CRAMMED CLASS Discomfort in economy

Posted on 01/28/2016

The results of a study by Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) states what might be considered the obvious - that 70 percent of all passengers consider cabin comfort the most important contribution to the flying experience.

It is lost on no one that the smaller seats, reduced seat pitch (distance from one row of seats to the next) and diminishing leg space are not only undesirable but create frustration and anger as a result of discomfort. The APEX survey states that heavier passengers have a less satisfactory flying experience and that one quarter of all North American fliers weigh more than 91 kg (200 lbs). Compare that to the 71 percent of Asian passengers who weigh under 68 kg (150 lbs) who report a significantly higher rate of passenger satisfaction on flights. As for chatting with other passengers, the survey results show that 75 percent of those in the front of the plane do and only half of those in economy do. APEX collaborated with LRA by Deloitte to conduct the APEX Global Passenger Insight Survey using responses from 3,400 participants on a web-based survey platform screened to ensure that they had travelled within the last 12 months and were over 18 years of age. Results were weighted by region and country and were collected in the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia/Malaysia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.