Now We Know Why They are Called Airbuses
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.26.06
..because just like Landbuses, there is standing room only. Up in the front, the suits get leather Barcaloungers that turn into beds, but here is a new idea for those of us in steerage- standing room seats. "Airbus has been quietly pitching the standing-room-only option to Asian carriers, though none have agreed to it yet. Passengers in the standing section would be propped against a padded backboard, held in place with a harness, according to experts who have seen a proposal." We suppose there could be a treehugger case that more people crammed in means less fuel burned per person, and we also suspect that it will end deep vein thrombosis, but generally we think it gives new meaning to Flying is Dying. from ::New York Times
As the article mentions, it is more environmental - less fuel used per passenger per mile. And as the article says, sounds more for sardines than for humans. Of course, these seats would help reduce seat costs, so those who want to travel but have little money might then be able to afford it. But as an environmentalist, I want prices going up. The higher the prices, the less people will travel by energy-intensive plane.
Boy oh boy, 25" seat-pitch sure sounds like fun.
When I can, I fly JetBlue b/c everything in the back of the plane has a 34" seat pitch. Not even a %15 drop in ticket cost would be worth the seating...
Great. Now not only will people who are especially tall have a problem flying, but people who are especially short, fat, thin or women who are, ahem, *well endowed* will have trouble fitting into the seats.
Thanks Airbus!
Not knowing about the physics and dynamics of engine/fuel powered flight, please take this with a grain of salt.
Don't engines have to work harder the more weight that they carry? With that assumption, isn't the less fuel per person rationale somewhat moot? I.E. more fuel is burned on a plane carrying more people.
However, more people on one plane can render fewer flights, but given a service based industry, this is less likely. Savvy?
Thankfully to anyone who has to sometimes fly to do their job this turned out to be a false report. I'm glad that with remote access tech. I can avoid traveling by air now.
"more fuel is burned on a plane carrying more people" nah.. not the case very little extra fuel is burned per person think about it would a plane with 2 on it be good since it wouldn't use as much fuel?
What happens to these people when the plane crashes?
This is from CNN yesterday:
The New York Times reported that Airbus has quietly pitched the standing-room-only option to Asian carriers, though none have agreed to it yet. But a spokeswoman for Airbus flatly denied the report Tuesday, going so far as to call it "crap."
"What happens to these people when the plane crashes?"
Probably the same thing that happens to everybody in the plane...
"Probably the same thing that happens to everybody in the plane..."
They end up on a mysterious island?
Misery! I'm holding out for the new dirigibles...
i know everyone must be screaming at the injustice, but i think its a fine idea. especially for short trips, say state to state that would be less than 2 hours. I would gladly spent say 50$ for a short hop. Shoot I spend 45 minutes to 1 hour per way standing on public transit as it is.
I agree with Anonymous. For flights less than two hours, this should be just fine. You can sit on the bus ride to the airport and for that hour after you get through security. It is nice standing up for a while.
Let's cram some 50 more people into a plane -- what about their luggage?
I would not want to use supported standing even for a 2hr flight, not to think of anything longer than that.
(Unless, of course, they come like this one including a head resst for a quick nap... http://shop.babyworld.co.uk/images/xt_pics/wtpbouncerweb.jpg )
A.C.
Nick, Thanks for the websites.
Standing room only
Oh my God! I specially don´t like that system, because, well personally, it is too uncomfortable, because when you want to sleep, or eat, it is better when you´re seated down. And when you have large pants an you fall down to the floor, IT IS A BAN SYSTEM! I repeat, the ones who design this, or they are crazy, or they never had had a flight!!! thnak´s...!
Well as long as you have a choice i wouldnt think it really mattered because if you really wanted to pay less for a flight and stand up for the whole time then its there fault that they will suffer the consiquences!