Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Solution to Seat Rage: No More Reclining
Daily Beast ^ | September 4, 2014 | Will Doig

Posted on 09/04/2014 6:56:11 AM PDT by C19fan

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
To: C19fan

I think they should make the seats so that when they recline they also slide forward. That way the recliners can crush their own knees.


21 posted on 09/04/2014 7:30:31 AM PDT by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sauropod
Put more space between the seat rows so if someone reclines, you aren’t stuck gazing into their eyes while they put their head in your lap.

Mathematics strikes again.

Airlines don't shrink space between seats because they want to make their customers uncomfortable. They do it because an extra row of seats increases their revenue for a full flight by 3% or so.

AFAIK, the only American airline that has been consistently profitable is Southwest, so it's not like the airlines are just greedy. In fact, the airline industry as q whole has never made money over its entire history. They do in some years, but that's based almost entirely on fuel price and traffic volatility. When traffic is up and fuel is down, they make money. But pretty much only then.

This would all work itself out in the marketplace if people were logical. Some airlines would have more space between seats and charge a little extra. The lower price airlines would be less comfortable.

The weird way tickets are sold prevents this. People go online and always buy the cheapest ticket they find. So there is, by definition, a race to the bottom in nonessentials like comfort and service.

The reason is that most flights aren't very long, so people aren't willing to pay extra for minor comfort improvements. They are, however, most willing to complain about them.

22 posted on 09/04/2014 7:31:41 AM PDT by Sherman Logan (Perception wins most of the battles. Reality wins ALL the wars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

For the price of the ticket, the p-ger should get what they pay for; full recline, and full tray table access. Unfortunately, it’s either, not both. My knees are in pressured contact with the front seat for every dam flight, unless I get the upgrade. But still the full recliner then causes problems with my table tray access for a computer. To solve the problem—eliminate the recline entirely. Not the best solution, but better. Then use a collar pillow.


23 posted on 09/04/2014 7:37:06 AM PDT by SgtHooper (Anyone who remembers the 60's, wasn't there!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: meatloaf

A nice fart app, volume subdued... couple of hits and shazam the recliner goes up.


24 posted on 09/04/2014 7:39:02 AM PDT by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cymbaline

You must have had a sheltered life.


25 posted on 09/04/2014 7:42:01 AM PDT by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: meatloaf

Pumping nitrous oxide into the economy class cabin would solve everything, even hijackings. Lets call it nitrous class flying. I’m in, I hate flying and drink myself silly whenever I do. Nitrous is a better solution.


26 posted on 09/04/2014 7:43:46 AM PDT by HerrBlucher (Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of Creation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

I don’t believe that result. Every single time I go through LA my flights are ALWAYS delayed significantly.


27 posted on 09/04/2014 7:44:06 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain
The airlines get better long-term deals on fuel than we GA slobs do...

Yep, we don't have fuel contracts like they do. I don't fly nearly as often these days, I have to have a really good reason to go. 100LL prices are insane.

28 posted on 09/04/2014 7:51:41 AM PDT by Tigerized (Keep Calm, Carry On, but Never Give Up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring
My opinion is that anyone who would recline their seat into my knees is a jerk.

My opinion is that anyone who rams their seat back into the recline position without checking with the person behind them is a jerk. I once had a laptop rammed in so tight that I thought it was going to break and it took a call to the flight attendant to get this individual to move their seat forward to untrap it… tell me, who would have paid me for a damaged computer and all the time lost if it had of been smashed?

29 posted on 09/04/2014 7:54:32 AM PDT by hecticskeptic (In life it's important to know what you believeÂ….but more more importantly, why you believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

I think you meant consolation prize, though consolidation may be what’s happening. ;)


30 posted on 09/04/2014 7:57:51 AM PDT by FamiliarFace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sauropod

I hate flying. I really do.


It don`t bother me a bit, I don`t do it.


31 posted on 09/04/2014 7:59:24 AM PDT by ravenwolf (nd)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

Wonder how many people who are flying really need to fly?


32 posted on 09/04/2014 7:59:32 AM PDT by Brother Cracker (You are more likely to find krugerrands in a Cracker Jack box then 22 ammo at Wal-Mart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan
A consolidation prize for being short is not feeling crunched when flying.

Short people got no reason to live except when flying.

33 posted on 09/04/2014 8:02:23 AM PDT by Brother Cracker (You are more likely to find krugerrands in a Cracker Jack box then 22 ammo at Wal-Mart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

The biggest problem is that they jam way too many seats in a plane in the first place. For the last decade they have added more seats and rows to planes in order to maximize profit. They have also greatly reduced flights to limit the potential seats and increase prices.

I am always shocked that Midwest Express was discontinued. Until 9/11 they where the best in the industry and every seat was first class. They started tinkering wit the seats and lowering the quality after they had money problems due to 9/11. It is a shame no other carrier has figured out how to copy their original model.

I honestly believe that a company could decide to offer a specific high quality of service with fewer seats and an understanding that the service would be at a price within $20 of the same destination as a competitor.

I understand that pricing in the industry is all very logistical, but sometimes simple is better and I believe that most, particularly business, travelers would reward a company for better seats and more transparent pricing.

I used to fly 2 to four flights a week for business in the late nineties and early 00’s. Thank God I don’t have to fly now.


34 posted on 09/04/2014 8:02:52 AM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

The guy flying beat the driving team by 7 minutes.


The drivers probably got hung up in a seat belt check.


35 posted on 09/04/2014 8:05:41 AM PDT by ravenwolf (nd)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy

Before my TBA one concern in flying vs. driving was if I was going to want to take any firearms to my destination. Even though it is possible to declare them and take them on aircraft, I’ve never trusted the TSA screeners not to steal them, so taking guns always meant I’d drive.


36 posted on 09/04/2014 8:24:54 AM PDT by libstripper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
My opinion is that anyone who would use a knee defender is a jerk.

I see it as capitalism at its best. An entrepreneur identified a common public need. They invented a product to fulfill that need. They made it small and affordable to fit into a carry-on bag.

Personally, if I'm buying an airplane seat, I am buying for the privilege of a comfortable flight. I'm not paying to stare at someone else's head for three hours.

The selfish person who reclines all the way back practically forces me to do the same to the person behind me. It would be better if the reclining was minimal so I could function with my electronic device or magazine and a small beverage which I can do with someone else's head there instead.

37 posted on 09/04/2014 8:25:41 AM PDT by OrangeHoof (Every time you say no to a liberal, you make the Baby Barack cry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

One of the best names for a Greyhound Bus is, “anti-personnel carrier.”


38 posted on 09/04/2014 8:26:27 AM PDT by libstripper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior
My opinion is that anyone who would use a knee defender is a jerk.

Would you feel that way if your knees were right up against the seat in front of you and it was painful when the seat reclined?

And don't say to buy a first class ticket. The seats are wider there but they are still close together front to back.

A fly a lot. The only people who recline are those on vacation, not the business travelers. Those heading to Las Vegas and Florida are the worst.

39 posted on 09/04/2014 8:31:39 AM PDT by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sauropod

Flying just sucks!


40 posted on 09/04/2014 8:36:48 AM PDT by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson