice of Budget Travel's editors:
Always reserve a specific seat when you book a flight or a package. (The closer you sit to the lavatory, the more likely you'll smell like it even after you've deplaned.) If you end up with a bum seat, try to switch to a better one at check-in. And if that still doesn't work, try again at the gate. Gate agents have the power to re-seat you, while flight attendants don't (expect when it comes to the emergency rows and passengers violating airline policies).
Up until now, we've recommend that fliers use SeatGuru.com to scope the plane's best and worst rows.
But this spring, the competing site SeatExpert has gotten a fresh look. The site is much easier to use for the average budget-consicous leisure traveler who is flying only a few times a year in North America or Western Europe.*
Type in your airline name, flight number, and depature date. The site will fetch for you a seat map for your flight. (Rival site SeatGuru requires that you figure out the model of aircraft on your own, which isn't always easy to do.)
SeatExpert uses info supplied by past travelers and aircraft manufacturers to tell you which seats are best. Its color-coded scheme shows which seats are rated as good, bad, or awful for 57 carriers.
Does a seat have little legroom? You'll find out. Will you be one of the last people to get off the plane? You'll get the skinny. Is the seat in the part of a plane near a stinky bathroom, without direct access to a window, or in a part of the plane prone to additional sideways motion? You'll get the scoop at SeatExpert.
Jargon alert: When the site uses the term "seat pitch," it means legroom as defined by the number of inches between rows.
*If you're flying every month or flying within small, overseas countries, you may instead find that SeatGuru has better coverage.
EARLIER
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Hi Sean-
I'll give SeatExpert another look based on this post. It does sound easier to use. Years ago, I used to consult both SeatGuru and SeatExpert when selecting a seat, but after a while it seemed like SeatGuru had a bigger data base.
If I remember correctly, about 6 to 10 years ago, American had reconfigured most of their fleet for more leg room in coach. That was one of their big selling points. I wonder when they moved the seats back to sardine-sized? That happened quietly, didn't it?
Posted By Sheila on June 5, 2009, 5:30 PM
Another feature of SeatExpert.com is the Ask the Seat Expert.
Visitors of the site can ask the experts questions. The answers to those questions are posted on the site for everyone to see.
It can be difficult for the average traveler to find information about their individual situation.
This is a great interactive tool to use that sets SeatExpert apart.
Posted By Jamie on June 5, 2009, 8:41 PM
I can only speak for American Airlines and my experience with them. American has not reduced the legroom on their 737-800s. They removed the rear galleys to make room for the additional seats. So, I think it's unfair of you to state they have reduced legroom when, in fact, they have not.
Posted By Norman on June 8, 2009, 10:11 AM
there seems to be a code on my ticket that tells the gate agent what "class" of flier {or what I paid } that clues him for any "upgrade" I may request. How does it work?
Posted By roy isasi on June 8, 2009, 12:16 PM
If the airlines want to know why people aren't flying as much, here's another reason why. On my last flight, the person in front of me put his seat back then proceeded to grasp the headrest with both hands leaving his dirty fingernails inches from my face. It was disgusting. This summer, if I can't drive somewhere- I'm not going. (Oh, and the flight was on American- for Norman, there)
Posted By PattiB on June 8, 2009, 12:50 PM
Norman,
If you read the article, you will find they REALLY did change the amount of room between the seats. However, American is changing the type of seats which lessens the impact. The rally sad thing is that the airlines could change the seats themselves (to move forward and down when you lean back) and all of us would be happier.
Posted By Joder on June 8, 2009, 2:28 PM
I'll make another choice; I won't fly...
ALL my travel is by choice and IF I Don't Like What They Offer????
Why would anyone allow them selves to be ABUSED?
Posted By Harold Sword on June 8, 2009, 4:15 PM
My husband is handicap-diabetic and over 300 pds. Really hard for him to move around on a plane. Any suggestions on what airline to fly to Alaska? He is also 6ft tall. The lack of space and leg room causes real pain not discomfert.
Posted By Patricia E Swift on June 8, 2009, 4:29 PM
I recently flew to Guatemala City on Spirit and was amazed to find more width and leg room in my regular coach seat than on my last Delta flight in March to Venice. Way to Go, Spirit!!!
Josie
Posted By josie on June 9, 2009, 10:17 AM
I have been flying JetBlue to DC-Dulles and love it. Leather seats, roomy, enough leg room and super employees. Almost forgot, individual TV screens - watch what you want.
Posted By Rosina Codd on June 9, 2009, 10:43 AM
I have simply stopped flying. The last time I flew on Hawaiian Airlines, the seat pitch in my row was so tight that I could barely sit down and then I had pressure and pain on my legs. Coach class seats have become untenable for tall people - say over six feet three - with long legs. This is abominable and very poor treatment of passengers. I shall drive or stay in Texas.
Some airlines - like United - offer a few more inches of seat room for a high fee - over $100 to Hawaii. I shall opt out.
Posted By Esteban on June 9, 2009, 2:45 PM
Tell your anonymous flight attendant who commented on her 7 ways to annoy her that it annoys me that the fight crew takes up the first row's over the head storage. They will not check their baggage like the rest of us.
Period.
Bruce Kaiser, who now flys his own plane and not the airlines, period.
Posted By Bruce Kaiser on June 11, 2009, 2:55 PM
Can't believe you loved Spirit Airlines. We flew them to Islip a few months ago. It was the worst flight of our lives. There was no leg room, disgusting passengers, rude people, and just before landing, they cut the A/C, so it was stifling. Also, a woman behind me kept throwing her jacket over my chair, thereby landing on my head. She was so nasty hat she wantd to punch me. WE couldn't wait to get off that flight, and vowed to never fly that airline again. And we're going back to Islip,but flying instead to LGA on AA and taking ground transportation from there.
M.B. Cid
Posted By Mimi Cid on June 14, 2009, 8:57 PM
@Norman Hi Norman,
Here’s a belated thank you for your recent comment to Budget Travel’s blog.
You say AA hasn't reduced legroom yet. Well, yes, but what I was reporting is that legroom is about to shrink: New Boeing737-800s now being delivered to American Airlines have the same-size cabins as the existing 737-800s in American's fleet. Not only that, but one thing I didn't mention in my post is that the *width* of the seats have already shrunk by an inch, Journal also reported. That said, I am not trying to pick on American Airlines. This move is an industry-wide phenomenon, driven by designs by the two main airplane manufacturers Boeing and Airbus. In hindsight, I should have made that clearer in my post.
Again, thank you for keeping us honest,
@Roy You ask about the code on your ticket that tells the gate agent what "class" of flier you are. It's different for every airline, so I can't generalize, I'm afraid. However, FareCompare has a terrific summary of the most important type of code for upgrades. you'll find it here. this link will open as a PDF file so you'll need an Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free software) to read it: Y-up fare code guide
@Patricia. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's medical troubles. The airline system is completely unaccommodating for the handicapped and ill--it's a story I really am itching to write about. However, there are simply not many options. United offers Economy Plus on many routes--You pay a nominal fee to get up to 36 inches of legroom. JetBlue offers 36 inches of legroom in seats in the back-half of its plane (so request seat assignments toward the back of the plane). On Southwest, you won't be charged for a second seat if you're medically obese and there is a free second seat available. I hope that helps!
@Sheila Thanks for your comment on Seat Expert. I agree—American Airlines had made a big push based on legroom not that long ago. But it didn’t gain the company much market share, apparently. AA certainly didn’t make much of a noise when when shrunk the seatroom again. That said, I don't want to single out AA for punishment. The entire industry has accepted seats that are too small (17 inch widths is just too small for even healthy, fit people).
--Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Blog Editor on June 15, 2009, 10:51 AM
While on vacation in Slovenia last summer, I fell and broke my left leg in multiple places. I had to have surgery and then had to fly back to the USA. I flew Lufthansa from Dubrovnik to Amsterdam, then flew Continental on to the USA. I just want to say that the airlines were wonderful to me. They gave me a bulkhead seat and even an extra seat because I had to have my leg elevated. They met me with a wheelchair and transported me to my next gate for every plane change. I know that some handicapped people have had bad experiences flying, but the airlines went out of their way to make me comfortable and be helpful.
Posted By Tawana on June 15, 2009, 6:17 PM