[Advanced] Airline Changes: The Good, Bad and Ugly (2)

Who does it benefit?

Fern Fernandez, American's vice president of global marketing, painted the changes as net positives for the consumer but acknowledged that while the updated interiors are in response to consumer demand, they also boost revenue.

"Being able to generate additional revenue is obviously important to us; it's critical to us," Fernandez said.

The airlines are increasing revenue twofold with the new planes: They're fitting in more bodies, whether with more rows or more seats in a row, while also offering the miracle cure of extra legroom at a cost. American calls it Main Cabin Extra. United, Economy Plus. Delta, Economy Comfort.

All those programs amount to the same thing: the slightly comfier flying experience of yore, for a price.

"It's been headed in this direction for a long time," said Bob Mann, an aviation industry analyst.

Mann said that the changes can be considered good and bad for the consumer and that the two often overlap. For instance, while the new, roomier overhead bins are "a huge positive," more seats on airplanes mean that more overhead space is needed. It is, therefore, not quite extra space but necessary space.

Pushing consumers toward upgrades
And despite the touch screens and power outlets, physical space has become "not only uncomfortable but unusable."

"There are already seats in service before this latest generation with 30- or 31-inch pitch that I don't find usable for anything but a shuttle trip," Mann said. "A half-hour in that seat and my knees lose sensation."

But maybe that's just clever business.

"There's a school of thought — and it's understandable — that says the basic economy experience is so uncomfortable that it forces increasing portions of people to seek a buy-up opportunity to something that represents a sufficient experience," Mann said.

Sure enough, when I expressed my semi-dissatisfaction to American about its new interiors via Twitter while still on that Chicago-San Francisco flight, the airline offered the following reply: "Josh, check out our Main Cabin Extra seats the next time you travel for additional legroom."