[xienze]

> Airlines are adding another option that is cheaper. How is that a bad thing?

No, they’re going to make this the new default setting. The regular crappy seat you enjoy today will become the “economy premium” option and cost more.

> If I don't want the cheaper option, another airline will offer me a more comfortable one and I'll pay for it.

Assuming they go where you’re going in the timeframe you’re expecting. And assuming they don’t just move in lock-step with their other competitors and make these new seats the default.

[mikybee93]

>And assuming they don’t just move in lock-step with their other competitors and make these new seats the default

Well then they wouldn't be competitors, would they? That's another problem.

Any single airline could disrupt the system by choosing not to install these and to keep their prices the same. Or choosing to install these and lower their prices. Which are two good things for consumers.

Like I replied above, that's basic economics of competition.

[xienze]

Show me the airline today that has superior seats to all the others that charges the same amount. It’s not a coincidence that seating has gotten crappier across the board.

[mikybee93]

And it's also not a coincidence that flights have gotten cheaper across the board.

Airlines have, as a whole, found that it's more profitable to sell cheaper crappy seats than it is to sell more expensive nice seats, because nobody will buy the nice seats given the option.

If someone had superior seats, why would they charge the same amount?

What I'm trying to say is that if someone comes out with a crappier seat, they will have to charge less than a normal seat. If they choose not to, they won't be able to get people into those standing seats.

When a company comes out with a crappier car, do they charge the same amount as a standard car? Does the price of that standard car rise, now that there's a crappy car at its price point?