Reclining Airline Seats Are Disappearing From Economy Class

Condé Nast Traveler ^ | 4.15.2024 | Jessica Puckett

[libh8er]

Reclining seats are one of the most controversial airline amenities. For some, it's a necessity for getting comfortable on long flights. But for others, it's a source of broken laptops, spilled drinks, and mid-flight arguments.

No matter which camp you fall into, it's no secret that personal space in economy has slowly, but surely, eroded over the years. And as airlines release new seat designs, some travelers fear

When Southwest Airlines recently debuted its new cabins rolling out on planes in 2025, travelers were quick to take to social media complaining about the seemingly thin design. The airline has since confirmed that the new RECARO seats will have the same legroom, seat width, and recline capabilities as its current seating options. However, the internet backlash Southwest initially faced underscores just how protective fliers are over their legroom—what's left of it, that is.

While Southwest passengers can rest easy (for now), the recliner still risks an extinction in economy class as airlines increasingly opt for lighter seats, William McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, tells Condé Nast Traveler.

“This trend has been occurring for several years now, and I think it will continue,” says McGee. “Lighter seats are what the airlines want, because with the cost of jet fuel they are always looking to reduce weight onboard.”

Seats that don’t recline have fewer mechanisms inside and therefore weigh less, lightening the load on board each plane and helping reduce fuel costs considerably. “Recliners also require more maintenance, so that is an added cost as well,” McGee says. No-recline models have been flying for years on low-cost carriers like Spirit and Allegiant, who refer to the stationary seats as “pre-reclined,” as they’re molded at a slightly deeper angle than regular seats in the upright position.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I agree. If the seat tilted along with the back, then it would be more comfortable for the leaner, and it would give more knee room to the person behind if he also tilted his seat.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"Yeah, because 2”-4” of recline makes all the difference"

Thank you! I really believe that the satisfaction people get from the minimal recline of the seat is more psychological than physical. It's the one thing they have control over during the flight.

[oldtech]

All of our(wife & I)airline travel ended just before 911 & so I have missed all of the unpleasantries that came forth since then. Now I only hear about them thankfully.

[faucetman]

I don’t fly anymore (by choice), but reclining seats should GO! You don’t need to sleep on a plane. If you must, sleeping upright is good enough if you are THAT tired.

[1Old Pro]

Today's reclining seats in economy class don't recline very much.

Yep, hardly at all. So they should just install non reclinable seats that have a natural recline between the two options and call it a day.

[Political Junkie Too]

The "right to recline" wasn't a problem until the airlines began shrinking the distance between rows to cram more passengers into the plane.

If they took out a row or two (that's just 6 or 12 passengers), there would be enough legroom between rows that reclining a seat won't be an inconvenience anymore. It would also alleviate the overhead bin space problems, too.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

When I can’t get the exit row...

Have you tried getting a front-row seat so there isn't someone in front of you to bother you?

-PJ

[FatherofFive]

Have you tried getting a front-row seat so there isn't someone in front of you to bother you?

Those are worse! Can't stretch my legs. and no place for a carryon

[Political Junkie Too]

I know, it's a "pick your poison" kind of choice.

My question was posed to show the dilemma between making a choice worse for you but doesn't impose your problem (long legs) onto the innocent person in front of you, or getting a seat more convenient for you but requires the person in front of you to accommodate your comfort to their own discomfort.

That's why I said up-thread that this all began when the airlines kept stuffing more and more rows into a plane. Over the years I began to realize that it was becoming harder and harder to put my same carry-on bag under the seat in front of me because the space between seats got to the point where my bag wouldn't fit between them to get to the floor.

The airline's dilemma is to remove a few rows to appease the customers and reduce the number of conflicts between passengers, or to make it even worse for the passengers (no reclining at all) but make more profit for the airline. One would think that market forces might entice one airline to remove a row in economy and give everyone else a few more inches of legroom as an advertising campaign. They might lose a few dollars per flight but make it up in volume over time as some people make that airline their first choice in the future.

Instead, as this article indicates, the airlines are making it worse for passengers in economy class as a way of getting them to upgrade to the oxymoronic "premium economy."

-PJ