[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

A lawsuit (ie class action) may well be the solution. The defendant should be the DOT for allowing seat pitch (spacing) which, while meeting safety standards, may cause adverse health reactions in the case of long flights (trans con, overseas.) As an example, doctors advise getting out of your seat, to stretch your legs, on long flights. Unfortunately the reality is that, even with the seatbelt sign off, you may be risking arrest by doing so—at least on a US-based airline. Thus, on long flights, your health may fall victim to an airline’s desire to see how many people can be squeezed into a given space.

A final comment on travel in sardine class: How spacious the overhead bins are, and how generous a given airline is in allowing you to use them, can make the difference between a cramped flight and an endurable one. Some time ago I was allowed to put all my carry-ons in the overhead bin on a Frontier flight (DEN – PHL). The empty space under the seat in front of me allowed for ample “foot stowage” thus making for an endurable flight.