Is it still “personal space” when it vanishes the instant the plane’s door slams shut? For many frequent flyers, the answer is becoming a reality as airplane seats get smaller – and so do tempers, knees, and elbows, at 35,000 feet.
On social media networks, passengers are blogging about being wedged between the windows, crushed under armrests, or forced into two-thirds of a seated area they’d purchased. For example, a Reddit user described being a cross-country flyer “crushed against the side of the plane” after a middle-seat passenger dozed off. Passengers commented in numbers under this user’s account, evidencing it isn’t an isolated incident.
Airlines also have guidelines to avoid such scenarios. For instance, United Airlines explains that a customer should be able to place the armrests in the down position and must be able to secure the seatbelt else they should buy another seat orbook another flight. On the same note, American Airlines also provides the same information regarding the need for the customer to prepare the extra space prior to boarding. However, it comes as a common complain against airlines that the guidelines are not always strictly followed.
The shrinking seat problem is not just an illusion. Starting in the early 2000s, the average width of economy class seats shrunk from 18.5 inches to 17 inches, and seat pitch, the distance between rows, shrunk from 35 inches to 28 inches, although it varies by airline, which means it’s more cramped than many sports stadiums, at a time when the average American is growing bigger, too. Today, says Flyers Rights, seat sizes are wide enough to handle just half of today’s passengers, says Flyers Rights.
Such a squeeze can be painful, but it can also be hazardous. The Federal Aviation Administration has set a standard evacuation time of 90 seconds for a full plane, but tight seating can significantly jeopardize this process. For example, during one actual incident, evacuation from Delta Flight 1086 in 2015 took more than five minutes, which significantly exceeded the desired standard. Even tighter aircraft seating makes it more difficult to accomplish the recommended FAA brace position. The lack of mobility in tight spaces can lead to thrombosis.
However, psychology professionals point to the effects of reduced space on mental health as well. Dr. Stella Lourenco, who researches personal space at Emory University, says: “Everyone has to have some minimal space.” The head and face region are particularly sensitive to invasion.” Claustrophobia and irritability increase as people are packed closer together on airplanes. Clearly, air rage incidents on planes are on the rise.
Etiquette authorities emphasize that passenger behavior also counts when dealing with such situations. Etiquette authority and ex-flight attendant Jacqueline Whitmore says: “No one should be pressed, leaned on or crowded out of their seat… When space becomes a problem and boundaries are crossed, the solution isn’t to suffer in silence. It’s best to address the situation calmly, thoughtfully and appropriately.”
Is the matter one of responsibility? There is no end to opinions on the issue. While some persons believe that the bigger passengers can make their own way by ensuring arrangements are made for additional accommodation, the airlines are to be blamed for creating a situation where passengers end up competing with each other. To address the matter, the “One Person One Fare” regulation in Canada considers the need for a seat as a matter of human rights, where the airlines are obliged to meet the requirement free of charge. But in the US, nothing of the sort prevails. Each airline has its rules and interpretations.
Meanwhile, carriers continue to introduce additional seats on existing aircraft, sometimes with an increase in seating capacity of 7-8% without modifying aircraft configuration. Slim seat structures with less cushion density can provide an illusion of greater leg room, but these seats provide little benefit in regard to minimizing distance between seat backs and shrinking arm-to-arm distance. As for air travelers, there is limited choice available: buying bulkhead or exit row seating, upgrading to premium economy-class seating, or resolving seating issues prior to boarding can mitigate in-flight litigation. However, until standards evolve, the fight for elbow space is likely to become one of the hallmarks of air travel.
