max_cont. .The difference between an airline seat and any other consumer commodity is one of disclosure.
Frequent (informed) flyers know about seat pitch differences, will seek out this information, and then make a choice. The typical charter pax can not find this information, even if they knew enough to ask. Most airlines don't disclose it, nor do the travel agents/package operators who sell to Gen. Public. And to the majority of them the term '28 inch pitch' would be absolutely meaningless anyway.
This case was about whether consumers, sight unseen and
despite their ignorance are reasonably entitled to expect a certain level of comfort and a minimum health risk. The judge apparently thought so, a decision with which I agree. . .Would you buy a car without being able to look at it, sit in it etc. ?
I doubt any UK charter airline is going to take the lead and unilaterally increase pitch, for the economic reasons already cited. UA and AA did, but at a time when loads were already declining so the effect on revenue was minimal. TW tried it in the boom times and it was a complete failure. They put the seats back in.
Much as I dislike regulation, I think this is the only way anything will change - by CAA edict. And the evacuation requirement is a red herring, apart from being ridiculously optimistic. Does anybody really think you could empty a typical charter load - kids, grannies, drunken brickies etc. - in anything like 90 seconds ? <img src="frown.gif" border="0">
And BTW, an 8-hour transatlantic flight
is long-haul in my book.
[ 26 January 2002: Message edited by: PaperTiger ]</p>