Whenever an airplane manufacturer releases a new model plane, they always trot out special versions showing planes equppied with cocktail lounges, massage stations and sleeping berths. However, the airlines who purchase these planes see things differently: their goal is to pack as many people as possible on a flight. Seat space has diminished by 3 inches on average since 1978 and now Airbus is proposing making the term “cattle class” less a figure of speech by proposing a standing-room concept.
I am reminded of the South Park episode where Mr. Garrison invents a new vehicle that is controlled by four suspiciously penis-like handles, one of which goes into the driver’s anus. “It’s still better than the airlines,” one character says. The vehicle, a parody of the Segway, is such a success that the airlines go bankrupt and have to be bailed out by the government.
Maybe we should write to the airlines right now and say “If you install those standing-room seats, I’m never flying with you again.”
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I dunno…given how uncomfortable the seats on most airlines are, standing might turn out to be a definite advantage. I mean this seriously, especially for relatively short flights.
What’s with the roller-coaster style restraints? OW.
Wonder what kind of pricing the airlines would offer. I can’t see myself paying very much for a place to STAND.
In theory there are some benefits to stand room seats, but can you imagine spending 45 minutes or more in a roller coaster seat
Well, for short travels, it might be an option. But then again, I prefer sitting in the bus also. Also, how short is short? Standing “only” 45 minutes? Hmmm.
I don’t understand why they don’t just rotate the picture 80 degrees and have lying-down only flights. Same amount of space, no? Heck, in certain circumstances, I would even consider getting on one of those.
This appeared on the front page of The New York Times, but they just published a correction with an explanation as to how the story got there.