Reclining seats in economy airlines will disappear – forever, say aviation experts: “A blessing in disguise”
Travel
Published
April 16, 2024, 1:27 p.m. ET
Is the trend declining?
Airplane seats in sardine cans could soon become the norm, artificial intelligence has previously predicted.
Aviation experts claim the lie-flat seat could be eliminated from economy class as concerns grow about space, fuel costs and even inflight hassle.
“This trend has been going on for several years and I think it will continue,” William McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, told Condé Nast Traveler about the controversial phenomenon. “Lighter seats are what airlines want because they are always looking to reduce weight on board given the cost of jet fuel.”
“That is beyond question [reclining seats] are potential triggers for unruly behavior for a variety of reasons,” said Philip Baum, visiting professor of aviation security at Coventry University, at an international conference on dealing with unruly passengers. Getty Images
The logic behind this is that non-reclining seats require fewer mechanical bells and whistles, thereby reducing their weight.
This in turn reduces the load on aircraft and thus effectively reduces costs.
Not to mention, reclining the seats has resulted in a variety of mid-air mishaps, from spilled coffee to broken laptops to gaiters on board.
“That is beyond question [reclining seats] are potential triggers for unruly behavior for a variety of reasons,” said Philip Baum, visiting professor of aviation security at the University of Coventry in the UK, at an international conference on dealing with unruly passengers.
Many on-board arguments are due to passengers reclining their seats in a way that the person behind them finds intrusive, as seen in several viral videos.
Last fall, an airplane passenger was filmed vehemently defending her right to recline against a passenger who continually pushed her seat up.
That's why phasing out reclining seats is a “blessing in disguise,” said McGee, who sees the change as inevitable.
“Airlines have pitted passenger against passenger in wars over the right to lie down, resulting in inconvenience, fights, arrests and general misery,” he said. “If reclining causes discomfort and disturbs the passengers behind, then it is problematic.”
According to flight experts, economy class has been shrinking for a long time. Getty Images/iStockphoto
He sees this as part of an overall trend of dwindling luxury goods in economy class that has led airlines to eliminate free baggage checks, meals and seat selection privileges in this area.
Interestingly, non-adjustable seats are nothing new. Budget airlines Spirit and Allegiant have offered nearly upright or “reclined” seats for years.
Meanwhile, a few years ago, U.S. airlines such as Delta, United, American and Southwest reduced the recline area of coach seats to an average of just 2 inches, instead of the previous standard, more generous 4 inches, Condé Nast Traveler.
Seats that don't recline weigh less, reducing the overall load on the plane and saving on fuel costs, airlines say. Getty Images
This comes amid an apparent downsizing offensive that peaked earlier this year after Southwest Airlines unveiled its next-generation interior, planned for 2025, which included super-thin lounge-style RECARO seats.
The accommodations caused quite a stir online.
“What I see are rock hard seats,” said one unimpressed viewer under a TikTok video showing off the seats.
“So you're telling me I have to bring my own seat cushion,” another snapped, while a third quipped: “Ozempic even got our seats.”
However, Southwest insists that RECARO seats have the same legroom, seat width and recline capabilities as current versions.
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