Wider middle seats

[Foreigner]

How about few more inches for middle seats so the person squashed in has more comfort?

 

[AVC]

An interesting concept to be sure.
Surely the airlines would have data on which seats are requested the most, a wider middle seat could balance the demand.

Problem is that "few inches" has to come from somewhere. And it can only come from the aisle (and there has to be a minimum there for safety of crew and PAX, or the other seats. And skinnier Y seats aren't really an option.

And what about wide bodies (the aircraft) where there is more than one middle seat per row. A few inches times 4 and it starts to add up.
Then there is a manufacturing issue. It cost more to make a different size seat. More warehousing for spares, etc etc.

 

[Hvr]

So if the middle seat gets a few more inches does that mean overturning the old rule that they get the arm rests?

There are unintended consequences for all actions and this could cause as much social disharmony as reclining on short flights.

 

[Foreigner]

I avoid the middle seat like the plague. In 4C yesterday (737-800) yesterday 4B had a big person and i could see he wasn't that comfortable. A few inches extra width would have been helpful. My thought anyway.

 

[boomy]

Airlines don't really care much about comfort in Y. Most keep looking for innovative ideas how to add another row by decreasing legroom, introducing thinner seats etc.

 

[Groundhog]

An interesting concept, although never going to happen. Airlines would spend more energy getting an extra seat in rather than widening the current offering.

 

[dajop]

Honestly I think the whole middle seat thing is psychological. I have this utter dislike for middle seats, usually an aisle person. However a couple of times I've been stuck on middle seat either due to being stingy (Jetstar SIN-HKT) or last minute (SQ 77W SIN-MEL). Neither was as cramped as I expected. Although granted SQ 77W seats are wider than normal anyway (certainly wider than EK seats on same type of plane). Main issue is getting out, can't just get up whenever I feel like it.

 

[NM]

And where do these extra inches come from? Choices include:

• Make window and aisle seats narrower (won't get my vote)
• Make the arm rests narrower or remove altogether (can't see that working)
• Make the aisles narrower (would cause problems for access, safety, wheelchairs, carts etc)
• Make the aircraft wider (difficult to retrofit to existing aircraft)

 

[Foreigner]

Take an inch off aisle and window seats.

 

[NM]

Take an inch off aisle and window seats.

Personally, and of course I am being selfish as I only ever sit in aisle or window seats, I would not support such a change. Decreasing the width of 60% of seats on a 747/A380, or 66% of the seats on a 737/A320 or 75% of seats on an A330/777, knowing that most frequent flyers generally select aisle or window seats, is unlikely to an attractive proposition for most airlines.

 

[Foreigner]

knowing that most frequent flyers generally select aisle or window seats, is unlikely to an attractive proposition for most airlines.

That's the point. The airline will be moving the middle seat inventory, not just as a last choice. The seats will be a boon for those with bigger posterior, seriously.

 

[medhead]

Take an inch off aisle and window seats.

Which is not a solution to the problem at all. This does nothing to solve the problem. I've got off flights with a kink in my back from leaning into the aisle. Taking an inch off me will only make this problem worse for the aisle and window seat.

 

[russ]

I didn't know there were middle seats

 

[tuapekastar]

Honestly I think the whole middle seat thing is psychological. I have this utter dislike for middle seats, usually an aisle person. However a couple of times I've been stuck on middle seat either due to being stingy (Jetstar SIN-HKT) or last minute (SQ 77W SIN-MEL). Neither was as cramped as I expected. Although granted SQ 77W seats are wider than normal anyway (certainly wider than EK seats on same type of plane). Main issue is getting out, can't just get up whenever I feel like it.

An emphatic ditto for this.

 

[Mattg]

I like this concept. It may be a challenge to find the space for this on narrow-bodies, but on some wide-bodies I think an extra inch or two for the Middle seats is not impossible.

 

[juddles]

..... I've got off flights with a kink in my back from leaning into the aisle.....

The pleasure (or lack of) in flying in a middle seat is determined predominantly by the posture/size/attitude of those beside you.

Shaving inches of other seats is NOT the answer, IMHO, and airlines would never consider it. In the US some carriers offer a wider aisle seat and charge a premium for it, which is fair.

 

[juddles]

Airlines don't really care much about comfort in Y. Most keep looking for innovative ideas how to add another row by decreasing legroom, introducing thinner seats etc.

True, but not because "they" are nasty people, but rather they have to to try to stay solvent in a market where all us travellers are stingy and don't want to pay for comfort.

 

[boomy]

True, but not because "they" are nasty people, but rather they have to to try to stay solvent in a market where all us travellers are stingy and don't want to pay for comfort.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the airlines for doing what they do. As you said, it's a tough business and money talks. IMO Y travel is not supposed to be comfortable, it's meant to get you from port A to B in the cheapest way possible. Anyone who is looking for comfort in the sky, this is exactly what premium cabins are designed for.

 

[amaroo]

The only good middle seat is the one that gets you home a few hours earlier.

It was nice being the one that stole the "shadow" for a change

 

[boomy]

The only good middle seat is the one that gets you home a few hours earlier.

It was nice being the one that stole the "shadow" for a change

+1
I do feel bad when I have to do it though so usually happy to wait another 30 min for the next flight if it has any window/aisle seats available.