Delta Air Lines Plans to Reduce Seat Recline in Bet to Make Flyers Happy


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This could go one of two ways. Passengers could revolt, taking to social media to complain about Delta's decision to reduce recline on 62 airplanes. Or customers could be pleasantly surprised at how much space they'll have under Delta's new test configuration.

Delta Air Lines is doing something unusual to try to boost customer satisfaction: It is reducing seat recline by roughly half on 62 airplanes that often fly business routes shorter than two hours. It is tempting to see this as an anti-passenger move. But Delta operates slightly differently than most U.S. airlines, offering more free food, legroom, and even some wider seats than many of its competitors. Not every plane is more comfortable in the competition, but Delta may offer a better overall experience than most other airlines, save for perhaps JetBlue Airways. Delta executives argue this allows it to charge slightly more than other airlines when they compete directly. With this recent move, Delta claims it's reducin