Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

erosion

Flying coach just keeps getting better and better.

In their respective struggles to stay afloat, airlines are considering (and implementing) more and more drastic measures to cut costs. For example, in-flight meals (which, granted, weren’t that appetizing to begin with) are mostly a thing of the past, having suffered a gradual decline in size and quality until they’ve become the $10 box lunches they are today. America West Airlines considered (and, thankfully, rejected) a plan to charge passengers for sodas, traditionally free. (Arizona Republic: “$5 a bag? Costs force airlines to look at fees” - 02/27/05)

I read about another down-sizing effort today that really irritated me:

American also has taken back the extra legroom it had given travelers as part of a major promotional campaign over the past four years touting “More Room Throughout Coach.” The airline is adding 12,000 seats on its fleet of planes, decreasing average legroom, or pitch, from 34 inches to the standard 32 inches.

(Washington Post: “In-Flight Perks Are Steadily Disappearing” - 03/01/05)

That extra legroom is actually one of the big reasons (that, and the competitively priced tickets) that I’ve enjoyed flying American. It was one of those characteristics that set American apart, and which made the experience of flying with them much more comfortable. (Crammed in there in coach, that extra two inches makes all the difference between bruised knees and room to stretch one’s legs.)