I was just kidding. Really.
I mean, I’ve often joked about my commuting period between Oakland and Burbank back in ’93 or so, where, yeah, it was Southwest, but, hell, I could stand holding a strap for the 45 minute flight if I needed to.
It appears Airbus was listening.
“CATTLE-CLASS” travel has been given new meaning by a pioneering concept circulating in the airline industry: flights on which some passengers remain standing.
Some passengers. Of course. “Steerage Class” keep sounding more and more accurate. Does anyone remember that classic commercial from the 60s showing the difference between First and Coach?
The notion of a standing-room section is a logical conclusion to the cut-throat quest by airlines to milk revenue in the face of soaring costs, industry experts say. After cramming as many economy-class seats into aircraft as the human body and the airframe can take, designers are looking at ways of strapping passengers on to boards with small, ledge-like seats.
There are no regulations barring vertical passengers, provided that they are strapped in during take-off and landing. Installing more low-fare passengers in the rear of the aircraft would free space up front for the high-profit, premium seats that can come as fold-out beds, with built-in massage, internet outlets and other amenities.
And the money denial …
Airbus, whose A380 super-jumbo will enter service this year, denied yesterday a report in The New York Times that it had been offering a standing-room configuration to Asian airlines that had so far been rejected. The first A380s, that could, in theory, carry more than 800 passengers on their double decks, are being equipped with about 550 seats, including all classes, a spokeswoman said.
Now, fact is, yes, for commuter flights of 30-45 minutes, even an hour, this wouldn’t be too bad. Figure out how to read a paper or book, throw in some video screens, and most business commuters wouldn’t mind.
But I think they may have found a limit to the service level that most people would be willing to accept for long. Really.
Other links: NYT. IHT. CNN. Aero-News. A terrifying graphic. Fausta’s compendium.
(via Beth)
Keep them dogies movin’, Rawhide!