People getting fatter + age of rage + social media = airplane perception bad.

I have an idea... how about they set aside *some* larger seats with additional spacing on each plane for those who want more elbow room. They could also get some additional amenities but would have to pay a significant premium.

If this were to prove popular (due to covid?), you could expand the service.

Those who are too frugal for that could just continue to fly in the traditional steerage seats.

Personally, in my opinion, the older MD80s with less seats and more padded seats were more comfortable than today’s newer narrowbodies packed with extra hard slim-line seats. Add in a reduced pitch middle seat in the back of coach where you can’t even lean forward or back, and it gets pretty hot and uncomfortable.

It’s all about how you market it. For example, it’s no longer referred to as “coach” or “steerage”, from now on, please use the upgrade friendly term “Corona Class” or “Corona Klass” because capital K is Klassy. The other acceptable name is “Spirit”.

For premium seats with room to distance, we’ll be using the terms “BioShield Zone seating”, and “Quite Distant Class”. All advertising will be guilt based, i.e. “what’s more important, money or your health”. Everyone needs to know that BioShield Zone make an operating room look like the city dump (as far as they know). Where do you want to fly your family?

It's subjective, for sure. I remember riding on an MD80 about 10 years ago. The guy in front of me reclined his seat fully, and the top of his seat ended up about 10 inches in front of my face. It was almost impossible to even get to my bag under his seat. I still have a picture I took, because I thought it was so absurd.

One of the better innovations is the variety of seating choices that are available. I think that's a win for airlines, because it squeezes more revenue out in many ways, including loyalty programs that unlock better seating choices. Rick's idea could be an extension of this trend.

You mean extra first/business class?

Bring back the old Midwest Express I say. (Not Ejets)

I'll take the Ejets over the 200s they bought for a relaunch. Hell as long as I get a cookie I'm good

I would be careful with advertising in this way as "where" could become "why" I could see it being good old fashion competition between airlines and what measures each airline is taking making up the potential passenger's mind.

https://youtu.be/OObC5RYXfXA

CEO of Qatar Airlines tells it how it is.

Things have changed re business travel.
You will pay more in the future to fly.
He isn't making wild predictions as in his words, 'no one knows'.