The Disappearance of the In-Flight Middle Class
Photo Credit: Virgin America's first-class cabin features mood lighting and plush white leather seats. Virgin America
Skift Take
Middle-ground options have fallen by the wayside as economics demand airlines emphasize super-cheap and super-fancy options for disparate passenger types.
Something is happening to on-board economy class, and it looks awfully familiar.
While airlines race to one-up the competition in their luxury or elite sections, their “cheap” seats have begun to resemble crowded bleachers at a football game.
Over the past 10 years, economy seating on major domestic flights has grown increasingly meager, with seat width, legroom, and tilt shrinking by as much as a combined five inches. At the same time, airlines have phased out amenities like snacks, pillows, blankets, and even eye shades.
But the front of the plane is increasingly luxurious. Delta, American and United Airlines have all sprung for spacious, lie-flat bed seats for their business-class customers. Even JetBlue, traditionally a budget carri
