Given that the average width of an Economy Class seat has dwindled to just 17 inches, every extra inch counts for passengers. So it’s understandable to feel a bit indignant at having to move right as you were convincing yourself you were almost comfy. Most commercial flights carry small children, elderly passengers, and passengers with mobility issues. “That includes having the seats in the upright position, as well as nothing that can tangle your feet up,” Nance says. Let’s face it—no company wants to be the one to skirt tried-and-true safety standards when the stakes are this high.