In the world of air travel, economy seating has long been known for its tight quarters, but recent changes on certain planes have made it even more cramped, with airlines not always disclosing this upfront to passengers.
Alexandra West, a regular traveler with WestJet, shared her experience of struggling to fit comfortably in their economy seats. She mentioned that previously she had ample legroom, but now she cannot sit with her legs straight due to the reduced space.
The issue gained attention when a viral video showed an Alberta family facing cramped seating on a WestJet flight. While WestJet did not provide an interview, the airline explained that the aircraft in question was part of their new seat configuration rollout aimed at maximizing space.
Despite the seat pitch standard for Canadian airlines being 30 inches, WestJet reduced this to 28 inches in certain rows of their reconfigured aircraft without notifying passengers like West. The airline only offers upgrades for extra legroom without specifying the pitch of the standard seats.
Experts, including John Gradek from McGill University, highlighted the lack of regulations requiring airlines to inform passengers about seat pitch during booking. This stands in contrast to some European carriers that clearly advertise their 28-inch pitch seats.
Although Transport Canada confirmed WestJet’s modifications comply with safety regulations, concerns remain about passenger safety during emergencies and health risks like blood clots from prolonged sitting in cramped conditions.
One passenger, Emily Jansson, shared her harrowing experience of suffering a cardiac arrest mid-flight due to a blood clot formed during a long-haul trip. She emphasized how reduced legroom hinders passengers from following health guidelines on movement during extended travel.
Calls have been made for regulatory standards to ensure a minimum level of service, including seat pitch, in economy class flights in Canada to safeguard passenger comfort and safety. Gradek advocated for such regulations to prevent a chaotic situation in the airline industry.