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The ethics of reclining airplane seats

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Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#61

Post by hocuspocus »

delecti wrote: post #41
shp0ngle wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The options are usually either “dirt cheap economy” or “crazy expensive business”. For some reason business class is often like 5x 6x the economy! Why is there no middle class?

There is: premium economy. Also, business/first class is often much less than 5-6x the economy price. In fact I'm not sure I've ever seen it that much higher.

On transcontinental flights 5-6x sounds about right. My last flights between Europe and North America or Asia were typically like

- Economy $500

- Premium eco $1500

- Business $3000

- First $6000

And the gap can be wider on high-end airlines (15-20k for a first class ticket).

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#62

Post by SketchySeaBeast »

i_am_jl wrote: post #51
SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm hearing that because I'm 6'6" I should either be able to pay for premium or just never fly. That's a good excuse to get out an in-laws wedding next summer - I'll run it by my wife.

I'm of a similar height and you're leaving out the third option. Fly and suffer. Sit like a GSD with hip dysplasia. But in all seriousness, you're not used to it by now? Paying more for clothes that fit properly, a car that fits without hair brushing on the headliner or knees in the steering column, air mattresses, real mattresses, tents, bicycles, shoes, etc.

It's true - I'm used to having to pay more for the same and for putting up with a certain level of expected discomfort. I just find with flying there's not a good alternative option. I can shop around for a car that fits me in the right price range, I straight up just don't have a choice with flying.

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#63

Post by shkkmo »

MisterAndersen wrote: post #44
shkkmo wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So many things are biased in favor of tall people, I have no problem with them having to pay more for a larger seat rather than externalizing those costs onto everyone else.

Do you have any examples of things biased in favor of tall people?

They aren't hard to find: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_discrimination

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#64

Post by jcampbell1 »

When the person in front of me wants to recline, I have to take my shoes off to make room for my knees. Perfectly fine on a long haul flight, but a 2 hour flight in the middle of the day?

Fortunately Frontier airlines seats don’t recline. I hope more US airlines go this way.

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#65

Post by bigbillheck »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #21
dawnerd wrote: post #5

I’m in camp if they give you the option you have to assume the person in front will fully recline. No point in getting mad over it. If you want or need more space just get the premium seats if it means that much to you.

I'm hearing that because I'm 6'6" I should either be able to pay for premium or just never fly. That's a good excuse to get out an in-laws wedding next summer - I'll run it by my wife.

I'm also 6'6" and that's a realization I came to years ago. Pre-pandemic it was 'pay for first class', post-pandemic it's been 'never fly'. (And if I'm lucky I'll never have to get on an airplane ever again)

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#66

Post by bigbillheck »

waqf wrote: post #54
SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now we're in a prisoners dilemma, aren't we?

No, we're just in an equilibrium where everyone reclines. To be a PD it would have to be better for everyone if nobody reclined. We're in, perhaps, a tyranny of the majority, but those are everywhere. As I'm sure you've already noticed if you're 6'6".

> No, we're just in an equilibrium where everyone reclines

Never had to sit in the very last row of an airplane?

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#67

Post by SkyPuncher »

MisterAndersen wrote: post #44
shkkmo wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So many things are biased in favor of tall people, I have no problem with them having to pay more for a larger seat rather than externalizing those costs onto everyone else.

Do you have any examples of things biased in favor of tall people?

I can reach into the cupboard above the refrigerator without a step stool. Oh, yea, I can see over most people in a crowd.

I jest, but I'm just a bit taller than average. Occasionally, my wife will point out something that's far easier for me because it's in my reach and not in her reach. Except in cramped circumstances, being taller gives you more flexibility.

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#68

Post by Kharvok »

shkkmo wrote: post #32
SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm hearing that because I'm 6'6" I should either be able to pay for premium or just never fly. That's a good excuse to get out an in-laws wedding next summer - I'll run it by my wife.

So many things are biased in favor of tall people, I have no problem with them having to pay more for a larger seat rather than externalizing those costs onto everyone else.

I'm 6'10. What is built in my favor?

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#69

Post by MisterAndersen »

shkkmo wrote: post #63
MisterAndersen wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have any examples of things biased in favor of tall people?

They aren't hard to find: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_discrimination

> Height discrimination (also known as heightism) is prejudice or discrimination against individuals based on height. In principle, it refers to the discriminatory treatment against individuals whose height is not within the normal acceptable range of height in a population.

> So many things are biased in favor of tall people, I have no problem with them having to pay more for a larger seat rather than externalizing those costs onto everyone else.

Case in point? Tall people are outside the normal, acceptable range of height. They certainly get micro- (and in this case, macro) aggressed for it. In my experience, the micro-aggressions seem more blatant because being tall is perceived as being an obviously good thing. People want to be comfortable in their bodies.

Re: The ethics of reclining airplane seats

#70

Post by sofixa »

shkkmo wrote: post #63
MisterAndersen wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have any examples of things biased in favor of tall people?

They aren't hard to find: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height_discrimination

This is about human perception, not about things being designed with a bias in favour of tall people.
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