8 ms·

> ...single-aisle monoculture makes flying miserable. What is it that people expect when they say flying is miserable? I expect safety, which is why I'll neve

> ...single-aisle monoculture makes flying miserable. What is it that people expect when they say flying is miserable? I expect safety, which is why I'll never get on a 737 MAX. Other than that, I just put sandwiches and snacks in my pocket, fill my water bottle, and in X hours I'm thousands of miles away. Air travel is actually pretty amazing.

briffle 7y ago
It is amazing, but if your Tall, or Wide, or have any kind of handicap, its miserable too..
- geekamongus 7y ago
  Tall person here. Flights longer than 90 minutes really, really suck unless I've saved up enough miles to upgrade my seat something with more leg room.
  - yibg 7y ago
    It’s an interesting topic. Should everyone be able to travel for the same price or should different people pay different prices for whatever reason. Eg if someone is very over weight and can’t fit in a single economy seat, should the person get 2 seats for the price of 1 or should the person have to pay for 2 seats?
    - CydeWeys 7y ago
      The latter problem is solved: If you're too wide to fit into one seat you do need to buy two seats.
      - yibg 7y ago
        Depends on the country. In Canada for example the second seat comes free.
  - megablast 7y ago
    I’m 6’4. I’ve flown journeys of adding up to 24 hours in 30 hours before. Never had a problem.
    - geekamongus 7y ago
      Consider yourself lucky. I'm sure it's highly subjective, whatever the case. If I can't stretch or have enough room to adjust my legs, my knees hurt, my lower back hurts, and it makes me miserable.
fooster 7y ago
I expect to be able to sit in my seat without having my knees crushed? How about that for a start?
- leesalminen 7y ago
  Then you could purchase a different fare class. The market has largely spoken already- people prefer lower fares over comfortable seats.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - Nacraile 7y ago
    Ah, yes, it is definitely reasonable to draw that conclusion based on people's disinclination to spend 100% the fare for a 10% larger, somewhat less uncomfortable seat, and/or 1000% the fare for 50% more space and an actually comfortable seat.
    - leesalminen 7y ago
      You seem to have left out Premium Economy class that’s available on many (most?) airlines. Personally, I tend to opt for that fare class as I find the seat more tolerable at a reasonable price point.
      - throwaway3563 7y ago
        Premium economy is still usually at least 2x the economy ticket price; on a long haul that will cost many hundreds to up to thousands extra. What you’re probably thinking of is the US airline specific “comfort/extra/plus” add-on that is priced 10%-20% extra. There is a few more inches legroom but the seats are the same small economy seats.
  - AdrianB1 7y ago
    The prices does not scale up too well for the travelers, but for the airlines. The extra that you get does not match the huge jump in price.
gilrain 7y ago
Congratulations on being able-bodied. I have arthritis and literally cannot fly anymore because I can't afford tickets with enough leg room to not be in crippling pain for the entire flight. I've had to miss important family events because of this.
- jandrese 7y ago
  Have you considered the train? The seats are roomy and well cushioned, but you will be traveling for several hours so it may or may not work out.
  - gilrain 7y ago
    I'm very enthusiastic about traveling by rail, yes! I have a relative near the end of her life who has been enjoying its comfort and accessibility to make final visits to our dispersed family, all while enjoying the natural beauty of the US as a free bonus.
- esoterica 7y ago
  There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If we forced airlines to provide more legroom they would charge everybody more, and you might not be able to afford the new tickets either. Even if you personally could, some people that can currently fly would not be able to afford the higher prices. Why are your consumer preferences more important than theirs?
AdrianB1 7y ago
Anything that does not feel like a can of sardines packed together. Train offers huge room, by comparison, for taller people like me economy is torture.

briffle 7y ago

It is amazing, but if your Tall, or Wide, or have any kind of handicap, its miserable too..

geekamongus 7y ago
Tall person here. Flights longer than 90 minutes really, really suck unless I've saved up enough miles to upgrade my seat something with more leg room.
- yibg 7y ago
  It’s an interesting topic. Should everyone be able to travel for the same price or should different people pay different prices for whatever reason. Eg if someone is very over weight and can’t fit in a single economy seat, should the person get 2 seats for the price of 1 or should the person have to pay for 2 seats?
  - CydeWeys 7y ago
    The latter problem is solved: If you're too wide to fit into one seat you do need to buy two seats.
    - yibg 7y ago
      Depends on the country. In Canada for example the second seat comes free.
- megablast 7y ago
  I’m 6’4. I’ve flown journeys of adding up to 24 hours in 30 hours before. Never had a problem.
  - geekamongus 7y ago
    Consider yourself lucky. I'm sure it's highly subjective, whatever the case. If I can't stretch or have enough room to adjust my legs, my knees hurt, my lower back hurts, and it makes me miserable.

fooster 7y ago

I expect to be able to sit in my seat without having my knees crushed? How about that for a start?

leesalminen 7y ago
Then you could purchase a different fare class. The market has largely spoken already- people prefer lower fares over comfortable seats.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- Nacraile 7y ago
  Ah, yes, it is definitely reasonable to draw that conclusion based on people's disinclination to spend 100% the fare for a 10% larger, somewhat less uncomfortable seat, and/or 1000% the fare for 50% more space and an actually comfortable seat.
  - leesalminen 7y ago
    You seem to have left out Premium Economy class that’s available on many (most?) airlines. Personally, I tend to opt for that fare class as I find the seat more tolerable at a reasonable price point.
    - throwaway3563 7y ago
      Premium economy is still usually at least 2x the economy ticket price; on a long haul that will cost many hundreds to up to thousands extra. What you’re probably thinking of is the US airline specific “comfort/extra/plus” add-on that is priced 10%-20% extra. There is a few more inches legroom but the seats are the same small economy seats.
- AdrianB1 7y ago
  The prices does not scale up too well for the travelers, but for the airlines. The extra that you get does not match the huge jump in price.

gilrain 7y ago

Congratulations on being able-bodied. I have arthritis and literally cannot fly anymore because I can't afford tickets with enough leg room to not be in crippling pain for the entire flight. I've had to miss important family events because of this.

jandrese 7y ago
Have you considered the train? The seats are roomy and well cushioned, but you will be traveling for several hours so it may or may not work out.
- gilrain 7y ago
  I'm very enthusiastic about traveling by rail, yes! I have a relative near the end of her life who has been enjoying its comfort and accessibility to make final visits to our dispersed family, all while enjoying the natural beauty of the US as a free bonus.
esoterica 7y ago
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If we forced airlines to provide more legroom they would charge everybody more, and you might not be able to afford the new tickets either. Even if you personally could, some people that can currently fly would not be able to afford the higher prices. Why are your consumer preferences more important than theirs?

AdrianB1 7y ago

Anything that does not feel like a can of sardines packed together. Train offers huge room, by comparison, for taller people like me economy is torture.