Flying Economy Could Soon Get Worse if This Feature Disappears

If you've ever flown economy on an airplane, you know the experience isn't exactly pleasant.

But a change could be coming down the pipeline that makes the process of flying from Point A to Point B even worse, as airlines begin to phase out a common feature.

Here's the economy perk that you may lose, along with some tips on what to do if this happens.

Will economy flyers have to say goodbye to another comfort option?

Recently, a number of major airlines have either made changes, or announced upcoming changes, that could eliminate the option to recline an economy seat.

In fact, while you used to be able to put your seat back by around four inches, the new standard on planes flown by Delta, American, and United is two inches instead. Spirit Airlines also eliminated the option to put your seat back, instead announcing a new cabin interior featuring so-called "pre-reclined" seats -- which really just means they start out at a small angle and don't move at all.

Travel experts believe this trend will continue, with reclining eventually being phased out entirely from standard economy seats. This is because seats that don't recline are lighter (which saves on fuel costs) and are also less likely to break (which saves on maintenance costs).

For those who like to be able to get comfortable by sitting back, though, the loss of this creature comfort could make flying in an economy seat even less fun than it is under the current system.

How to cope if reclining seats disappear

If reclining seats do become a relic of the past and this leaves you feeling less comfortable on planes, you have a few options.

One of the best solutions may be to opt for a travel credit card that covers airline incidental charges (like the fees that you pay when you upgrade your seat). The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is one example of a card that offers this feature. You can get a credit of up to $100 when you make qualifying purchases, such as a seat upgrade for a flight.

If your card pays for you to upgrade your seat, you may be able to buy access to one that still has the reclining feature if airlines offer a limited number of them as a special perk.

You can also look for credit cards that can help you get bumped up to first class. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives you upgrade priority compared with other loyalty club members within the same level and fare class (terms apply). First class seats aren't likely to lose reclining features.

You can also research which airlines still allow economy passengers to recline and prioritize flying with them whenever you can. This could also help you to earn loyalty points with that airline that you can redeem for upgrades -- especially if you also sign up for a cobranded credit card with that air carrier.

The bottom line is, reclining seats in economy may soon be a thing of the past. If that happens, you'll want to be prepared to try to minimize the discomfort by picking your airlines carefully and opting for a credit card that could allow you to upgrade out of the cheap, uncomfortable seats so you don't have to worry about it.