Bill Overview
Title: Stop Airplane Seat Shrinking Act
Description: This bill prohibits air carriers from reducing the size of passenger seats on aircraft until the Federal Aviation Administration issues a final rule establishing minimum dimensions for passenger seats.
Sponsors: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45]
Target Audience
Population: People who travel by air
Estimated Size: 270000000
- The global air travel market is vast with millions of passengers flying every day.
- All airline passengers could potentially be impacted, as seat size changes affect every person on the flight.
- Frequent flyers or people who travel domestically or internationally regularly might be the most directly affected.
- Air travel is a common mode of transport worldwide, used by business travelers, tourists, and families.
Reasoning
- The intended beneficiaries of this policy are all airplane passengers but especially those who fly frequently and are directly impacted by the comfort and space of their seats.
- The restriction of budget to $24.5 million over 10 years implies that any infrastructure changes or restructuring by airlines need to be minimal or tightly regulated to fit financial constraints.
- Among frequent flyers, there will be a mix of business and leisure travelers who will have varying opinions on how much this impacts their quality of life.
- Some people may not be affected by seat size due to infrequent travel, while others may prioritize seat comfort as a key component of their travel experience.
- The policy is likely to have a more pronounced impact on taller and larger passengers who find current seat sizes uncomfortable.
- Passengers who use air travel primarily for short flights may notice less of an impact compared to long-haul international travelers.
Simulated Interviews
Business Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I travel a lot for work, so seat comfort is a big deal.
- I think this policy will definitely improve my flying experience if seats stop shrinking.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't fly often, so the seat size doesn't impact me that much.
- It would be nice to have more space when I do fly though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 57 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seats have gotten really cramped over the years. It's about time someone addressed it.
- Having more seat space on those long flights to Europe would be lovely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't fly that often, so seat size isn't really a concern for me.
- It's good for those who fly often, I suppose.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Engineer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone who flies a lot for work, seat shrinking is annoying.
- I welcome this act to stop seat shrinking. It's long overdue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm average height, so seat size changes don't affect me as much.
- It's a nice change, but not a priority for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Pilot (Houston, TX)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I spent years as a pilot, and I know how cramped the passenger seats have become.
- Long overdue measure, glad to see it addressed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Airplane seat sizes aren't something I think about often, I don't fly much.
- Good for those who need it, but no direct impact on me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Airplane seats are really uncomfortable for me due to my height.
- I'm really looking forward to the implementation of this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Marketing Executive (Denver, CO)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's getting ridiculous how cramped planes are these days.
- This policy will certainly improve my travel experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $800000, High: $1200000)
Year 10: $500000 (Low: $400000, High: $600000)
Year 100: $500000 (Low: $400000, High: $600000)
Key Considerations
- The necessity for airlines to comply with regulatory changes could incur costs that may be passed onto consumers through increased airfares.
- Monitoring and enforcement of the policy will require resources from the FAA.
- Over time, the establishment of minimum seat dimensions may lead to consumer satisfaction benefits, potentially influencing market dynamics.