Stuck in the middle

Illustration by Brown Bird Design

Despite all the advances in flying since the Wright brothers first flight, the future of flying, particularly on economy aka Sub-Cattle Class is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The new trend in economy seating reverses a half century of seat growth in economy class.

Economy class seats on airplanes are shrinking. The average seat pitch, a rough measure of legroom, has dropped from 35 inches before airline deregulation in the 1970s to about 31 inches today. The average width of an airline seat has shriveled from 18 inches to about 16 ½ , as airlines cram more seats on their planes.

Everyone has preferences and dislikes - very true.  Take flying for instance.  Unless it is a ‘2-3-2’ configured plane, in bigger aircraft, no window cluster of seats has more than three seats, namely, the window, middle and aisle seats Whilst there are those who prefer a window seat and there are those who like the aisle seat, hardly anyone likes the middle seat. Statistically, if you don’t have assigned seating and can take your pick, often middle seats are the last to fill up.

While seats are now being designed more ergonomically, with better cushions and head rests, the improvements don't stop people from rubbing shoulders. Seats are getting smaller, humans are getting larger and tempers are getting hotter. Things take a turn for the worse when you have no choice but to sit on the worst seat on the plane. Infact, some airlines shovel the lowest paying passengers into middle seats. The majority of travellers who travel alone and occupy the middle seat rate the battle for the armrest as one of their very greatest peeves. 

According to widely acknowledged traveler etiquette, the person occupying the middle seat deserves access to both armrests. However, not everyone respects this custom, leading sometimes to downright confrontation. Jetstar is the first airline to declare in a press release that the middle seat is entitled to both armrests. This was after a survey covering over 1,500 passengers where apparently -  they heard enough.

There is however some good news for those who are stuck in the middle. Some designers are attempting to discover an intelligent way to offer a bit more space to economy class passengers. Designers plan to make the middle seat in economy bigger than the seats on either side, by staggering the seating, so that the person in the middle seat gets a little more space for their elbows and shoulders. Even the tiniest increase in space can represent the difference between tolerance and insanity. The only problem I foresee is when airline then price the middle seat higher than the window and aisle seat. That really would be ironic – where the despised middle seat could become the one that's most preferred.

Shafeek Wahab – Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka, Consultant, Trainer, Ex-Hotelier

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