It seems that Boeing blogger, Randy Baseler, recently stirred up a fuss over his post on Width is Which, about the issue of seat spacing in aircraft. So much so that he had to post a response to all the ruckus.
Airplane interiors - now that’s a topic that really gets people squirming in their seats!
The blog we did a couple of weeks back about the so-called “7 inch” difference between the A320 and the 737 turned out to be one of the more controversial topics we’ve done.
Some people took it quite personally. We’ve now posted your thoughts on the subject in our comments section.
Yes, Randy, people get really uptight about being crammed into airline seats like cattle, especially when food and drinks now come at a premium, and airline travel is becoming more hassle than fun.
But the fact of the matter is, as Randy explains, that seat spacing has little or nothing to do with the aircraft manufacturers and more with the customer’s interior configurations.
To point out the fact that when Airbus talks about “7 inches,” that dimension is on the outside of the A320. And that an outside measurement has little to do with interior comfort.
Yes, the A320 is a wider fuselage. And on the inside, at seat bottom, or knee level, that equates to about 5.8 inches wider - or less than an inch per passenger in six abreast economy class.
There is more to the issue of seat spacing. I’ve worked on many airplanes, new and old, and each airline has their own interior configuration and customization. Some like it tight, some like it spacious. Some want to cram in as many seats as possible, while others want their passengers to have a little more leg and shoulder room. Some want a large business section with more space and others want the whole plane to be a cattle truck. It depends upon the airline and what their specifications are, not necessarily the aircraft itself.
If you are worried, check with the aircraft specifications for each airline before you buy your tickets.
Still, as tall as I am, I long to be able to sit in an airplane and not have my knees jammed against the seat in front of me, pushing me backwards, crushing my spine into my seat. 
