Airline passenger rights groups are calling on the FAA to stop airplane seats from shrinking

Airplane seats have gotten so ridiculously tight that complaining about them almost seems pointless. Fortunately, FlyersRights, an airline passengers’ rights group, is asking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate the size of airplane seats. 

The group filed a petition asking the FAA to make good on their promise of setting minimum standards for airplane seat size. The FAA was originally asked to do so in a 2018 bill that helped them secure funding for the agency, but they have yet to do so. 

Thus far the FAA has said that they will not intervene in airlines changing seat sizes unless the size inhibits passengers from being able to evacuate the aircraft within 90 seconds. Now, FlyersRights is asking them to implement standard seat sizing by July and to block airlines from further shrinking seat sizes. 

The issue of seat size is not only a comfort issue, but FlyersRights argues that smaller seat increase health risks like deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms and could even prevent passengers from being able to properly brace themselves in the event of an emergency. 

It’s still unclear whether anything tangible will come of this. But, personally, nothing would make me happier than a bit more leg room. Now if only we could fix the issue of people reclining their seats all the way back…