If you have a problem with shrinking airplane seat sizes, you have a limited time to help make a difference.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been tasked with setting minimum seat sizes for commercial flights.
A public comment period runs only until Tuesday.
Congress ordered the FAA to set a minimum seat size three years ago for reasons of comfort and safety during emergencies.
Sen. Chuck Schumer is asking New Yorkers to go to
Regulations.gov and file comments with the FAA before the deadline.
The nonprofit FlyersRight says the average airline seat width has gone from about 20 inches down to around 17 inches. The pitch, which is the space from your seat to the back of the seat in front of you, has gone from 35 inches to 31 inches.
FlyersRight has also raised concern about blood clots in the legs of older passengers due to smaller seats.
"The seat sizes on multiple airlines have gotten too small,” says traveler Hilary Nierenberg, of Tarrytown. “If you're traveling in economy, often -- if the seat in front of you tilts back -- if you're 6 feet tall, you don't have any options of moving. It is a problem for elderly people who should be moving their legs."
So far, nearly 25,000 people have submitted comments to the FAA.
FlyersRights has been lobbying the FAA to set limits since 2015.
According to multiple watchdogs, such as SkyTrax and Conde-Nast-Traveler, economy seats on JetBlue and Southwest have the most legroom among U.S.-based airlines.