Economy Flight Seats Could Soon Lose Their Reclining Feature, Like It Or Not

You may have been stuck in a economy red-eye flight at one point or another, trying to will yourself to sleep. In the unfortunate event the person in front of you reclines their seat, your rest gets far less wiggle room.

Airlines recognize how tough it can be for people when other passengers insist on reclining for the entire journey when someone behind them is eating or trying to watch a movie. The ‘solution’? Remove the option altogether.

This one little button can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and a potential argument between passengers, and airlines are now weighing the pros and cons of getting rid of it.

The change comes immediately with some design advantages, as the seat hides a series of mechanisms within the chair that allow passengers to choose the right angle. Once this has been removed, the seats get slimmer, giving each passenger more leg and knee room. Shaving a few inches off per seat also allows more rows to be added.

In addition, by removing all the gear within the chair, carriers can save on weight, fuel, and maintenance costs. 

Of course, this transition may arrive with the chagrin of economy passengers who have to forgo yet another ‘privilege’ of air travel. Reclining chairs might not be one’s right, but when stuck on a long-haul flight, they could be a lifesaver. 

To counteract this, airline companies have looked towards “pre-reclined” seats. According to CNN, this dates back to the late 2000s, when carriers such as Jet2, which specialized in vacation packages, chose such an option from a company called Acro. 

Other companies such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta have reduced how far you can impede another passenger’s space by two inches. Spirit and Allegiant, on the other hand, have completely removed the feature. This all points towards a growing trend among carriers that seems to spell out a future of short-haul flights travelers stuck in the upright position. 

The argument is how or whether airlines will balance profitability with the comfort of their passengers. 

Whatever the case is, the next time you’re flying coach, treasure the reclining option as that may soon depart into history.

[via Travel Tomorrow and CNN, Photo 196222189 © Hulko Svitlana | Dreamstime.com]