US Lawmakers Propose Minimum Seat Sizes For Airlines (consumerist.com)

The size of each passenger's seat on an airplane -- as well as the distance between rows of seats -- should be standardized, according to legislation proposed by two American lawmakers. Slashdot reader AmiMoJo quotes Consumerist: The text of the bill does not specify any dimensions for seat widths or legroom. Rather, if the legislation is passed, the particulars would be left up to the FAA to sort out... Though seat size may vary from airline to airline, Cohen notes that the average distance between rows of seats has dropped from 35 inches before airline deregulation in the 1970s, to around 31 inches today. Your backside is getting the squeeze, as well, as the average width of an airline seat has also shrunk from 18 inches to about 16.5 inches.

Comments

Re:About time!

[rfengr]

It'd be nice if the airlines banned short people from sitting in the exit rows.

Re: About time!

[DaHat]

So why should short people subsidize you?

Starting a statement/question with 'so' is a tell for cognitive dissonance.

Funny you should ask, the folks up in business and first class are asking the same thing about you back in cattle class and your rather cheap seat.