Underseat space on airplanes

[Anonymous]

I could swear I used to be able to fit a regular small roller under the seat in front of me, like around 20 years ago. Is this just a false memory?

I haven't any problems dealing with luggage now. It's not a complaint. I just find it peculiar that I seem to remember a different experience when I started flying, but I can't find any evidence of that online. I may just be getting old though.

[Anonymous]

A very small roller may fit. Many airlines with seatback entertainment have boxes under the seats that provide the equipment for the screen.

Just put your bag in the overhead?

[Anonymous]

the average legroom or pitch has decreased from a comfortable 35 inches to a cramped 28 inches, often found on low-cost carriers. Seat width has also shrunk by as much as four inches over the past 30 years, leaving many seats with a narrow 16-inch width.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/shrinking-seat-sizes-and-disappearing-legroom-impacting-airline-experience-for-americans#:~:text=Consider%20this%3A%20the%20average%20legroom,a%20narrow%2016%2Dinch%20width.

Supposedly they're slowly starting to increase again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A very small roller may fit. Many airlines with seatback entertainment have boxes under the seats that provide the equipment for the screen.

Just put your bag in the overhead?

hey, I appreciate it, but like I said in the first post, I don't have a problem with how things work. I adapted just fine. I'm just trying to remember how it used to be, because I can't tell whether that memory is accurate.

I think the post under you had it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the average legroom or pitch has decreased from a comfortable 35 inches to a cramped 28 inches, often found on low-cost carriers. Seat width has also shrunk by as much as four inches over the past 30 years, leaving many seats with a narrow 16-inch width.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/shrinking-seat-sizes-and-disappearing-legroom-impacting-airline-experience-for-americans#:~:text=Consider%20this%3A%20the%20average%20legroom,a%20narrow%2016%2Dinch%20width.

Supposedly they're slowly starting to increase again.

That's more like what I remember. A small roller would fit in front of my feet, and I'd tuck a small purse at the lower curve of my back when buckled in (mostly because it was more comfortable that way).

Interesting that it's changing. The whole "gate lice"/juggling for line position seems tied to baggage issues and getting room for carry-ons. I'm sure the market will continue to adapt.

Thanks, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A very small roller may fit. Many airlines with seatback entertainment have boxes under the seats that provide the equipment for the screen.

Just put your bag in the overhead?

(OP)
PS: Also do appreciate this point. I'd forgotten about that change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the average legroom or pitch has decreased from a comfortable 35 inches to a cramped 28 inches, often found on low-cost carriers. Seat width has also shrunk by as much as four inches over the past 30 years, leaving many seats with a narrow 16-inch width.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/shrinking-seat-sizes-and-disappearing-legroom-impacting-airline-experience-for-americans#:~:text=Consider%20this%3A%20the%20average%20legroom,a%20narrow%2016%2Dinch%20width.

Supposedly they're slowly starting to increase again.

Ha ha ridiculously overstated stats. No standard US airline has had economy legroom of 35 inches ever. 32 was standard 30 years ago, and now it's generally 31 or 30. Only Spirit/Frontier go below 30, and 28 in very uncommon in the US- although airlines like Ryanair have that on some planes.

And again, there is no way that 20 inches was a normal economy width ever. The standard A320/737 seat width has not changed at all in probably 40 years. Have never seen a standard narrow body 737/A320 seat less than 17 inches width.

[Anonymous]

If I dropped something on the floor in the past I could bend over and pick it up. Now I just bang my head on the tray in the seat back in front and have to remember to pick up the item at the end of the flight.

[Anonymous]

I don't remember underseat space ever holding a normal roll on. Soft sided bags and back packs are about all they can handle. No doubt the space has gotten tighter given the entertainment equipment they've added.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A very small roller may fit. Many airlines with seatback entertainment have boxes under the seats that provide the equipment for the screen.

Just put your bag in the overhead?

This is so obvious that this doesn't need to be instructed. But in saying this you actually are accusing the OP of asking a stupid question, which she is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember underseat space ever holding a normal roll on. Soft sided bags and back packs are about all they can handle. No doubt the space has gotten tighter given the entertainment equipment they've added.

OP here. I just think I remember -- maybe 30 years ago? I'm in my 50s now -- that I was a little puzzled by why the flight attendants would direct you to put the larger bag up overhead and the smaller at your feet. My small-ish roller fir just fine under the seat in front of me, and that way I didn't have to lift something heavy.

I do believe I was flying a lot in Canada at the time, so that may be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A very small roller may fit. Many airlines with seatback entertainment have boxes under the seats that provide the equipment for the screen.

Just put your bag in the overhead?

This is so obvious that this doesn't need to be instructed. But in saying this you actually are accusing the OP of asking a stupid question, which she is not.

OP.

Hey, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember underseat space ever holding a normal roll on. Soft sided bags and back packs are about all they can handle. No doubt the space has gotten tighter given the entertainment equipment they've added.

OP here. I just think I remember -- maybe 30 years ago? I'm in my 50s now -- that I was a little puzzled by why the flight attendants would direct you to put the larger bag up overhead and the smaller at your feet. My small-ish roller fir just fine under the seat in front of me, and that way I didn't have to lift something heavy.

I do believe I was flying a lot in Canada at the time, so that may be it.

I flew Delta a lot at that time in the US. You definitely used to be able to fit rollers under the seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember underseat space ever holding a normal roll on. Soft sided bags and back packs are about all they can handle. No doubt the space has gotten tighter given the entertainment equipment they've added.

OP here. I just think I remember -- maybe 30 years ago? I'm in my 50s now -- that I was a little puzzled by why the flight attendants would direct you to put the larger bag up overhead and the smaller at your feet. My small-ish roller fir just fine under the seat in front of me, and that way I didn't have to lift something heavy.

I do believe I was flying a lot in Canada at the time, so that may be it.

I flew Delta a lot at that time in the US. You definitely used to be able to fit rollers under the seats.

THANK you. I really appreciate it.

That's been nagging at me for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember underseat space ever holding a normal roll on. Soft sided bags and back packs are about all they can handle. No doubt the space has gotten tighter given the entertainment equipment they've added.

OP here. I just think I remember -- maybe 30 years ago? I'm in my 50s now -- that I was a little puzzled by why the flight attendants would direct you to put the larger bag up overhead and the smaller at your feet. My small-ish roller fir just fine under the seat in front of me, and that way I didn't have to lift something heavy.

I do believe I was flying a lot in Canada at the time, so that may be it.

A very tiny roller would fit under the seat. Think of a roller the size used for computer bags now. Normal carryon rollers, including EU size rollers, never fit.