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Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

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Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#141

Post by throwaway2037 »

arjie wrote: post #65
cwmma wrote: post #32

Is there a term for a product which is really only really for a minority of it's users? Air travel seems like this as most airlines and manufacturers seem to bend over backwards for their wealthy and high margin passengers and basically treat economy class as "fine I guess we'll throw the rest of you in the back" Mobile games seem the apotheosis of this as a lot of games are really about finding whales and any enjoym…

You’re describing the “whale model”. The entire product is aimed at the few big participants and everyone else is brought there only because there’s a chance they might be one. So it’s a probabilistic thing. In any case, I don’t actually agree with you. The advent of Basic Economy as a category shows that. I always wanted an ultra cheap category in the US when I was young and now it exists. That category is valuable…

    > I don’t mind a classic Cathay but a Starlux plane is very nice even in Economy.
What makes Starlux so much better? When I think of Cathay, the advantages that come to mind: (1) excellent, professional service from flight attendants, even in cattle class, (2) pretty good food, (3) large check-in crew (shorter lines), (4) good gate location.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#142

Post by throwaway2037 »

yongjik wrote: post #97
cwmma wrote: post #32

Is there a term for a product which is really only really for a minority of it's users? Air travel seems like this as most airlines and manufacturers seem to bend over backwards for their wealthy and high margin passengers and basically treat economy class as "fine I guess we'll throw the rest of you in the back" Mobile games seem the apotheosis of this as a lot of games are really about finding whales and any enjoym…

> Air travel seems like this as most airlines and manufacturers seem to bend over backwards for their wealthy and high margin passengers and basically treat economy class as ... You got it backwards. If economy passengers preferred better services to cheaper fare, they would have chosen airlines with better services, and airlines would have to adapt accordingly, offering better and more expensive services. They can't…

    > Business/first class passengers are a minority group who say "Fuck it, I have money, I want to be treated like I have money."
I'm pretty sure that that majority of people flying in business class are paid for by their employer. First class is another story: It is people not quite rich enough for private jets, but want to sleep on their flight. Hardly any business pays for first class tickets. However, many regular business travellers can accrue enough miles to get periodic upgrades.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#143

Post by throwaway2037 »

seydor wrote: post #91
fragmede wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The safety, even on the budget airlines is amazing. You wonder though, if they sold seats for $50, to get to the other side of the world, but you had a 10% chance of dying, how many people would take it.

people pay a lot more for private jets which are comparatively a lot more dangerous

If you are flying a professionally managed twin jet engine aircraft (not turbo-prop), like Netjets, then the real world safety difference is negligible.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#144

Post by throwaway2037 »

shostack wrote: post #123
cpgxiii wrote: post #26

Not covered: the inevitable even-smaller lavatory to further insult the dignity of the flying public. At this point, the designers of narrow-body interiors should be actively shamed for how hostile they have made lavatory designs. In a world in which every major flying population is aging and more overweight, yet every generation of airplane lavatories is even narrower and less accessible for everyone.

Introduce a larger one that you have to sign up for digitally to wait in line and be notified when it is available and charge for the privilege. Hell, make it auction based so if you want to jump the line you can if you pay for it.

I am laughing reading your "hellish capitalism" proposals. How about we add surge pricing? Or fully dynamic pricing, so you arrive at the bog and learn that it costs 30 quid to relieve yourself?

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#145

Post by throwaway2037 »

gregdaniels421 wrote: post #19

The first class seats look like a nightmare if you have kids.

I genuinely cannot tell if this is rage-bait or not. Either way, hat tip. This kind of comment will really unleash the fury on HN.

What is so bad about having your child sit in front or in back of you? To the side might be a bit difficult as you need to reach across the aisle.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#146

Post by throwaway2037 »

rconti wrote: post #22
krunck wrote: post #5

How about seats that are adjustable to fit small people. I'm sick of sitting in seats with concave lumbar regions. It tears up my back. I know, I know, the seats need to accommodate large, more spherical people. Cant there be an adjustable lumbar support though?

My wife's short so she's actually quite uncomfortable in a business class seat unless it's reclined-- seat bottom length is an issue for her, sometimes even in economy. On the flipside, I'm of pretty average height, but the flat seat cushions mean I always feel like I'm sitting awkwardly on my tailbone. I wonder why they couldn't just be more like a car seat, with some thigh support. I'm not sure I've ever been in a…

Truly, a first world problem, if I ever heard of one! What is wrong with her carrying a small collapsable foot stool? (You can find ultra-light plastic ones on Amazon for around 10 USD.) That seems like an easy fix for someone willing to pay thousands for a business class seat.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#147

Post by ipdashc »

TheBigSalad wrote: post #95

For coach, I wish they would just stack people in laying down. Laying down for the flight would be much better than sitting. I don't see why they couldn't get the same amount of people in if they configured the plane correctly.

As much as I'd prefer this, I assume it's for evacuation reasons. Well, that, and people wouldn't like feeling trapped.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#148

Post by MForster »

throwaway2037 wrote: post #138
rconti wrote: post #21

My dislike for single aisle aircraft isn't about cabin pressure or the "impression of a wider open space". It's about the fact that it is ACTUALLY cramped, and the _one_ aisle will be blocked for most of the flight. In a typical single aisle airplane, sitting in coach, you're expected to use the restroom "in your cabin" which is at the rear. If you're sitting anywhere _except_ the rear, your access to the restroom wi…

> I'm someone who would happily pay up for a lie-flat more frequently if it was priced at 2-3x a regular ticket rather than 5x+. Can you give a city pair where economy->business upgrade costs 5x? The industry standard is about 4x for direct flights and slights less for flights with a single stopover, e.g., fly Hongkong to London with a Middle East carrier.

MUC -> SFO direct for 10 days in August: consistently 682$ in economy. Nothing under 5k$ in business, some days considerably more expensive.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#149

Post by billforsternz »

roryirvine wrote: post #134
camgunz wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly thought like, the protocol was seat up for take off/food/landing, reclining otherwise.

Yeah, I don't understand this - pretty much every long haul flight I've ever been on has been like this: meal service finishes, lights dim a bit, everyone reclines, lights go out, people either doze off or watch the IFE. To be fair, I have actually once seen someone not recline, but they had four or five visits from cabin crew before the lights went off making sure they were okay, or if they wanted to be moved, or if…

My problem is I don't want to be first to recline, if the person behind me reclines, fine.

Re: Latest Airbus single aisle aircraft innovations

#150

Post by throwaway2037 »

MForster wrote: post #148
throwaway2037 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm someone who would happily pay up for a lie-flat more frequently if it was priced at 2-3x a regular ticket rather than 5x+. Can you give a city pair where economy->business upgrade costs 5x? The industry standard is about 4x for direct flights and slights less for flights with a single stopover, e.g., fly Hongkong to London with a Middle East carrier.

MUC -> SFO direct for 10 days in August: consistently 682$ in economy. Nothing under 5k$ in business, some days considerably more expensive.

I confirm it on Google flights. Wild. Lufthansa and United should add more business class seats on those flights! What is the primary demand for these biz class seats between these cities? Are big auto manufs flying to Silicon Valley to meet with tech companies?
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