BRITAIN’S leading air passenger watchdog and the nation’s main club representing tall people have called on airlines to be more upfront about seat sizes on tickets.
The Air Transport Users’ Council (AUC) believes that airlines should have clear information on their websites, with text explaining the exact seat size in a prominent position. The Tall Persons Club Great Britain and Northern Ireland has branded airlines as “totally secretive” about seat sizes, saying that it is “virtually impossible” to find out how big seats are on websites.
The call comes after a Times Travel investigation into “seat pitches” — the distance between the front of the seat a passenger is sitting on and the back of the seat in front — on low-cost airlines flying to Europe. A survey of airlines found variations in standard seat pitch sizes from 28in to 31in (71-79cm) on low-fare airlines — which can greatly affect people’s comfort.
“Airlines should do all they can to advise passengers on what they are buying — that includes what size the seat is. These things should not be hidden away,” said James Fremantle, industry affairs manager at the AUC.
At the moment seat sizes are not clearly stated in advertisements or flight confirmation pages, according to Jim Briggs, director of the Tall Persons Club, who is 23 stone (146kg) and 6ft 9in (2.06m). He said: “They are totally secretive about it. It’s virtually impossible to find out — the last thing airlines want is to tell you how cramped you’re going to be.”
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The minimum seat pitch allowable under UK requirements is 26in, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This is set for “safety rather than comfort” reasons, said a CAA spokesman.
No airline contacted by Times Travel offers such a small seat, but Monarch has 28in seats on some flights, while Thomsonfly, Wizz Air, Jet2, bmi baby and easyJet all have 29in seats.
Ryanair, Air Berlin and FlyGlobespan have 30in seats. And FlyBe and Iceland Express lead the way on low-fare carriers with 31in — the same size as British Airway’s economy seats. One airline, SkyEurope, refused to divulge its seat size.
A spokeswoman for Monarch said that the 28in seats were on 11 rows in the centre of its A321 planes, but that other seats have 29-30in pitches. She added that people who want larger seats can pay £15 extra per flight for extra legroom on new 34in seats.
Ryanair pointed out that, as Ryanair’s average one-way fare price, excluding taxes, is £27 while BA’s is £181 (based on latest financial results), passengers are paying “£157 for an extra inch”. A Ryanair spokesman admitted, however, that BA’s average price covers long-haul and upgraded seats — neither of which is offered by Ryanair.
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A spokeswoman for BA said: “Seat sizes are just one part of why people fly BA: we are safe, we have a worldwide schedule, serve free food and drink, and use major airports.”
Details: Tall Persons Club (0700 0825512, www.tallclub.co.uk), Air Transport Users’ Council (020-7240 6061, www.auc.org.uk).