[Advanced] The Ups and Downs of Airplane Improvements (2)

The ultimate in legroom is lying down.

For international and some coast-to-coast domestic flights, airlines are adding seats that recline into beds. "Now, the cost of doing business for long-haul business class is fully flat seats, and we're seeing that across the board," Kirby said.

After eliminating many economy-class services, such as free food and free checked bags, some U.S. airlines are squeezing even more from coach, further reducing legroom as they install more chairs or yield the space to higher-paying customers.

"Everybody's upgrading their business-class cabins, but it's coming at the expense of coach," Brancatelli said.

Tech for all

As people carry more mobile devices and expect to be constantly connected, airlines are adding wireless Internet and standard power outlets in the seat to keep those devices functioning at 30,000 feet. For those off the clock, airlines are offering on-demand movies and television, usually for an extra charge.

The good news is that many of the technology upgrades are available in coach too.

"All this in-flight entertainment and connectivity give the airlines the ability to distract passengers' brains from the pain of being in these ultra snug seat pitches in economy class," Kirby said.

Wi-Fi, in particular, is becoming a standard offering on mainline aircraft.

Sensory shift
In-cabin ambience will be improving on many flights.

For example, new workhorse Boeing 737 planes are likely to have the Boeing Sky Interior, which evokes a greater sense of space. The interior has been ordered as an option on more than 90 percent of new planes.

The Boeing Sky Interior includes sophisticated LED color-changing lighting, along with new side panels and overhead bins. The interior is meant to make passengers feel calmer, connected and more welcomed — a diffuser for the stress created by traffic en route the to airport, security-line hassles and boarding bungles.

Notes and Vocabulary
ultimate adj.
1 happening or coming at the end of a process, series of events, etc.
2 greatest or most extreme — used to say that something or someone is the greatest or most extreme example of a particular type of thing or person
3 used to refer to the original or basic source or cause of something
4 most distant in space or time

coast-to-coast adj.
going across an entire nation or continent from one coast to another

long-haul n.
a long journey or distance; a long period of time — usually used in the phrases for the long haul and over the long haul

refuge n.
[uncountable] shelter or protection from someone or something
[countable] a place that provides shelter, or protection from danger

on-demand adj.
available when needed or wanted

bungle v.
to make mistakes in doing (something) : to not do (something) well or successfully


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