Just In: Reclining Seats Facing Extinction in Airlines

Clear Facts

• Aviation experts forecast that airlines might cease offering reclining seats in coach, the basic flight class, to decrease maintenance expenditures and fuel use.
• Leading U.S. airlines such as Southwest Airlines, American, and United have not yet removed reclining seats, but they have implemented significant alterations. For instance, Delta reduced its economy seat recline options from four inches to two inches on short flights in 2019.
• William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, argues that the elimination of reclining seats in coach could enhance the overall flight experience by mitigating in-seat disputes and discomfort.

The long-standing debate about whether or not to recline seats has caused disagreements among air passengers. In an effort to settle this dispute, airlines might be contemplating the removal of reclining seats in coach.

Coach class, also referred to as economy or main cabin, provides the most basic services. As opposed to premium economy, business, and first-class cabins, which often come with full meal services, coach only provides minimal snacks. The comfort and padding of coach seats also leave room for improvement.

Despite the lack of luxury, coach passengers have had the option to recline their seats until now. However, alterations in coach seat designs over the years have impacted the reclining capabilities of the seats.

“This trend has been evolving for several years now, and I anticipate it will persist,” said William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project.

The reasons for this anticipated trend are not exclusively about passenger comfort but are mainly associated with the expense of maintaining and repairing reclining seats. Much like a car, these seats require periodic inspections and can incur significant repair costs if the mechanisms fail.

Moreover, the weight of reclining mechanisms can accumulate. The heavier the plane, the more fuel it consumes. To cut back on the escalating cost of jet fuel, airlines might contemplate removing these weighty reclining mechanisms.

“Lighter seats are what airlines desire, because with the cost of jet fuel they constantly aim to decrease weight onboard,” McGee commented.

Although leading U.S. airlines have not yet completely eliminated reclining seats from coach, changes are noticeable. In 2019, Delta decreased the recline options of their economy seats from four inches to two inches on short flights. On some flights, Ryanair and British Airways now provide “pre-reclined” seats.

McGee pointed out, “The simple truth is that US airlines have been deteriorating their economy class products for many years now, bit by bit, but permanently.”

As per McGee, the removal of reclining seats could contribute to an improved overall flying experience. This modification might even lower in-flight incidents and disagreements instigated by one passenger’s decision to recline their seat, which can disturb and inconvenience the passenger seated behind.

“There’s no doubt this could be beneficial for air travelers,” McGee stated.

If airlines opt to remove reclining seats from coach, passengers who prefer to recline during their flight will have to pay more. Some global carriers are beginning to offer “fixed-shell” seats in premium economy, which allow passengers to recline up to seven or eight inches.

“Will some passengers miss recliners in economy class? Certainly,” admitted McGee. “But many more will be thankful they don’t suffer a broken laptop or hot coffee spilled on them when the passenger in front decides to recline.”

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