Think airplane seats are too small? Time is running out to let the FAA know.
hear your thoughts about the size of seats on airplanes.
Over the summer, the agency announced it was considering establishing minimum seat dimensions for airplanes that operate in the U.S. and opened a public comment forum to solicit feedback. The comment period will close on Tuesday.
Sean Kollmorgen hopes the agency requires airlines to make space on board more generous. Kollmorgen works as a restaurant server in Seattle and told USA TODAY that he generally avoids flying now because it is so uncomfortable.
He’s 6’5″ tall and injured his knee about a decade ago.
Are airplane seats too small?:FAA soliciting public comments on minimum dimensions
“Since my knee injury, the couple of times I have flown, it affected me for more than a week,” he said. “I have to give myself two weeks for more attention to stretching … almost rehabilitation.”
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When will minimum airplane seat sizes be established?
Maybe never. Because the requirement remains unenforceable, there’s no guarantee this process will result in any change. However, the public comment period indicates the FAA is considering making a new rule, and experts previously told USA TODAY that the agency’s next reauthorization bill, which will come before Congress in 2023, could be a milestone to watch.
What travelers are saying
More than 20,000 responses have been posted on the FAA’s docket so far, most of which seem to be urging the FAA to require airlines to make economy seats more spacious.
Nicole Martinez Llaurador posted that wider seats should be available for passengers who are larger or have disabilities. “Airlines should not make a profit (out) of a person’s disability.”
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