11 chapters across the catalog
Southwest Airlines is ending its 50-year tradition of open seating, moving to assigned seats and extra legroom options to increase revenue. The hosts lament the end of the "democratic" boarding process and predict the airline will lose its unique identity. They jokingly suggest the change is a pretext for a $10 billion IT upgrade from their current "Commodore 64" systems.
Southwest Airlines, Seating Policy Changes and Snack Ingredients
Southwest Airlines is reportedly considering a shift away from its signature open-seating policy toward assigned seating and boarding groups. This change comes amid complaints from flight attendants about the "ragamuffin" boarding process and pre-boarding abuses. Additionally, a review of airline snack mixes reveals they can contain up to 70 ingredients, including enriched flours and various chemical additives, far removed from simple "nuts and bolts" recipes.
Investigators are looking into whether a flight attendant accidentally hit a switch on the back of a pilot's seat, causing a Boeing 787 to nosedive during a LATAM Airlines flight. Boeing has issued a recommendation for airlines to inspect cockpit seat switches to prevent unintended movement that could interfere with flight controls.
Airline Safety Tests, Seat Size Standards, and Weight-Based Fees
The FAA is conducting new evacuation tests to determine if shrinking airline seat sizes, which have dropped from 35 to 31 inches, pose a safety threat. Critics argue current tests are flawed because they exclude children, the elderly, and the obese, failing to reflect real-world demographics. A proposal is discussed to charge airline passengers by the pound to account for fuel costs associated with weight.
Airline Seat Shrinkage, FAA Safety Standards, Emergency Evacuations
Passenger safety advocates express concern that shrinking airline seats—now as narrow as 28 inches—will hinder emergency evacuations. FAA requirements mandate that a full plane must be evacuated in 90 seconds, but recent incidents show evacuations taking significantly longer. The hosts argue that airlines are prioritizing profit over safety as they "squeeze" more passengers onto planes.
Airline Cabin Rage, Shrinking Seats, Pen Stabbing Incident
An incident on a Southwest Airlines flight involved a woman stabbing a snoring passenger with a pen. The segment attributes the rise in "air rage" to packed planes and the reduction of legroom to as little as 28 inches. The hosts argue that the stressful environment is turning passengers against one another.
Major airlines, including American and Air France, are shrinking coach seat widths to 17 inches and adding extra seats to each row. The hosts compare these dimensions unfavorably to Amtrak and stadium seating, advising listeners to research seat widths before booking flights.
American Airlines Loose Seat Incidents and Sabotage Suspicions
Two American Airlines Boeing 757 flights were forced to make emergency landings after rows of passenger seats came loose from the floor during flight. While the airline cited a potential issue with seat tracking models, the hosts suspect "sabotage" related to ongoing labor disputes between the carrier and its unions. They note that the incidents occurred on flights bound for Miami from Boston and New York, prompting a fleet-wide inspection.
High-Speed Rail Promotion and Airline Industry Degradation
The "Trains Good, Planes Bad" segment highlights stories intended to discredit air travel, such as an airline refusing to fly a donated kidney and a passenger freak-out on a JetBlue flight. The hosts examine the "Sky Rider" standing seat concept, calling it a fraudulent plant designed to make flying seem unbearable. They contrast this with the efficiency of "lifesaver" flights that receive priority for heart transplants.
United Airlines' policy to charge obese passengers for two seats sparks a discussion on "fat activism." The hosts recount an anecdote from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport involving a passenger with a unique body type struggling to secure an extra seat under previous airline regulations.
Weather Conditions, Travel Logistics, American Airlines Coach Experience
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program discussing contrasting weather in Guilford, UK, and Northern California, where temperatures reached 86 degrees. Curry describes a recent flight from New York to San Francisco on American Airlines. Despite being 6'4", he sat in a middle coach seat due to rebooking issues, noting the lack of legroom but the benefit of observing fellow passengers.
