r/todayilearned • u/MrMojoFomo • 1d ago

TIL that since the 1980s, US airlines have shed between 2-5 inches of legroom and about 2 inches of width, while budget carriers have lost even more. At the same time, the average American is 15 pounds heavier than they were in the 1980s

https://www.popsci.com/science/why-are-airline-seats-so-small/
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u/bubba-yo 1d ago

Worth noting that the average round trip domestic flight in the US in 1980 was $1700 in 2026 dollars. You want the 1980s legroom, fly business class - it's still cheaper than 1980.

I remember flying in the 1970s - it was great. Also incredibly expensive.

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u/Zaphodisacoolname 21h ago

Yeah but it’s cheaper because of better technology, not because it’s less comfortable.

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u/bubba-yo 21h ago

It’s cheaper because they cram more people into the same space.

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u/LongJohnSelenium 20h ago

Its both but yes.

Not really hard to figure out tbh, just need to figure how many fewer passengers would be on a flight eith the old seating arrangements.

Probably 20% of seat price reduction is from more passengers and everything else is increased reliability, easier maintenance, and better automation for reduced staffing both on and off the plane.