Delta Airlines is going to introduce its own version of “premium economy” seating on its international flights.  In this case, it’s called Economy Comfort.  Users will get the same seat economy has but more leg room and some extra amenities such as no charge for drinks. 

Often when I consider what to write for this blog, I find myself wanting to be an advocate for the passenger as much as the airline geek as well.  The truth is, airline geeks can be a vicious bunch when it comes to understanding or embracing what the common passenger is experiencing. 

I think the common passenger experience on legacy and SuperLegacy airlines is appalling.  Sadly, so much of the improvements that would improve that passenger experience could come at little or no additional cost.  At the worst, they could come from legitimate fees designed to offer a better value proposition.

Seating is one of those value propositions that I think is horrific on most US airlines.  Seat pitch is terrible and we all know that it often is only reduced more and more.  We’ve even seen airlines introduce new “thinner” seats to to cram more seats onto an aircraft.  One consideration few ever gave to that proposition is that “thinner” really does equate to less comfortable as well.

When I consider how far we have come with respect to first and business class vs economy, I’m gravely disappointed.  It astonishes me that airlines will spend a fantastic amount of resources (and it really is fantastic) on what can amount to maybe 10 seats on a large widebody aircraft but will completely ignore challenging their seat supplier to supply a better seat for those in the economy section.

Make no mistake, while those in the front of the bus might represent real profit, it’s those in the back of the bus that make or break the airline when it comes to meeting its expenses.  Without those economy passengers, the airline would sink quickly.  Notice that all business class airlines have never thrived?

There have been tiny little improvements and changes over the years.  I actually like and enjoy the Airtran Recaro seats on their 737s, for instance.  But isn’t kind of shameful that Southwest Airlines offers what is arguably some of the best economy seating in the world?  Great leather seats with good seat pitch that, in many cases, exceeds legacy airlines pitch now and those same seats are not “thinner” or “harder”.  They’re comfortable.  Genuinely comfortable. 

But here’s the thing, it’s not that Southwest improved so much.  It’s that everyone actually got so much worse, really.

I”m not going to argue for more seat pitch.  If you’ve got 32″ of pitch, you win in my book.  If you’ve got 30″ of pitch or less, I consider you a chinchy airline with zero class.  In between, you’re lackluster and have no argument for purchase of a ticket except, possibly, price.  But I won’t even argue for more than 32″ of pitch. 

But don’t tell me that we can’t challenge seat designers to come up with a better seat that is cost effective to install, practical to maintain and which offers a better seating experience.  We can, we should and the airline who does will have a real and tangible value proposition to offer consumers.  Build it, advertise it and they will come.

In the meantime, I’ve no problem with charging for more seat pitch and a free drink (which I’ll point out wasn’t free but simply included in the increased price as in the days of old.)  I’ll often pay for such an amenity myself. 

However, let’s not get carried away lauding airlines for seat designs that, for the most part, reside solidly in 1970’s thinking.

Filed under: Airline News, Airline Seating by ajax