FAA rulemaking doesn't deter people from complaining about small seats

Financial expert Jeff Macke once said of the airlines: "The more agony you re in, the more profit you make." It is no secret that airlines have been optimizing profits for a long time, with charging for everything from checking luggage to being able to have an assigned seat.

In addition to additional charges, the airlines have been trying to squeeze more people into planes, and that has resulted in smaller seat width and pitch, which is the term used for distance between passengers and seats in front of them, aka legroom.

There is relief for weary travelers, with the Federal Aviation Administration FAA seeking comment on proposed rulemaking for creating minimum seat dimensions and pitch length across all U.S. airlines.

Over the past decade, pitch length has shrunk from 35 inches to 31 inches, with some airlines like Spirit SAV taking that down to even 28 inches. The average male has gained 15 pounds and 2 inches of waist size, while the average female has added 16 pounds and 3 inches of waist size, according to an FAA study.

The rulemaking is only looking for commentary necessary for the safety of air passengers in light of an emergency evacuation, but this hasn't stopped thousands of people from commenting on seat sizes. The Points Guy senior writer Ethan Klapper told Yahoo Finance that regardless of what the agency wants to do, it will likely become a battle between the airline industry, which wants to pack more seats in planes because that lowers costs for them, and consumer groups, which have complained about passenger comfort issues on aircraft. The agency's website had over 9,500 comments as of midday this afternoon.

I'm 6' 4 tall, and finding a place for my legs under the se a t in front of mine is nearly impossible. Because of the small seating area, I find it necessary to wear compression over the calf-stockings to keep the blood flowing, as I contort my legs to fit, said a commentator for Scottsdale, Ariz. PLEASE make the seats wider, taller, deeper and farther from the one in front of mine, so that the larger folks can enjoy flying again. The airline group for America, a trade group representing US-based airlines, told Yahoo Finance that while it welcomes the FAA's new rulemaking, the current situation is not a safety concern.

It hasn't dissuaded the concerns of many commentators on the agency website. A seat that's too small, especially one where the armrests tend to encroach on personal space, makes it very difficult and uncomfortable to get out of the seat, said acommentator from Davenport, IA. I worry that this will affect my ability to quickly evacuate the aircraft in case of emergency. All U.S. carriers meet or exceed federal safety standards regarding seat size, and the FAA continues to approve seat configurations before they go into service.

This hasn't dissuaded the concerns of many commentators on the agency website. A seat too small, especially one where the armrests significantly encroach on personal space, makes it very hard and uncomfortable to get out of the seat, said a commentator from Davenport, Iowa. I worry that this will affect my ability to quickly evacuate the aircraft in case of emergency. The FAA will issue rules shortly after for minimum dimensions for passenger seats, based on written public comments until November 1, at which point it will issue rules for minimum dimensions.