It's got to be better than the 14 hour stretch through rough weather on a DC 10 that I experienced. On one side was the wing and it's droning engine, with noise and incessant vibration reverberating into the cabin. In the turbulence, it was like carnival ride, with up and down ride motion. At times, In fact, I could see the whole wing moving up and down, as if it were flapping like a bird.
On the other side of me was a rather obese woman, who seemed to somehow occupy her seat and half of mine.I became very familar with my knees. For almost the entire time, she tried to tell me why Asian women made terrible wives. Believe it or not, she was Asian herself! I felt like I needed to be poured off that flight.
Oh--the FAA recently approved new seats that are smaller, with thinner padding, narrower handles, etc. While they brag that the seats can accomodate a larger bag underneath, most (important to the airlines anyway) is the fact that they can cram in another row of seats/passengers was obviously appealing to the airlines.
The biggest thing the FAA apparently was concerned about was that the airlines be able to demonstrate that the plane could still be emergency evacuated in a certain amount of time. I understand that Spirit Airlines, which I've never had the displeasure of flying on, pioneered the seat switch, but it is being widely embraced by USA airlines.
The bit piece on this story on public radio had a funny audio clip that sounded like a real stewardess pre take off recording saying. "Passengers should now bring their knees up to their chests, into their normal flying position."
