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Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

latimes.com

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Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#21

Post by slater »

So is there, then, a market for an airline that offers substantially more legroom and larger seats (biz-class-size for the entire plane?) for a slight increase in price?

Aforementioned Delta Airlines had $1.3bn in PROFITS last year, so not sure about razor-thin margins.

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#22

Post by mrerrormessage »

Am I the only one who thinks standing for shorter flights of < 3 hours would be healthier and more comfortable? I work regularly at a standing desk, sitting for too long makes me feel lethargic and often causes headaches for me (it's much easier to have good posture, neck and back alignment when standing). For longer flights, people need a seat, but for shorter flights I would gladly pay the same price to be able to stand instead.

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#23

Post by kareemm »

mikybee93 wrote: post #15

This makes no sense to me. Airlines are adding another option that is cheaper. How is that a bad thing? If I don't want the cheaper option, another airline will offer me a more comfortable one and I'll pay for it. What is there to be upset about here?

You sound like an optimist. My take is that airlines are adding a worse option for the price they currently charge, which lets them charge more for the current options.

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#24

Post by xienze »

mikybee93 wrote: post #15

This makes no sense to me. Airlines are adding another option that is cheaper. How is that a bad thing? If I don't want the cheaper option, another airline will offer me a more comfortable one and I'll pay for it. What is there to be upset about here?

> Airlines are adding another option that is cheaper. How is that a bad thing?

No, they’re going to make this the new default setting. The regular crappy seat you enjoy today will become the “economy premium” option and cost more.

> If I don't want the cheaper option, another airline will offer me a more comfortable one and I'll pay for it.

Assuming they go where you’re going in the timeframe you’re expecting. And assuming they don’t just move in lock-step with their other competitors and make these new seats the default.

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#25

Post by mhluongo »

mrerrormessage wrote: post #22

Am I the only one who thinks standing for shorter flights of < 3 hours would be healthier and more comfortable? I work regularly at a standing desk, sitting for too long makes me feel lethargic and often causes headaches for me (it's much easier to have good posture, neck and back alignment when standing). For longer flights, people need a seat, but for shorter flights I would gladly pay the same price to be able to…

For folks with vascular issues, standing while flying can be more dangerous (increased vascular load).

Movement rather than standing or sitting still is the way to go.

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#26

Post by moftz »

gomox wrote: post #12
tyingq wrote: post #8

The bicycle like standing seat does look awful. Reclining, though, is a silly feature on coach airline seats. At best, you temporarily get more room at the expense of the person behind you. Until the person in front of you reclines. Reclining seats when the seat pitch is so tight is just dumb. Oh, and if you get the paywall: http://archive.is/vqTNf

If you ever do a long haul flight in economy (which I assume you haven't) you will realize the obvious purpose of reclining coach seats: to allow people a fighting chance of remaining asleep instead of being constantly awakened by their falling heads.

My head just barely remains upright whenever I don't use the reclining function. I always feel bad invading the space of the person behind me, especially when it's a tall person who is already at the limit for room. Although I'll lean back all day long when it's a child behind me.

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#28

Post by rfreytag »

I have seen people panic due to in-flight turbulence. It would not be fun to see seat mates experience an attack of claustrophobia.

Add in a tiny crisis or delays and the close space could cause unexpected mob behaviors.

Also, how would you pick up something if you dropped it; or eat?

The free-air to passenger ratio would diminish making body odors could get much more intense. Unexpected delays anyone?

Re: Airlines eye crueler ways of making passengers miserable

#29

Post by ghaff »

slater wrote: post #21

So is there, then, a market for an airline that offers substantially more legroom and larger seats (biz-class-size for the entire plane?) for a slight increase in price? Aforementioned Delta Airlines had $1.3bn in PROFITS last year, so not sure about razor-thin margins.

It's been tried. Doesn't seem to work. Too many people pick flights on the basis of cost. British Air does have business class only between JFK and London City airport but that's obviously not a very representative pair of cities and is, I assume, standard business class pricing (i.e. multiples of coach).
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