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Spirit Airlines to abolish reclining seats
It looks like the "recline or don't recline" issue can finally be put to bed. Spirit Airlines, the budget carrier famous for charging for overhead bin space, racy ad campaigns and general disdain for all passenger comforts has just started rolling out aircraft bereft of reclining seats.
Citing extra space and lower weight, the airline claims that this will help passengers save money by keeping prices low. But in reality, it's just another stunt to cram as many passengers as possible into the already crowded, fee-riddled aircraft. The Sun Sentinel has more details on the upcoming plan below.
Citing extra space and lower weight, the airline claims that this will help passengers save money by keeping prices low. But in reality, it's just another stunt to cram as many passengers as possible into the already crowded, fee-riddled aircraft. The Sun Sentinel has more details on the upcoming plan below.
Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
Myrtile Webb Apr 24th 2010 2:36PM
This is one airline I have no intention of flying not even if they have low fares. Soon they will have people standing up all the way!!!!! I have no idea where this airline flies to but I would rather stay home then fly on such an airline....
Angie Apr 25th 2010 7:03AM
You couldn't pay me to fly SPIRIT airlines. It's not cheaper if you add up the fees.
Dee Dee Da Da Apr 23rd 2010 3:53AM
Please! Fying is not fun anymore. The economy has distroyed our joy in taking a vacation. Which we need desprately. God Help Us All!
Bah Hum Bug!
Steve Apr 23rd 2010 11:02AM
I will go out of my way to FLY "SPIRIT" . I never ever put my seat back unless no one is behind me. I know how it is to have your knees cramped. Great idea.
KBen Apr 23rd 2010 5:12PM
The rights of those who like to recline their seats don't override the rights of those of us to use our tray tables for laptop work or crossword puzzles or to place a plastic cup of soda on. I don't know what planes some of you have flown that recline "only up to 3 inches." When someone reclines their seat ahead of me, it reclines a helluva lot further into my space than that. It prevents me from using my tray table at all, for any of the things that EYE have a right to do in my already very limited space. The argument given by someone who relishes the comfort gained by putting your seats back into our space (that we too can recline ours) is irrelevant for those of us that don't want to recline; we want to have a usable tray table -- Your reclining seat makes that impossible. Reclining airplane seats are rightfully a dinosaur; they were designed back when there was plenty of space between rows.
Jud Apr 23rd 2010 6:07AM
I think this Airline does not want to fly much longer. The seats in all the airlines are uncomfortable and the little reclining that is possible with the seat makes the flight in cramped seats a bit tollerable. There is not enough space to put anymore seats in the planes. They sould be taking some out so you knees are not up to your chin. They are talking themselves right out of competition. I am not familar with this airline but I do know I will never make plans to fly this carrier, ever.
cat Apr 23rd 2010 6:05AM
If Amtrak had any kind of sense it would be out there with deals galore because folks are fed up with flying. Unless i have to be somewhere in a hurry i will find alternate means of transportation. Unfortunately for me i travel a lot from georgia to northern california and the train is too many transfers and too much money. If train travel again became popular and reasonable i believe many people would choose the train over the overpriced sardine flights.
Chris Apr 23rd 2010 6:26AM
The dominate attitude that prevails with most airlines these days is customer loyalty isn't a concern because the ticket price is the deciding factor. Most folks when they do a ticket search are looking for the lowest price. But who are they fooling? If you're traveling for any length of time you're second bag alone negates any great savings.
On most airlines if you fly economy you are crammed so tight someone reclining could knock the water off your fold down tray and there isn't even enough room to put you head between your legs for a crash landing! I flew to LA from Chicago in a seat that recline in an econonmy section that was so tight I could barely walk once I arrived. Two days later I suffered a calf tear that left me on crutches!
So for the folks who want their cheap seats go for it! I will spend my money on airlines that offer some basic ammenities.
Chris Apr 23rd 2010 6:27AM
I agree with Cat. Amtrak is missing a golden opportunity. Particularly on middle distance travel. Sadly their service is even worse than the airlines. But the seating is far more confortable.
ed Apr 24th 2010 1:02AM
Joe, now I'm "racist" against non-beautiful people? Sharing my feelings that fat people should pay more on planes if they need more than one seat is not racist. Everyone brings up the racist word for any reason.
Yes, I feel people that cannot fit in their seat should pay for two and yes, I don't want to be squished between them, I'll tell ya what, I'll give that seat to you but it sounds like your a Fatty!!
Dusty Apr 23rd 2010 11:14AM
Paul said...
Uhhhh, WN does NOT fly to JFK'
So what does that have to do with it? The comparison was sitting in a tight coach section for long distances. Never flew WN and given their story will never in the future. I have flown SWA and they do not have a first class section. Have flwon Continental from Phoenix to Albany stopping in Cleveland to change planes. THe flight from Phoenix to Cleveland was bad enough, but the hop from Cleveland to Albany was even worse.
On the return trip, flew the sardine can from Albany to Cleveland then upgrades to First Class from Cleveland to Phoenix. Much more comfortable on a six hour flight.
Dusty Apr 23rd 2010 11:15AM
Mike V. said...
I'm sure he meant LGA
Know how far LGA is from JFK? Not very far. Basically don't care what airport they use. Flying coach from LAX to JFK, LGA, ALB, or any flight over a couple of hours is very uncomfortable.
Ed Apr 24th 2010 1:11AM
I'd like your opinion.
Your on a major airline....an entire exit row is empty when the cabin door closes. A man offers to sit in the exit row for safety, but the flight attendants won't let anyone sit in that exit row because nobody paid the extra $25. If your willing to give them your credit card, they will let you sit there, otherwise, the entire row goes empty.
Is this a good policy or is it a safety concern? It happened tonight.
Jessica Skelton Apr 28th 2010 2:42PM
They just keep on scoring points with customers, don't they?
Quiltingfool May 30th 2010 12:04AM
Having just returned from an American Airlines flight from San Jose, Ca to Dallas Texas, I can personally vouch for the fact that there is no longer room between seats to recline. That is, if you care one whit about anyone else's comfort but your own. On the flight to Dallas, an older man (we are in our 60's) reclined his seat in front of my husband. Hubby is 6'2 tall, but short legged. He only has a 32" inseam, yet his knees were tight against the seat back, and he was sitting fully upright, and there was nothing else he could do. He was already extremely uncomfortable, and when the seat was reclined, he started wriggling and moving, as he now had someone's head almost in his lap. The older gentlemen asked if there was a problem, and hubby said he was sorry, but his knees were tight against the seat and he couldn't move them. The man then put his seat back upright, apologized, and remarked that it was pretty poor engineering.
On the flight home, a younger man flying with his daughter, about 5 or 6, reclined his seat into my lap. I am short, only 5'2" and my knees weren't a problem, but his head in my lap was. I swear to you, I could have combed his hair from where I was in proximity to him. And the worst was that he kept it reclined the whole flight, but didn't spend much time in that position, leaning over to his daughter often (she was perfectly behaved). So while his head kept moving, the seat leaning down over me made it impossible to even read with the book lying down. I had to hold it upright to my face, with my elbows pinned to my sides. And to add to that, a young couple behind me, with a small boy about two, let the boy kick the back of my seat the entire flight and never once corrected him about it.
Do you see a trend here? We did. The older folks care about other people as well as themselves, and are courteous and considerate. The younger people couldn't care less. Yes, You bought a ticket that entitled you to recline your seat. And how about the 350 lb man who also bought a ticket. Would you like him to sit beside you? We all have to care a little bit about each other's comfort as well as our own. We're all in this together. A little courtesy would go a long way in an experience that is no longer any fun no matter how you look at it. Air travel is expensive, inconvenient, uncomfortable, and often embarrassing. None of us would fly if there was another way of getting somewhere in the same time. Can't we each take a little care to make the experience as pleasant as we can for ALL of us, not just yourself?