Travel Travails- 8

8 In-flight niggles
The problem
There is one thing that adds greatly to air passengers’ sense of being herded like farm animals, and that is the way they are treated in economy class. While airlines have poured millions into redesigning club class to offer flat beds and a civilised atmosphere, the vast majority who travel at the back of the plane (and pay for their seats with their own money) have seen virtually no improvements whatsoever.
In fact, things have got worse. Meals – as inedible as ever – now frequently have to be paid for, service is agonisingly slow, any flight longer than two or three hours becomes an endurance test, and – because of the pitiful amount of legroom – overnight flying is agony. Even flagship airlines, such as British Airways, offer among the most cramped conditions, with only a 31in pitch (the distance between one seat back and another).
The solution
A few airlines manage to offer a 34in pitch – a 10 per cent improvement on the normal layout: these include Malaysia, Thai and Air New Zealand – all airlines that also have a decent reputation for service. It’s time the others caught up.