WestJet, Canada’s second largest airline, may have expensively discovered the breaking point for passenger tolerance when it comes to legroom. The airline announced last week it will remove the extra row of seats it shoe-horned into its economy section on 21 of its Boeing 737s after a torrent of online backlash from a 15-second video. The company announced in September that it would be removing the ability to recline some economy seats and the news release got some attention, particularly on late-night talk shows.
But there was also some support for eliminating the always-controversial recline function and much of the discussion centered on that aspect of the announcement. What was missed was that freezing the seats was part of a plan to drop the seat pitch by an inch or two to 28 inches to get six more seats into the cabin. The airline had planned to convert more than 40 aircraft this way but stopped at 21 shortly after passenger Amanda Schmidt posted a short clip of her parents trying to get comfortable for their four-hour flight from Calgary to Toronto.
The video quickly went viral and the Schmidts were interviewed by numerous Canadian and international media. Within days, the airline announced it was bringing back that inch or two of breathing room. Canadian aviation industry analyst John Gradek told Global News the new cabin configuration was an inch too far for many passengers. “Canadians basically said in a pretty united voice, ‘Enough. We’ve drawn a line in the sand, you’ve crossed that line, and now we’re going to walk,’” he said. “That’s an unacceptable position for WestJet to be in.”
It was not just the passengers breathing easier. A spokesman for the union representing flight attendants welcomed the decision, saying the cramped section was “universally unpopular” and flight attendants took the heat for it. WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement that low-cost carriers like Spirit and Ryan Air offer the 28-inch option for reduced fares and that was WestJet’s motivation. “As an entrepreneurial airline founded on making air travel affordable to Canadians it’s in our DNA to try new products,” he said. “At the same time, it is just as important to react quickly if they don’t meet the needs of our guests.” It’s not clear how long it will take to refit the aircraft.
You’re right Russ, WJ has hit up against the limit. Does anyone really have a hankering to fly anywhere anymore?
Back in the 80’s airliners were like luxury hotels and terminals were like bus stations. Now terminals are like luxury hotels and airliners are like buses. Business class is now Zoom,,, no need to travel.
The flying experience on a JetBlue Airbus is 100% better than Southwest and 200% better than Air Canada. The additional seat width of an Airbus cabin is very important for a normal sized man. I’m not big or fat, just a 5 foot 10 inch guy, wear a large sized shirt, normal broad shoulders that extend beyond my seat. I clearly fit better in the Airbus’ wider cabin, with adequate leg room of a proper seat pitch. The airline you choose and the equipment you fly in really matters. One choice is miserable, the other quite nice.
Yup, in my Cessna 180. Never again in an airliner.
As an entrepreneurial airline founded on making air travel miserable therefore affordable to Canadians it’s in our DNA to try new torture products,” he said. “At the same time, “it is just as important to react quickly if that calculated torture don’t meet the needs of our guests.” It’s not clear how long it will take to refit the aircraft. In the meantime put up with our miserable service at a discount.
Ah yes, I feel so much better already.
I’m nearly 2 meters tall (6’5″ for those of us still mired in the illogical English system). I did not choose to be this lanky (although I’m happy to be able reach the top shelves in the grocery store), and I resent having to pay extra for a seat that fits. I fly my friend’s Comanche whenever and wherever possible and fly the cattle-haulers only very rarely–and pray that the passenger in the seat ahead doesn’t decide to recline.