Among the many reasons to charter a private jet, comfort is certainly at the top of the list. Commercial planes are cramped and uncomfortable, largely because passengers are required to sit so close to each other. And this claustrophobic proximity appears to be getting even more uncomfortable.
In fact, the case of the “incredible shrinking airline seat” is even attracting the attention of federal regulators.
Judge Orders Review Of Airline Seat Sizing
A team of judges in Washington, D.C. has ordered the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review seat sizes and leg room in commercial airlines. CNN reportsthat the FAA has never regulated space on commercial planes before. Rather, they left it up to the airline. This decision has the potential to change this.
According to CNN, Flyers Rights, an advocacy group, originally brought up the issue in 2015. Their argument was that the small size of airline seats was actually a health risk. Specifically, they cited the risk of conditions like deep vein thrombosis. They also pointed out that the seats are getting smaller as obesity rates go up in the United States.
Flyers Rights brought up the fact that the average seat width went from 18.5 inches in the early 2000s to just 17 inches around 2005. According to CNN, they also discovered that while the space between rows of seats was once between 31 and 35 inches on average, it is now as low as 28 inches.
“This is the case of the incredible shrinking airline seat,” Patricia Millet, one of the judges involved in the case, said in the court decision, according to CNN.
CNN reports that if the FAA does decide to act, they would be the first government body in any country to ever regulate airplane seat sizing. In the meantime, there is a better way to fly.
Private Jet Charter: A More Comfortable Option
With the discomfort of commercial planes increasing with every passing year, there is more reason than ever to get a private charter quote. According to a 2009 survey, business professionals flying on a commercial plane reported a 40% drop in productivity. But there is a way to salvage this. When flying in a private jet, customers are able to choose how many people they fly with and the size of their plane. So, if you want to stretch out and relax, you can do so without worry.
Get a private charter quote and learn more about your private jet options.
