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I'm jammed in so tight on almost all economy seats that there'd have to be some serious turbulence to unseat me. Even if the plane flipped completely, I'd move

I'm jammed in so tight on almost all economy seats that there'd have to be some serious turbulence to unseat me. Even if the plane flipped completely, I'd move about four inches until I hit the overhead storage bins... Everything about air travel is a comedy of the absurd, and being admonished to buckle up is just one more thing in the pile.

wenc 9y ago
While I appreciate the agony of economy class these days (I am a frequent flier in cattle class), I think this is a disingenuous statement about buckling up and I'm not sure why you felt you had to make it. In abnormally heavy turbulence, you will be tossed around to the point of injury if you are not buckled up. 4 inches is enough to damage your vital organs. Seat belts are important.
shaki-dora 9y ago
Yes, your head would hit the overhead bin after 4 inches. Unfortunately, your body would do that inertia thing and continue, folding you tightly somewhere along your neck. This has happened, not just during crashes but far more often with turbulences. Regarding economy class: this is simply the result of people‘s preferences, as expressed by their buying choices. With all the complaints you can hear and read, you’d think those exit seats or economy+ tickets would sell like fresh bread. But every time I check in online, even when most seats are gone, most of the exit seats (about twice the leg room for 20$ extra) are still available.
- slededit 9y ago
  People really don't seem to consider the flight as part of the vacation.
- switch007 9y ago
  > Regarding economy class: this is simply the result of people‘s preferences, as expressed by their buying choices If you take something away first, then nobody can buy it, you can then say "look, nobody's buying it!". For example: for the past 5-6 years EU airlines have made intra-europe business class much more like economy class. BA used to have 34" pitch in short-haul business. That went I think 3 years ago. But I'd be willing to pay up to £500 for that now. Can I buy it? No - the majority airlines have done the same. It's now very easy for BA/Lufthansa/Air France/Iberia etc to say "that's what our customers wanted" because you can't now pay for it even if you want it.
  - mikeash 9y ago
    The comment you’re replying to has an example of a universally available option for more room that few people actually take, so I really don’t think your explanation works.

wenc 9y ago

While I appreciate the agony of economy class these days (I am a frequent flier in cattle class), I think this is a disingenuous statement about buckling up and I'm not sure why you felt you had to make it. In abnormally heavy turbulence, you will be tossed around to the point of injury if you are not buckled up. 4 inches is enough to damage your vital organs. Seat belts are important.

shaki-dora 9y ago

Yes, your head would hit the overhead bin after 4 inches. Unfortunately, your body would do that inertia thing and continue, folding you tightly somewhere along your neck. This has happened, not just during crashes but far more often with turbulences. Regarding economy class: this is simply the result of people‘s preferences, as expressed by their buying choices. With all the complaints you can hear and read, you’d think those exit seats or economy+ tickets would sell like fresh bread. But every time I check in online, even when most seats are gone, most of the exit seats (about twice the leg room for 20$ extra) are still available.

slededit 9y ago
People really don't seem to consider the flight as part of the vacation.
switch007 9y ago
> Regarding economy class: this is simply the result of people‘s preferences, as expressed by their buying choices If you take something away first, then nobody can buy it, you can then say "look, nobody's buying it!". For example: for the past 5-6 years EU airlines have made intra-europe business class much more like economy class. BA used to have 34" pitch in short-haul business. That went I think 3 years ago. But I'd be willing to pay up to £500 for that now. Can I buy it? No - the majority airlines have done the same. It's now very easy for BA/Lufthansa/Air France/Iberia etc to say "that's what our customers wanted" because you can't now pay for it even if you want it.
- mikeash 9y ago
  The comment you’re replying to has an example of a universally available option for more room that few people actually take, so I really don’t think your explanation works.