USA-based LCC Allegiant Air is moving from having all-economy cabins in its fleet of six Boeing 757s, to having three seating options. First, a new seating option called ‘Legroom +’ offers a standard coach seat, but with an extra 6in of legroom and a 34in pitch. A bolder move is the addition of six ‘Giant’ seats in the first row and the mid-cabin emergency exit row, which offer a more spacious, wider seat, comfortable headrests and more leg room. The installation of the new configuration has been completed on all six 757s, which has reduced the total seat count from 223 to 215.
Allegiant installed the first of the Giant seats as part of a compliance procedure related to changes in FAA crew rest rules, which require minimum seat requirements for augmented crews resting in the passenger cabin. A pair of the new seats was installed to comply with these rules, but the airline also saw an opportunity to offer these more comfortable seats to passengers in other parts of the cabin and on flights that do not require augmented crew rest.
The Giant Seats will be made available for a seat assignment fee on all flights to and from Hawaii, and on selected flights to Las Vegas.
