American Airlines Changes Upright Seating Rule Before Landing: Pros and Cons

New Updates from American Airlines

American Airlines is implementing a change to the cabin preparation process, requiring flight attendants to begin their safety procedures at an altitude of 18,000 feet, instead of the previous 10,000 feet. This adjustment aims to protect crew members from turbulence-related injuries during descent. While safety is a valid concern, I believe this is an overreaction that could negatively impact the passenger experience, especially on overnight flights.

Details of the Procedure Change

This new rule mandates that flight attendants prepare the cabin earlier by asking passengers to return their seats to an upright position, stow tray tables, close laptops, and get ready for landing sooner. The goal is for the crew to be seated and buckled in before the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet.

American Airlines isn’t the only airline adopting this regulation; Southwest and United Airlines have also implemented similar measures as turbulence-related injuries become a growing concern. This makes sense, as unexpected turbulence can occur during landing, putting flight attendants at greater risk while moving through the cabin compared to passengers who are seated.

Impact on Passenger Experience

However, requiring passengers to sit upright earlier is a significant change, especially on night flights. Although it may only be a few minutes in theory, those last moments of reclining can be precious for those hoping to catch some sleep.

Personally, I often choose American Airlines for overnight flights because the cabin isn’t completely darkened before landing, allowing me extra time to rest. With this new rule, that convenience has diminished.

A Reasonable Compromise

A simple compromise could be the solution. If American Airlines deems it necessary, they could allow flight attendants to start their preparations and announcements earlier, collecting trash and checking luggage before reaching 10,000 feet. However, passengers should still be allowed to keep their seats reclined until they receive an official signal at that altitude.

Enforcing this rule uniformly across all flights, even in calm conditions, seems excessive. For flights encountering turbulence, starting the cabin preparations earlier is certainly reasonable. However, there is no data to prove that this change effectively reduces injuries for flight attendants.

Conclusion

American Airlines, along with the union representing its flight attendants, aims to ensure their safety by having them seated earlier during landing. While no passenger comfort is worth an employee injury, the requirement to maintain an upright seat position and secure the cabin at 18,000 feet is bad news for travelers, especially on overnight flights. Instead of imposing strict regulations, the airline should allow crew members to prepare early while still permitting passengers to recline their seats until a safe altitude is reached, barring any unusual circumstances.

Article referenced and edited from: Live and Let's Fly