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Simple Geometry = More Seats In an Airline

New submitter innerpeace writes: New airline seat arrangement looks to increase passenger capacity. A patent application by Zodiac Seats France calls for a design that puts every other passenger in a row facing backward. That means that in a row of three fliers, the seat by the window and the seat by the aisle face toward the front of the plane while the middle seat faces toward the back. The design idea could fit up to 80 more passengers in a plane, depending on the current seat layout. Whatever downsides it has, if such a design is adopted, I hope it leads to a stronger adoption of a convention that those with window seats board first.

394 comments

  1. So will stacking us vertically by gurps_npc · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It isn't about getting more seats in a plane, it's about doing so without making people uncomfortable.

    This looks like it would work fine if everyone knew each other - but would suck if you had an annoying seat mate. Who wants to be forced to look at them - or have them look at you?

    This design violates current social norms for personal space. As such I dislike it.

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    1. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But do you dislike it enough to pony up for business/first class tickets? No? Then suffer, cattle.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:So will stacking us vertically by JMJimmy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It isn't about getting more seats in a plane, it's about doing so without making people uncomfortable.

      This looks like it would work fine if everyone knew each other - but would suck if you had an annoying seat mate. Who wants to be forced to look at them - or have them look at you?

      This design violates current social norms for personal space. As such I dislike it.

      Seriously. I can fit hundreds more in a plane if I put everyone laying down grouped by height/weight. How do they expect people to get in and out? Worst of all, can you imagine the creepy guys staring at the women in front of them all flight long? I'm a man and it creeps me out.

      The one thing I don't get is that flights are constantly over weight, or at least that's their excuse for jacking up baggage fees, so how do they expect to handle the extra weight from 80 more people?

    3. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      But you get more privacy for whatever is on your screen. And I'd love to have the safety benefits of facing backwards.

    4. Re:So will stacking us vertically by whoever57 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The one thing I don't get is that flights are constantly over weight, or at least that's their excuse for jacking up baggage fees, so how do they expect to handle the extra weight from 80 more people?

      Where did you get that idea from? They jack up baggage fes because they can, no other reason.

      Planes can also take more or less freight -- but freight doesn't pay a much as passengers, so they would prefer to make up the weight with passengers rather than freight.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    5. Re:So will stacking us vertically by fyngyrz · · Score: 5, Funny

      Come on. Modern air travel via coach is just about perfect.

      For one-armed, one-legged people. Who have the patience of a saint with screaming babies. And the immune system of a god. And have deluded themselves that the TSA actually does something useful. And can go long intervals without actual food.

      Perfect, like I said.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    6. Re:So will stacking us vertically by JMJimmy · · Score: 1

      The one thing I don't get is that flights are constantly over weight, or at least that's their excuse for jacking up baggage fees, so how do they expect to handle the extra weight from 80 more people?

      Where did you get that idea from? They jack up baggage fes because they can, no other reason.

      Oh it's one of the default lines that Canadian carriers trot out when they added fees to more than 1 checked bag, then baggage in general, and so on. They never seem to have the room/weight capacity for luggage but always for passengers and freight.

    7. Re:So will stacking us vertically by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

      But do you dislike it enough to pony up for business/first class tickets?

      That is not the only alternative design. This above/below pod design fits in more seats while actually increasing personal space. Even economy seats would fully recline.

    8. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Noah+Haders · · Score: 4, Interesting

      airbus will beat them all with this patent: http://geekologie.com/2014/07/...

      sex train ftw!

    9. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A lot of trains and light rail transit have facing configurations. This is not a big deal.

      The concept design looks like it doesn't have recline, which would be problem if both adjoining seats recline and you are facing a stranger within inches of your face. Oddly enough, the distance wouldn't be any different from a side by side configuration, but facing adjacent would present difficulties. A fabric/leather modesty panel that stretches between adjoining seats would fix that (one that fans out if the seats are reclining).

      The bigger problem with this configuration is that they are optimizing width by alternating facing, which introduces more problems than it solves imo. Firstly you cannot have tandem seating, so couples are separated. This can present problems with families who have smaller children. Also it eliminates recline as previously mentioned. Thirdly, very large passengers may not fit in a single seat, but they cannot purchase double or triple to fit in this type of space. The optimized width hopefully will get passengers more lateral space to compensate, for the average person though.

      However, the last one may be the biggest hurdle. The extra seats are really gained by the flip up seat style (technically an orthorgonal idea to the alternating reverse seating plan). This is all well and good, but I bet the airlines have strict rules about passengers being able to get out during an emergency or otherwise. If the aislemost or center passenger is unwilling or unable to get up off of their seat, passengers who are more window facing will be trapped. Try that during a flight where a passenger is sleeping or worse, incapacitated, and there will be chaos as people trying and climb over each other to get out. Increasing the spacing might help, but then it reduces the space saving benefits of the flip seat.

    10. Re:So will stacking us vertically by SpockLogic · · Score: 1

      But do you dislike it enough to pony up for business/first class tickets? No? Then suffer, cattle.

      I knew there was something missing. They left out the bale of hay and trough of water.

      Oh wait, they would charge extra for those. Never mind ...

    11. Re: So will stacking us vertically by ZeroWaiteState · · Score: 5, Funny

      Unfortunately, we will have to chain passengers to the oars. We regret any inconvenience.

    12. Re:So will stacking us vertically by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      The current seating arrangement is already inadequate. I'm not overly tall, but the seating outside of first class is already cramped, and realistically I'm just happy if I'm not next to someone who's spilling into my seat because they can't fit in their own.

    13. Re:So will stacking us vertically by cahuenga · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh it's not so bad. Was once on a flight in Guatemala with one backward facing row.... staring at a mother breastfeeding her baby in turbulence all the way to Costa Rica. I'll never forget that flight.

    14. Re:So will stacking us vertically by rtb61 · · Score: 2

      Actually this seating arrangement brings to mind the vomit comet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.... Quite amusing to think of the chain reaction of people facing each other as those taking off backward find the ride most interesting.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    15. Re: So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The problem is that 30% more space does not cost 30% more. It costs 300% more.
      I would be more than happy to pay fx. 50% for a ticket to get more space.
      Hmm gets me thinking. Can I buy two seats? At least that would only be double the price.

    16. Re:So will stacking us vertically by pubwvj · · Score: 1

      In trains and busses you look at other people.

    17. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I for one look forward to staring face to face at strangers for 4 hours + 2 on the runway. Nothing unsettling about that at all. Maybe it will help my mind shift from the bruising on my knees from the chair stagger distance that is 3" shorter than my legs.

    18. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is not the only alternative design. This above/below pod design [dailyedge.ie] fits in more seats while actually increasing personal space. Even economy seats would fully recline.

      Am I missing something, or did this design completely eliminate the overhead storage compartments?

    19. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. The only good part of this I can see is that if it is granted the patent nobody else will be able to implement it.

    20. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The lair’s chair is 94 centimetres wide, while the bed is 73 inches long.

      Wut? I thought this was supposed to be British.

    21. Re:So will stacking us vertically by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Am I missing something, or did this design completely eliminate the overhead storage compartments?

      The illustration is just a concept. There is plenty of space for storage between the pods.

    22. Re:So will stacking us vertically by mrbester · · Score: 2

      Not in UK you don't. It's amusing to break protocol on a jam-packed Tube and look to see how people studiously try to avoid looking at anybody else even when there isn't a choice.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    23. Re: So will stacking us vertically by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      The problem is that 30% more space does not cost 30% more. It costs 300% more.

      I would be more than happy to pay fx. 50% for a ticket to get more space.

      Hmm gets me thinking. Can I buy two seats? At least that would only be double the price.

      so what you are saying, instead of 300 percent more cost for 30 percent more space, you can get 100 percent more forjust twice the price?

      Freaky math

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    24. Re:So will stacking us vertically by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      You mean in the aisles? Somehow, I don't think that will fly.... :-)

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    25. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Only missing thing is pedals so passengers can generate energy for the aircraft..

    26. Re:So will stacking us vertically by David_Hart · · Score: 2

      In trains and busses you look at other people.

      True... but... There is usually an aisle between you and the person that you are facing. You aren't literally 12" from their face. It would be more like standing face to face on a crowded subway train for 3 to 6 hours. For most people it's exhausting enough to be that close to someone you don't know for the 15 to 20 minutes to get to your stop, let alone hours....

      Plus, just imagine if your facing someone who is coughing and sneezing. Yes, you're close enough on a plane that it's still likely that you would get sick, but at least they aren't sneezing directly into your face.

    27. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      Who wants to be forced to look at them

      Unless they are attractive. Airlines want to charge overweight people more, so why not also charge ugly people more? Equal Opportunity Insults. Charge extra for crying also. 20 cents per "Wah".

    28. Re:So will stacking us vertically by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      I don't think that will fly.... :-)

      I'm pretty sure the aerodynamics will be quite adequate. Never mind the passengers.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    29. Re:So will stacking us vertically by pepty · · Score: 1

      For short haul flights many folks will accept folding, thinly padded seats. For long haul flights this will be a great way to force people to "upgrade" to the old, worn, traditional seats without legroom in the front half of the cabin for an extra $35 each. Heads airlines win, tails passengers lose.

    30. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Greyfox · · Score: 1

      By jacking up baggage fees some more, obviously!

      --

      I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    31. Re:So will stacking us vertically by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Funny

      If something mixes centimetres and inches, it's probably Canadian.

    32. Re:So will stacking us vertically by burne · · Score: 1

      it's about doing so without making people uncomfortable.

      Just the thought is making me so uncomfortable I'll just give up on air travel, period.

    33. Re:So will stacking us vertically by OneArmedMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      For one-armed, one-legged people.

      Works OK for me. Not sure about everyone else tho.

    34. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, they're bullshitting you.

    35. Re:So will stacking us vertically by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      It looks like there's space in front of or behind each pod, like on some trains. Personally, I'd be all in favour of eliminating overhead bins, at least on long flights. That would also eliminate the half hour of boarding time while the flight attendants argue with everyone over whether their ridiculously oversized "carry on" is over the limit, and whether or not it's the airline's responsibility to somehow make more space for it.

    36. Re:So will stacking us vertically by JMJimmy · · Score: 1

      Yeah, they're bullshitting you.

      Ya think? Probably why they're part of an anti-trust suit now.

    37. Re: So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sorry but my shoulder bones are wider than a normal seat these days. My big ass fits just fine though

    38. Re:So will stacking us vertically by RobinH · · Score: 1

      I once priced the difference between cattle-class and business-class travel on a round trip from Toronto to South Africa (definitely a long multi-leg trip and interested in having a bit of extra leg room). The economy ticket was about $6000 and the business-class ticket was $21,000. I really don't see how having *maybe* twice as much area on the floor accounts for 3.5 times the price, no matter how many free drinks you want to throw in.

      --
      "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
    39. Re: So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      European carriers have thin padded seats for most of the continental flights and actually they are more comfortable than the thick padded American airline seat

    40. Re:So will stacking us vertically by perotbot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      the cattling of economy class, the security theater, the inconvenience of the current airport experience has gotten me to the point that if a destination is less than 10 hrs by car, I'll drive rather than fly. Between the delays of getting to the airports 90 to 120 minutes prior to the flight, the inevitable delays, it just makes more sense to drive it rather than fly for me

      --
      ~corporate tool, but employed~
    41. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And speaking of overweight... we've got some people at work who need to pull two chairs up to the table to sit down in the break room. They'll never fit in one of those, and the old solution of buying two together won't work. So are airlines going to have to put up a couple of bars, with a "You must be able to fit between these bars to be on this flight" sign?

      And, seriously, Patent Office? You can get a patent on this? *sigh* I guess it's still just an application, but that does imply they think they can actually get it. Come to think of it, given what I've seen in the high tech industry, they're probably correct.

    42. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

      But do you dislike it enough to pony up for business/first class tickets?

      That is not the only alternative design. This above/below pod design fits in more seats while actually increasing personal space. Even economy seats would fully recline.

      While that would work for the facing backwards part, the aisle between 2 and 3 defeat the spacing or packing requirement.

    43. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 2

      airbus will beat them all with this patent: http://geekologie.com/2014/07/...

      sex train ftw!

      This is one of those patents you wish the "inventor" would be required to use on every flight from now on. Their seating companions, can't be the last two on the plane as people could get hurt.

    44. Re:So will stacking us vertically by master_kaos · · Score: 1

      hay? Yeah right, we would be lucky with straw!

    45. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Stewardess: "Can I get you anything, sir?"
      You: "I'll have what the baby's having!"

    46. Re: So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Friend of mine purchased two seats. The stewardess promptly told him to get his ass in one seat, leave the plane, or be arrested, because airline policy is that every seat has to have a passenger in it no matter what, due to their overbooking policies.

    47. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about we do more than that:

      How about putting all passengers in vacuum beds, which are stacked in rows 10 high? Because they can't move, they are not a threat. Plus, the rigid frame of the vac bed also protects passengers in the case of a rough ride.

    48. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And how many isles between these pods are going to be needed? Having a window seat in one of the upper pods on long flights will be a complete nightmare. Also the pods will require triangular luggage

    49. Re:So will stacking us vertically by omglolbah · · Score: 1

      I spent 8 hours on a flight with MY carry-on between my legs because there was literally NO other place I was allowed to put it on the plane.... I wanted to stab people.
      The people in the row in front of me had brought 2 baby seats for their kids to sit in, and had L-shaped roller thingies for bringing them with em, and those took up the overhead compartment for 6 people worth... and THAt is where my shit was supposed to sit..... so not only did I have screaming toddlers for 8 hours, I had a bag between my legs making any movement bleh.... fuck people.

    50. Re:So will stacking us vertically by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 1

      Oh it's not so bad. Was once on a flight in Guatemala with one backward facing row.... staring at a mother breastfeeding her baby in turbulence all the way to Costa Rica.

      I'll never forget that flight.

      Yeah, flying's really gotten worse over the years. Back then, kids got free milkshakes!

    51. Re:So will stacking us vertically by lokedhs · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Or, you could travel with an airline which don't suck. Ever wondered why the best US airline on the top 100 airlines list is Delta at number 45?

      Try flying proper airlines and you'll see the difference.

    52. Re:So will stacking us vertically by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      You miscalculated. They're really terrible drinks. So it's all fair.

    53. Re:So will stacking us vertically by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      I would pay to cry on a plane.

    54. Re:So will stacking us vertically by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      Which is sad, because I can currently cry for the cost of a ticket.

    55. Re:So will stacking us vertically by climb_no_fear · · Score: 2

      British Air has been doing this for many years in some business class flights

      http://www.thewholeworldisapla...

      I once flew with them on one of these flights. The semi-transparent divider you see in the picture has to be lowered during take-off and landing and you face your fellow passenger. (Un)fortunately, the mechanism was broken and we were left to face each other from London to San Francisco the whole time. In the words of my fellow passenger, it is rather "intimate".

      Lucky for me, she was very attractive and after a both of us had a couple of glasses of wine and conversation, one of the flight crew wanted to try to fix the divider in mid-flight but she insisted that they just leave us in peace. Was the most pleasant long-haul flight I ever had. *sighs*

      Anyway, to the point, isn't this probably prior art?

    56. Re:So will stacking us vertically by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      "Just a concept" is something lazy industrial designers say when somebody mentions big flaws in their designs.

      "Just a concept" should only apply to the color and shape of trivial decorations, not to design requirements or physical reality.

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    57. Re:So will stacking us vertically by aaronb1138 · · Score: 1

      The next logical step is to remove overhead bins, mostly by using Spirit's model for baggage fees, and then have the passengers stand against partitions. The partitions will have the necessary safety restraints for take off and landing.

      Following that, we can remove the partitions and just sell standing space based on a weighted priority boarding system, and let as many board as possible, while being able to hold onto horizontal and vertical railing systems like a subway.

    58. Re:So will stacking us vertically by aaronb1138 · · Score: 1

      That is a terrible broken design. It fails to accommodate a nice portion of America males. Not because we're fat necessarily, but because it doesn't have space for person over 6'1". Fixed pods are still an issue for the overweight though who if extreme enough can purchase a second seat due the intelligently modular design of armrests. Lastly, while so much additional structure for pods would increase structural rigidity and safety of airframes, the additional weight would cost more in gas than the increased passenger density. The exception would be carbon fiber, but the design is likely too complex to make out of carbon fiber affordably.

      The random switches between metric and imperial measurements sounds like a designer / designer's marketing idea. Everyone involved in that design should burn in hell for even releasing publicly an idea with so very many obvious flaws. They are math / physics retarded mechanical engineers, of which there is a shocking population allowed to live.

    59. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

      Couldn't agree move. I try to fly Virgin where ever possible in the US because all the other options suck. That said the whole flying experience in the US is horrendous and I have yet to find a country that even comes close to equally the horror that I found calling itself Miami Airport back in 2007.

      I've flown into Narau where they have to close the roads on each side of the airport because the plan wings overhang the roads on landing and the terminal is a shed and it was better than the US experience.

    60. Re:So will stacking us vertically by TsuruchiBrian · · Score: 1

      Hopefully if these seats are ever implemented, I can avoid looking at the people sitting across from me by putting on my VR helmet and watching a interactive 3d movie or whatever.

    61. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Dan541 · · Score: 1

      Why does a person who weighs 80kg (176lbs) get the same baggage allowance as a person who weights 120kg (264lbs)?

      --
      An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
    62. Re:So will stacking us vertically by JMJimmy · · Score: 3, Informative

      And why aren't there baby seats - it can't be safe to be on the lap in the event of a crash... it's like they want babies to die.

    63. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well seriously, I've long been wondering why we don't get triple bunk beds on planes. Of course it might delay evacuation in an emergency. Or maybe not even that, because you can slide down from the top bed faster than get out of a window seat with slow neighbors.

    64. Re:So will stacking us vertically by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Business class isn't the only other option though. JAL and ANA both offer 10cm extra leg room compared to the competition on routes I fly, and only charge very slightly more (and often less if you book early). Most airlines these days seem to offer exit row seats for â100 extra or an upgrade to "premium economy" for â200 extra.

      There are other factors too. What time does the flight leave and what time does it arrive? Does it go to a city airport or one a long way out that mandates a further long train journey into town? Those things all affect the fees that the airline pays to land, so they can trade capacity against them.

      --
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    65. Re:So will stacking us vertically by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Having people face each other could be a problem for those with long legs too. I have arthritis in my knees and need to both stretch my legs out under the seat in front and periodically shift them to avoid severe pain. If I were facing someone we would end up in a game of footsie.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    66. Re: So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree, but of course current airline start arrangements are uncomfortable and violate social norms through lack of personal space.

      I don't like unnecessary regulation, but it's time to reign these airline idiots in and mandate certain seat and space dimensions, plus mandating that airfares include accommodations for little facts like people need to take a change of clothes with them to their destination.

      Before the libertarians start screaming: They had their chance. They blew it by getting greedy. Enough already.

    67. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Come on. Modern air travel via coach is just about perfect.

      For one-armed, one-legged people.

      Not people, midgets.

      Personally, the kind of geometry I'd like to see used for seats is hexagonal alright, but I was thinking more of a tube hotel in the plane for long distance flights.

    68. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I stopped flying. Risk of strange disease got lower as did a chance of mislec youth blowing me up because i violated his religion etc. I also save costs and time by spending holidays in places i can comfortably reach by a car or train. Nature wins too this way.

    69. Re:So will stacking us vertically by caseih · · Score: 1

      Doesn't look like it. The picture nor the article say anything about economy class. Certainly the densities they would allow are nothing like even conventional cattle class seating.

    70. Re:So will stacking us vertically by lokedhs · · Score: 1

      Thanks for mentioning Virgin. I missed that one in the list. Turns out that Delta is the second best US airline. Virgin America is in fact the best one at number 26. Not fantastic by international standards, but clearly way above the rest in the US.

    71. Re:So will stacking us vertically by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 1

      This design violates current social norms for personal space. As such I dislike it.

      Did you RTFA? In the picture, the people next to you are further away than they are today, and you're not looking directly at anyone.

    72. Re:So will stacking us vertically by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 1

      I for one look forward to staring face to face at strangers

      What in the picture of the config suggests you'll be staring face-to-face?

    73. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Zillatron · · Score: 1

      It is also physically uncomfortable.

      You know how it feels like the plane's nose is tipped up the whole time you're flying? It is.

      The first time I flew Southwest I didn't realize you had to check in again at the gate for seating priority. Flying backwards blows.

    74. Re:So will stacking us vertically by aaaaaaargh! · · Score: 1

      I'm more appalled by the fact that you can patent bullshit like this.

    75. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Holladon · · Score: 1

      So you're one of those people who takes up space in the overhead bin that you don't need, leaving other people to have to gate-check their carryons since they won't fit under the seats? Guess what? To many of your fellow flyers who are perfectly content to place our smaller bags under the seat in front of us as travelers are supposed to, you are the annoying family taking up more than your fair share of overhead space.

    76. Re:So will stacking us vertically by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      I guess you don't like train seats with a table and two seats on each side of it facing each other then? I've never had a problem with this.

    77. Re:So will stacking us vertically by epine · · Score: 1

      You left out not getting to meet John Candy.

    78. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do assholes get to fly at all?

    79. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I live in Poland and at least in these parts of Europe most train coaches are arranged so that people sit facing each other with legs touching unless both people are less than average height. It is not exactly the same but for most people from anywhere but wealthiest nations (so basically for almost everybody) traveling by plain is something to endure to meet the goals and I don't think that many people will change their important plans because they have decided that having stranger at arms reach is too much. Also, the size of personal space varies from region to region.

    80. Re:So will stacking us vertically by mjwx · · Score: 1

      But do you dislike it enough to pony up for business/first class tickets? No? Then suffer, cattle.

      Or fly a better airline.

      What many Americans consider premium economy/economy plus is standard economy on many non-american airlines.

      Its not just Asian carriers like Singapore and Cathay Pacific putting most American airlines to shame but many European carriers as well. Even COPA out of Panama offered a better experience, included in the price was 2 checked bags, a meal and a far more comfortable seat on modern 737-800's (COPA's main downside is that the hosties only speak Spanish). Hell, including some baggage in the price is why I prefer Southwest when I have to fly in the US.

      Air travel does not have to suck. However the US is determined to make it suck.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    81. Re:So will stacking us vertically by ripvlan · · Score: 1

      Patents don't need to be useful - just a protection of ideas.

      The middle person has two sets of people staring at them. Yeah fun!

      I gotta wonder if somebody else thought of this idea years ago and and canceled the thought themselves with "Yeah - that would be a bad idea" and tossed the design in the circular file.

    82. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I think it's about the FAA implements a maximum capacity rating on all commercial airframes. Then maybe airlines can focus back on service rather than human density.

    83. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's wrong with that? Was the baby able to eat during turbulence? Is it the sitting backwards? I don't see how breast feeding makes it any more uncomfortable?

    84. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Vlado · · Score: 1

      You probably haven't read the parent's account carefully. He said he had to have his carry-on BETWEEN his legs. Indicating that it was too large to fit under the seat.

    85. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Tunefix · · Score: 1

      Since I live i Europe, i try to travel by train if, as you say, the journey is less than 8-10 hours. And trains take you from city-centre to city-centre, it's brilliant.

    86. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Extra passengers or freight make the airline more money. The same passenger who already paid for his seat hauling along a larger bag/more bags with them adds to the total weight of the plane, without making the airline any extra money. I thought it was a pretty obvious link.

    87. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Muad'Dave · · Score: 1

      You and the Flying Purple People-Eater. Oh wait, he's one eyed, one horned. - NVM.

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
    88. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't really help much if I have to get from LA to New York...

    89. Re:So will stacking us vertically by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      Yup, the airlines should make people check all their excess crap. If your carryon was inconveniencing you because it wouldn't fit under the seat then I'd be in favour of making you check that too.

      If the airlines made people's carryons actually fit in the sizing devices like they're supposed to, it would be better for everyone. Even better would be doing that AND getting rid of the larger bin in that device.

    90. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Holladon · · Score: 1

      Given that I've never flown on a plane that allows you to have your bag pulled out from under the seat in front of you and sitting on the floor between seats during takeoff and landing, I took the other commenter to mean that he sticks his legs under the seat in front of him, and that his bag - also being under the seat in front of him - was therefore "between [his] legs."

      If the bag doesn't fit in the overhead or under the seat in front of you, the airline will require you to gate check it. What you describe is not allowed on any airline I've heard of.

    91. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have quite a lot of misandry in that post.

  2. prior art by snsh · · Score: 3, Funny

    Didn't slave ship makers have this all figured out two hundred years ago?

    1. Re:prior art by pesho · · Score: 2

      Nah, the slave ship schematics here and here show all "passengers" facing the same direction. It seems the current state of the art in passenger comfort of the aviation industry is at the level of your average slave ship.

    2. Re:prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      slave ships at least treated slaves as valuable cargo.

    3. Re:prior art by Great+Big+Bird · · Score: 1

      nope.

    4. Re:prior art by mrbester · · Score: 1

      Only inasmuch as *all* cargo was considered valuable. However there was always a margin for "spoilage"...

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    5. Re:prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Nah, the slave ship schematics

      Put wings and a tail on that puppy, and call it the Boeing Screamliner.

    6. Re:prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You would think; but no. 15 to 30% loss based on googling around.

    7. Re:prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thinkthe guys at Auschwitz had some final solutions to this problem.

    8. Re:prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ROW.. ROW.. ROW..

      *beats drum*

  3. LOL by koan · · Score: 1

    So when the guy in the middle leans back to sleep you get to look at him and hear his snoring EXTRA loud

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
    1. Re:LOL by kehren77 · · Score: 0

      I'm still hopeful that one of these days they'll stop letting people recline their seats. You get precious little space on a plane to start with and then you have someone recline their seat into that space. Just plain stupid.

    2. Re:LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So "fuck you" to people with back problems?

    3. Re:LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not at all!

      They just can't use that as an excuse to demand special treatment.

    4. Re:LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So "fuck you" to people with back problems?

      Yes, 100% "fuck you". Hey people voted with their wallets, they wanted deregulation, they wanted ultra low ticket prices. Every other consideration is secondary or irrelevant to that. And the end result is that you end up traveling worse than a Roman in a city bus at rush hour (and believe me sardin can doesn't even begin to describe what it is like being in those autobuses).

      I remember when air travel even in economy class was nice for everyone. Not anymore and who's to blame for that ?

    5. Re: LOL by shitzu · · Score: 1

      It might have been nice for everyone. For everyone who paid 10x more than they pay now. If you are willing to pay that much, go to first class.

    6. Re:LOL by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      So "fuck you" to people with back problems?

      If you have a back problem you would be better off with the seat in the upright position.

    7. Re:LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wah, don't like it, for out for First Class.

    8. Re:LOL by gnupun · · Score: 1

      So when the guy in the middle leans back to sleep you get to look at him and hear his snoring EXTRA loud

      That's the thing, you can't lean back. Zoom in on TFA's seat image and you'll see the last row's window seat back is fused to its previous row's middle seat... all three seats in a row have their backs fused, so you can't lean them back or forward. I guess this is how they achieved extra rows.

    9. Re:LOL by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 2

      What "special treatment"? That they recline in a seat that is made for that function, just like all the other seats on the plane? What's so special about that?

      If you want the "special treatment" of not having any reclining seats on a plane, call the airlines and demand they make a special plane just for complainers like you.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    10. Re: LOL by dgatwood · · Score: 2

      In my experience, the first-class seat may or may not recline any farther than the coach seats do. You get more legroom, and more width, but you're often still basically sitting upright even with the seat fully reclined. Of course, it depends on the aircraft and how they've configured it.

      For every plane used for overnight flights, they really need to take out about every second or third row, spread the seats proportionally, and make them recline. Crank up the ticket price proportionally. There's really no excuse for being unable to sleep on a redeye.

      Even better, they could make it easier to change the configuration, like you can with a passenger van. The first time the plane is on the ground after 8:00 p.m., the ground crew could walk in, push a lever, slide the seat forward, lift it up, and carry it off the plane. The flight attendants could come along behind them and switch the lever that allows the remaining seats to recline further.

      Alternatively, they could also make a section of the under-plane storage available to make the passenger compartment taller, then add Amtrak-style fold-down beds. At a particular time, you fold down the upper berths and the lower ones slide together in pairs, forming the bottom berths.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    11. Re: LOL by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Fly one of the non US carriers like Emirates. First class is really first class.

      Just use somebody else's Platinum Visa Card.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    12. Re:LOL by naughtynaughty · · Score: 1

      Every 6 across plane I fly on has at least 18 seats in Economy that don't have a reclining seat in front of them. Instead of whining about people reclining their seats why don't you simply choose a flight/seat that suits your needs?

    13. Re: LOL by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      On long distance flights the more expensive classes seem to have done away with traditional seats completely. Instead they have "pods" which have ~1.2m high walls to give some privacy. Each pod has what looks like a non-reclining seat and a foot stool. You can sit up, and then when you want to lie down a kind of low "bridge" flips up and joins the seat and footstool into a bed. You have to bend your knees to lie down unless you are a midget, but its's still infinitely more comfortable than a reclining seat and completely flat.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
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    14. Re: LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      18 seats out of a whole plane, and I get to choose from them? What wizardry is this?

      Seriously, you libertarians are absolute idiots with your defense of any corporate practice no matter how offensive it is. The reason any of this is a problem is greed. Period. Mergers have eliminated any real choice of airlines anyway for most people, which is another practice we should have put a screeching halt to.

      Let's see: my last booking I could take a low cost carrier with seats that are too crowded our I could pick a full service airline that costs more AND the seats are even closer together. Oh, and despite a rather advance booking, half of them are unavailable unless you're a member of their super elite gold plated whatever club, including your mythical 18 seats.

      Guess which one I chose? I still didn't get what I wanted though. The free market at work again. I was willing to pay a bit more for decent accommodations, but there weren't any. First class? Sometimes. Not this time. Why should that be a requirement for getting decent treatment when it's supposed to be about getting superior treatment? I flew first class in a 767 (widebody) operated by a major carrier based in the South last year. The fatass inconsiderate sports geeks in front of us sat down, put their NFL Sunday Ticket or whatever on the satellite TV, and fully reclined their damned seats for the whole flight. You'd think first class would have enough room that it wouldn't be a problem. You'd be wrong. The first class seats in that plane were packed in too tight as well. Better than coach is now, but more like coach should be.

      Air travel is one more utter free market fail. Time to regulate due to a lack of corporate self control. Really.

      Oh, I know, I'm 'whining' because I'm pointing out a truth your economic religion doesn't let you understand. Tii damned bad.

  4. If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ...then you will be able to stack them also horizontally and squeeze even more cargo^H^H^H^H--- oh, I meant "people" --- into a cabin.

    1. Re:If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffin by psycho12345 · · Score: 1

      So the Fifth Element was a prophecy? I always wondered why we didn't do that more. As you say, let us skip the pretense of comfort and cram as many people aboard. Most people would prefer to skip the flight experience I imagine.

    2. Re:If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffin by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      So the Fifth Element was a prophecy? I always wondered why we didn't do that more. As you say, let us skip the pretense of comfort and cram as many people aboard. Most people would prefer to skip the flight experience I imagine.

      It is hard for sedated or even recently sedated people to deplane in an emergency.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    3. Re:If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffin by Culture20 · · Score: 1

      Ejection parachute sleep coffins will cover that angle.

    4. Re:If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffin by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      Just like a tube hotel.

      --
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    5. Re:If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffin by afgam28 · · Score: 1

      I'm not so keen on being sedated, but I'd pay extra to be stacked horizontally!

      A few years ago Lufthansa had a concept where they would have triple-decker bunk beds in their planes. Read more about it here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...

      Long haul business class (which is currently the cheapest way to get a lie-flat bed) costs about 3x as much as economy class. But having 3 levels would probably bring this price back down to only slightly above economy class prices, and would be much better than flying DVT class. I'd also happily give up meal services and carry-on baggage (I'd just check everythign in) to be able to lie down and sleep properly.

      Not sure what happened though. Maybe it's against some safety regulation, or maybe they thought it'd cannibalize their current business class offering.

  5. Kill Me Now by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    No way I'd want to fly in this Sardine-Style seating arrangement. No, No, NO.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:Kill Me Now by suso · · Score: 1

      What if they give you one of those cool keys that rolls open the top?

  6. Life imitates art by pesho · · Score: 2

    Alternating orientation of the passengers, with no space for movement. I guess somebody with engineering degree has been paying attention to the cartoons section of The New Yorker/a>

  7. Dear God no by John+Jorsett · · Score: 2

    Do you really want to spend multiple hours staring into the face of one or more strangers? It's bad enough on a short trolley ride.

    1. Re:Dear God no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it means that I don't have to deal with the inevitable 400 lb passengers in the window and aisle seat taking my armrests - yes, I'll gladly deal with having to stare at them the entire flight.

      I suppose in other nations it might not be as big a deal but with how, um, hefty the average American passenger is, anything that guarantees me both armrests is fine with me.

    2. Re:Dear God no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's okay, because everyone's staring at their cellphones instead of their kids.

    3. Re:Dear God no by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 1

      For two arm rests, I would happily be facing another seat. And I've flown first class facing backwards a number of times, I thought it would be weird but I found it wasn't strange at all to be facing backwards. Especially once we all have Oculus headset equivalents. Then we sit down, slip on our headset and enjoy both our physical space as well as our visual space. I was on a transpacific flight this year with an Oculus. Turn on the oculus, load up a movie theater set on the beach and presto you're in your own little world. Marvelous.

    4. Re:Dear God no by vandamme · · Score: 1

      Problem solved. They can take out the windows, saving more weight. So you can't see anything.

  8. I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd go for being stuffed in a tube and given a knockout drug over this design.
     
    I do think being stuffed in a tube and given a knockout drug *should* be an option. 4 hour flights are unbareable.

    1. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by ZeroWaiteState · · Score: 2

      If that's the case, Elon Musk has you covered. Literally.

    2. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by JWSmythe · · Score: 3, Funny

      If not, he can ask Bill Cosby for advice.

      --
      Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
    3. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No... That would be given a knockout drug and then stuffed *up the* tube!

    4. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by bondsbw · · Score: 0

      I would prefer the backwards-facing seats due to safety:

      Yet they also cite a 1958 accident involving an airliner in Munich, Germany, which crashed on takeoff with the Manchester United soccer team on board. Those in forward-facing seats were killed, and those in aft-facing seats were saved.

      Because:

      Passengers in Navy transport planes have ten-fold better chances of coming out of crashes alive, thanks to backward-facing seats which are being installed in all new planes.The Navy has decided to install the seats after five years of development and testing showed they gave passengers much more protection for the entire back, neck, head and parts of the arms and legs in sudden stoppages. The human body can absorb more shock by the back than by the chest and abdomen, flight surgeons say.

      For that reason, I'd actually prefer backwards-facing seats in all forms of transportation. This is one reason I want self-driving cars; it would mean every person in the vehicle could be rear-facing, so that even in the (rare) event of a crash, the survival rate should be much higher.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    5. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 1

      This is one reason I want self-driving cars; it would mean every person in the vehicle could be rear-facing

      Every acceleration would "pull" you away from the seat. That would quickly get annoying. In a car at least you're wearing a three-point belt. In the plane they were wearing simple lap belts.

    6. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by bondsbw · · Score: 1

      Every acceleration would "pull" you away from the seat. That would quickly get annoying.

      The same happens every time you decelerate.

      And if a driver has to slam on the brakes, that pull is several times harder than typical acceleration in traffic.

      In a car at least you're wearing a three-point belt. In the plane they were wearing simple lap belts.

      Good point, it would make sense that rear-facing seats in planes should use three-point belts.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    7. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by baker_tony · · Score: 1

      4 hour flights are unbearable? I've just completed one of two 11 hour flights back to NZ from the UK.
      Seriously though, if you want to make flying enjoyable, try flying to the UK and back from NZ with a 1 year old who just wants to walk (something I did a year ago).
      Then you'll LOVE a trivial 4 hour flight (or an 11 hour flight for that matter) on your own.

    8. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      4 hours unbearable??? Try 18 hours Melbourne (aus) to London. Overnight. With a crying baby behind you. And a snoring drunk in the next seat.

      Yeah, I would rather be knocked out and loaded in a tube. Or even just loaded in a tube so I could at least get some sleep.

    9. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Cederic · · Score: 2

      Nah, I've flown on rear-facing military transports. It's very comfortable, and I'd prefer that to the current system.

    10. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by j-beda · · Score: 1

      I'd go for being stuffed in a tube and given a knockout drug over this design.

      I do think being stuffed in a tube and given a knockout drug *should* be an option. 4 hour flights are unbareable.

      This was pretty funny: "Earlier this week, North Gulf Air based out of Atlanta GA announced they will now be charging passengers for not only the weight of their bags but for their personal body weight as well. For a base fare of $29.00 passengers will be allowed to travel anywhere in the United States with a total of 90lbs, but after that it will cost customers $2.50 per additional pound. "

      http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thisis...

      Note that "This is That" is a satire radio program - the podcast it pretty good.

    11. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

      Try 18 hours Melbourne (aus) to London. Overnight.

      Well, when you consider it used to take 3-4 weeks (by ship) this feels like an improvement to me.

    12. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Planes only accelerate once.

    13. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Bert64 · · Score: 1

      Some people get travel sickness, which is usually much worse if you're not facing in the direction of travel... Rear facing seats would be terrible.
      Also, there are rear facing seats available in business class on some airlines.

      --
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    14. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by bondsbw · · Score: 1

      Understood, it wouldn't be for everyone. Then again, dying from a survivable crash isn't for everyone either.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    15. Re: I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You used to travel by ship for weeks at a time?

    16. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lolwut?

    17. Re:I'd go for being stuffed in a tube by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Last time I travelled on a jet, I felt massive acceleration as it took off. After that it was very calm indeed. Nothing like enough to knock you out of your seat.

  9. More people = harder egress by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The photo from the TFA suggests it will be very difficult for anyone else to get in/out with someone seated in aisle seat. Most airline rules and regulations put safety first. The most important requirement for seat design is that everyone can egress quickly in an emergency. That's the reason that you can't leave your tray tables down all the time or recline your seat on landing.

  10. It reminds me of something by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

    Ever see those double chairs designed for making out? That what this looks like.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  11. The seating isn't so bad by thedavidcathey · · Score: 1

    But there doesn't appear to be any way to have a tray or anything. What about people that work while flying (laptop)? Where are people going to put their drinks?

    1. Re:The seating isn't so bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just put the drinks on laptop on the opposing passenger's legs.

    2. Re:The seating isn't so bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And that's the reason - the upsell. If you need to drink or work, an extra $200 will get you a marginally better seat...

  12. 69 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    69696969 69696969 69696969 69696969
    69696969 69696969 69696969 69696969
    69696969 69696969 69696969 69696969

    Would you like one next to the window?

  13. I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 4, Interesting

    this means not sharing arm rests with people.

    What I'd like even more though would be if the entire passanger compartment were just removed and added to planes like modules.

    What kills the whole experience is the rush onto the plane and the rush off it.

    If people actually wait in the seat they're going to depart from rather than at the gate... it means you don't have that silly rush.

    They have to do that because whenever the plane isn't in the air it costs the airline money. They want it in the air immediately. Okay, so why not have the passengers board a compartment and then have that instantly swapped with the existing compartment. Thus the compartment and fill slowly as people arrive at the gate and debarking might be a less annoying experience because you could potentially just open all the exits on the plane to let everyone bypass the various people that block the aisle because they can't figure out how to get baggage out of an overhead.

    The idea isn't original. Other people have suggested it and of course the planes would have to be designed around the concept. But it would make loading and unloading the plane a matter of two minutes or something which is less time than it takes to refuel the plane.

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    1. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have to do that because whenever the plane isn't in the air it costs the airline money. They want it in the air immediately. Okay, so why not have the passengers board a compartment and then have that instantly swapped with the existing compartment.

      Extra weight for these modules costs the airlines even more money in fuel costs, pretty much killing any benefits you'd get from doing this in the first place.

    2. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Weight. Complexity.

    3. Re:I'm all for it by Tarkcap · · Score: 1

      this means not sharing arm rests with people.

      Because there are none.

    4. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 2

      I didn't see any in the photo but that doesn't mean they can't have any.

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    5. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You clearly have no idea about airplane structural engineering, or you wouldn't even consider what you just suggested. The only realistic solution would require a massive weight increase and the added failure scenarios, which need to be carefully examined and worked around.
      Furthermore, refueling an airplane does not take less than two minutes. That's the time you need just to plug in the fuel line.

      Not to mention the absurd ground complexity. Airports would need several cabins per flight per aircraft model, plus room to store them, plus machinery to handle them...

      Never, ever going to work.

    6. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thats OK. You also get to have people climb over you bodily in order to exit to use the restroom.
      Or, can you imagine climbing over the seat to simply enter or exit, say in an emergency?

      No, the design is idiotic.

    7. Re:I'm all for it by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      Some of this is the "jetway" method of loading / unloading.

      When jumbos land in places like Tel-Aviv, they bring up ladders on ALL the exits and the people dump out onto the tarmac rather quickly, with minimal fuss.

      It's harder to accomplish this in a "air conditioned" air terminal where you bring multiple sizes of aircraft up to a single covered entrance gate.

    8. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thats OK. You also get to have people climb over you bodily in order to exit to use the restroom.

      "Excuse me, can I have that empty aisle seat over with the college cheerleading team?

    9. Re:I'm all for it by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      Not never, ever. Just not with kerosene fueled turbine engines - fuel is too costly to make it work.

      What he describes isn't too far off how train cars are handled, and that would be an interesting thing to extend to air-travel. Passenger pods that load up at local terminals, get transported by truck to a rail center, then by rail to an air (or sea) terminal if necessary/desired.

      All we need is cheaper energy and it would work fine.

      Yeah, today, not so much.

    10. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      You could do it though... You'd just have something between four and six ramps all leading to different portions of the plane.

      I personally don't mind anything on the planes at this point. Its a little tight but so what. You just calm down and try to be comfortable. Its not that hard.

      On long flights, I don't sleep the day before the flight. So I arrive at the terminal ready to pass out. I get on the plane... buckle up... and don't wake up until the plane touches down wherever.

      And I generally feel reasonable enough when I land that I don't need a post flight nap.

      THat's just me though. I sleep like a cat. I can sleep anywhere.

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    11. Re:I'm all for it by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      "Airports would need several cabins per flight per aircraft model, plus room to store them, plus machinery to handle them..."

      All of this this actually exists. Just pack all of the passengers into LD2s.

    12. Re:I'm all for it by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      'It's harder to accomplish this in a "air conditioned" air terminal'

      Is actually not harder, it's just that no one can be bothered to do it if the terminal space offsets the airframe utilization. Also, while it does reduce complains of boarding/alighting time it increases complaints due to the walking and/or bussing.

      If you look at old photographs of LAX, from before the build the ground level connectors buildings, planes would pull up parallel to the sides of the rotundas and a jetway connects both in front and behind the wing. Some of the west remote gates still operate like this, where a very large plane actually connects to two remote gates. Currently, LAX TBIT has gates with multiple jetways that can meet multiple doors in front of the wing as is done in many other places with large planes with high-prices premium traffic. (The jetwways are often split between first/business/economy classes.)

      Some airports AMS and even little ALB have dual jetways where one extends over the wing. However, AMS has had incidents where the jetway has struck the upper surface of the wing causing damage.

    13. Re:I'm all for it by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      "this means not sharing arm rests with people."

      You have not looked closely enough at where each passenger's parts go:

      http://cdn.travalliancemedia.c...

    14. Re:I'm all for it by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      They would have to flip up like the seat bottom to fit them in: http://www.flyertalk.com/wp-co...

    15. Re:I'm all for it by glwtta · · Score: 1

      But, but... this absurdly impractical technical solution would save whole minutes of mild annoyance!

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
    16. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1, Informative

      ... you missed the bit where I said this wasn't an original idea. Several aeronautical engineers have drawn up blue prints for just this sort of thing.

      So... you can take your presumptions and pretensions and shove them up your anus sideways.

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    17. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We already have something similar to this in Canada. They are called "Smart Seats"

    18. Re:I'm all for it by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      I've been asking for compartmentalized planes for years, for two. Speed of boarding is one, but not the big one. Safety is the other. Imagine never having a single death from plane crashes except the ones that caused by sudden failures or pilot errors during takeoff and landing.

      With a compartmentalized plane, if the airframe fails, the pilot could point it in the general direction of an uninhabited area, cut the engines, push the ejection button, calmly exit the cockpit into the front passenger compartment, strap into the jump seat, and wait. A few moments later, a series of explosive bolts would detonate, severing each compartment from the airframe a few seconds apart, and a parachute would deploy, thus bringing the compartment safely to the ground, with no lives lost.

      You could even make deployment be automatic under certain circumstances, such as depressurization, descending below a present altitude without manually overriding it for landing, etc., thus saving lives in situations where the pilot becomes incapacitated. And you could put an emergency override on the outside of the cockpit to eliminate any possibility of mass-murder-suicide by airplane. (The suicide part might still happen, but at least an errant pilot couldn't take out everyone on the plane, too.)

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    19. Re:I'm all for it by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      Sure there are: the legs of the passenger facing the other way.

      No kidding though, that seems to be the point of this configuration. Not to decrease seat pitch (distance between rows), but to decrease even further the width of the already narrow economy seats, to go 3-3-3 instead of 2-3-2 perhaps. And the only way to do it without having to rub shoulders with your neighbour (already an issue on certain flights with certain passengers) is to have the middle person sit the other way, and have no armrests. If they'd add those, they would get in the way of the legs of your neighbour.

      Screw this. I've always said that I would happily pay 50-75% extra for a 50-75% increase in space (both width and pitch), but someone told me once that the airlines are afraid to make "comfort class" so comfortable as to have business class travellers choose that instead of flying business class, where the real money is made.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    20. Re:I'm all for it by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2

      Except that the vast majority of plane accidents happen at takeoff and landing where you would need not only explosive bolts but a cluster of SuperDraco engines mounted around the fuselage to boost you out of harm's way. Now, I grant you, that would be one cool video, but I don't think you are going to convince the Boeing designers that the tradeoffs are worth it.

      And engineering is always about the tradeoffs.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    21. Re:I'm all for it by ColdWetDog · · Score: 0

      They jump out quickly because the Army is pointing a bunch of 70 mm truck mounted guns at them. That always gets you to speed things up.

      Welcome to Israel. Duck!

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    22. Re:I'm all for it by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      It's not that hard. I've been on lots of flights where they brought up a double jetway (fore and aft). You could easily do one on the other side too.

      I don't think airlines do it because loading passengers normally isn't a bottleneck. It happens as they shift baggage and refuel. If it really was a bottleneck, they'd just cut the carryon baggage allowance by two thirds and save lots of time. Or have European style boarding lounges where they check your boarding pass when you get to the lounge rather than when you get on the plane and he lounges separate you by boarding group so there's no cheating.

    23. Re:I'm all for it by camperdave · · Score: 1

      You definitely won't have to share armrests with anybody, because there are no armrests at all.

      --
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    24. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that how they'd fit them into a plane?

    25. Re:I'm all for it by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      How do you deal when you realize you fell asleep 5 minutes before your flight started boarding, and woke up an hour after it departed?

    26. Re:I'm all for it by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      Must've had an Arab on board. Or someone who has expressed publicly any notion of knowing what is going on in the OT.

    27. Re:I'm all for it by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      I'll finally get that handie I always wanted.

    28. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      Easy. I don't do that. :-D

      First, I am very good at maintaining alertness even when I am very tired. It was something I learned in college and... I can operate effectively for about 3 days without sleep. After that, I start to develop problems but I can remain alert for about 4 days. On the 5th day I can keep my eyes open but whether I respond to anything is questionable. On the 6th day I will probably spontaneously pass out. But it takes that long for that to be a concern. I can stop myself from sleeping up to that point simply by willing it.

      it isn't even hard until day 4. Around day 4, I need to exert a constant mental will to remain conscious. Prior to that point... I can subconsciously maintain consciousness.

      When I board the plane... I flip the mental switch that was keeping me going... and I go out like a light. Click. Typically I wake up about half an hour before the plane lands. Sometimes the actual force of the plane hitting the runway wakes me up.

      Its my preferred way of dealing with long flights. I just shut off and wake up at my destination.

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    29. Re:I'm all for it by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Hmm. You could sit silently with your arms folded and your eyes closed and still get arrested on landing for attempted rape and harassment, then find out that while in the air you've been sacked for misogyny due to their inflight twitter posts.

      Unless you're a handsome wealthy looking man of course, in which case go for it.

    30. Re:I'm all for it by Black.Shuck · · Score: 1

      Never, ever going to work.

      Well sure. Nothing works if you try to do everything at once.

      Try building a human from a pile of space-dirt in 9 months. You can't do it. It won't work. Especially not in that time-scale.

    31. Re:I'm all for it by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      Furthermore, refueling an airplane does not take less than two minutes. That's the time you need just to plug in the fuel line.

      He said, "But it would make loading and unloading the plane a matter of two minutes or something which is less time than it takes to refuel the plane."

      Ie, refueling takes MORE than two minutes.

    32. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      The idea being original or not has no bearing on its quality.

      I'm sure people have tried to design such concepts. And I'm sure their thoughts when they finished were along the lines of "Yeah, this is never going to work better than what we have now."

      Also, no need to be a rude asshole. There's nothing wrong with being clueless about structural engineering, but there is something wrong with being a rude asshole.

    33. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      That is also questionable, given the complex process involved:
      Open door, Airbus Beluga style.
      Remove cabin
      Check for debris/damage
      Insert cabin
      Ensure all systems are properly connected (power, water, infotainment, wastewater...). These are going to be more problematic, too.
      Close the door (which is also much heavier...)
      Make sure it's properly closed (probably a wash, if you're checking several regular doors on a regular plane).

    34. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      Oh well, misread that.

      Still, fuel is generally not the limiting factor (even ignoring boarding).

    35. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Several aeronautical engineers have drawn up blue prints for just this sort of thing.

      prove it.

    36. Re:I'm all for it by Bert64 · · Score: 1

      With cheaper fuel we can go back to concorde, while loading and unloading wouldn't be any fast the actual flight time would be significantly less.

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    37. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      True, but citing my point as requiring an aeronautical degree when people with such degrees have proposed the same thing is stupid.

      As in... the opinion a stupid person would have.

      The position is one shared by some experts and professionals. Blueprints have been drawn up for it.

      The issue is not the weight or the structural integrity.

      Its just that planes are expensive and getting anything modified that way would be a custom job and that would be even more expensive. Its a good idea. it just needs to get adopted enough to become economical. The existing system isn't any better. Its just the standard of our day.

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    38. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Berating someone is not nice. Besides, any engineer worth their weight makes the impossible a reality in many day to day activities. I know, I work with them. Sometimes a change in patterns requires a completely clean slate. Working with a system that has undergone very little change to the cabin and fuselage in a hundred years says a lot to me considering the ill effects of a plane malfunction sees the ENTIRE soul count decimate to 0 with no room for mercy. Enter this plug-able design to the mix, throw in some parachutes, also make it the floatation device when forgoing a splashdown and bam, lives saved. I'd pay an extra 100bucks per transatlantic flight to be aboard that plane.

    39. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      On aircraft, the issue is ALWAYS weight.

      There is no way in hell this idea would not massively increase aircraft weight, since the new, removable parts cannot be structural. So you're always adding substantial weight.

    40. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      We've had people drawing up plans for such things since the 50s. Aeronautical engineers... the concept has been proposed by aircraft companies repeatedly.

      Most of the concepts involve flying wings. Modules are loaded and unloaded the way a cargo plane unloads large cargo.

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    41. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      Keyword here being "proposed", instead of "accepted as a cost-effective solution".

    42. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      And that's fine because the argument against me at the time was "you don't have an aeronautical degree so you can't say anything about the issue that is not 100 percent in line with the status quo"...

      So I cited that actually the ideas had been proposed initially by people with such degrees. Which is now causing you to goal post move.

      Now the issue is "money". Which is a different consideration. We're talking about economics, business models, existing production lines, etc.

      Okay. Is that a discussion you want to have... Because I can address it.

      Just understand, the aeronautical education/experience argument is forfeit because... I struck that down.

      I can tell you where your argument is going to go and I'll tell you roughly how I'm going to crush it.

      Ultimately you're going to argue "this is bad because it isn't the way we do things right now. Only status quo policies are good"... You are not currently making that argument... but you've already painted yourself into that corner. Its just a matter of time.

      I will put the final nail in your argument's coffin by making the obvious counter argument that nothing would ever change or improve if we didn't challenge the status quo and have a willingness to try new things.

      I suspect you're not going to accept that which will end the discussion with me childishly mocking you because the actual argument will be over and I'll have nothing better to do than extract whatever pleasure I can at your expense at that point.

      So... that's my prediction of the future. Your move... let us see how well I predicted it. :D

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    43. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And that's fine because the argument against me at the time was "you don't have an aeronautical degree so you can't say anything about the issue that is not 100 percent in line with the status quo"...

      Where did the other commenter ever say that? Quote it for us. Give us the link to the comment where he said your argument was invalid because you didn't have "an aeronautical degree." Here's a hint -- you're the only one who's used that term. But, please give us the comment where he said that, or the comment where he said you could only make arguments "100 percent in line with the status quo." Show us. I dare you to try.

      Which is now causing you to goal post move.

      Now the issue is "money". Which is a different consideration.

      Another fail. His argument from the very beginning has been about how your suggestion would dramatically increase the weight of aircraft, among other logistical problems. See, increased weight means higher operating expenses. Get it? No goalposts were moved.

      So... that's my prediction of the future. Your move... let us see how well I predicted it.

      And here's my prediction for the future -- you won't respond to any of this, because you know you were wrong on both points. Your move... let us see how well I predicted it. :D

    44. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      Now you're clearly being argumentative because you can't accept the possibility that the idea you defended was a bad one.

      And that's fine because the argument against me at the time was "you don't have an aeronautical degree so you can't say anything about the issue that is not 100 percent in line with the status quo"...

      So I cited that actually the ideas had been proposed initially by people with such degrees. Which is now causing you to goal post move.

      Now the issue is "money". Which is a different consideration. We're talking about economics, business models, existing production lines, etc.

      No such argument was made. It was an observation.
      Another observation I'll make is that you seem unable to grasp that more weight = less money made at the end of the day (in one way or another).

      Weight itself is irrelevant, from an engineering standpoint. We can make the whole thing bigger to match the capacity of the lighter option. The problem is that it's crazy expensive all around! It costs more to produce, costs more to operate, costs more to maintain, costs more to land (airport fees are often based on maximum takeoff weight)...
      Less weight = more money.

      Ultimately you're going to argue "this is bad because it isn't the way we do things right now. Only status quo policies are good"... You are not currently making that argument... but you've already painted yourself into that corner. Its just a matter of time.

      I will put the final nail in your argument's coffin by making the obvious counter argument that nothing would ever change or improve if we didn't challenge the status quo and have a willingness to try new things.

      Damn, you're full of yourself.

      Nobody is arguing for the "status quo". What is being argued is that the status quo is the status quo for good reason and that your alternative is worse than the status quo. Changing things just because is not engineering. It's throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks.

      Seriously, here's some advice for life:

      When somebody says you're wrong, don't reply by accusing them of "moving the goalposts" or employing a "strawman" (curiously, that's what you've been doing). Don't act like a prick because some people share your opinion.
      And, most importantly, don't play the victim card when somebody makes a statement about you. There's nothing wrong with not having an aerospace degree, but there is something wrong with pretending to know more about the subject than the people who do.

      Feel free to respond above with arguments against my point, but remember: "Aerospace engineers looked at the problem" is not an argument. It's their fucking job to investigate alternatives. It's also their job to discard the bad alternatives - including the one you're so strongly defending, for some mysterious reason.

    45. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      No, i'm not being argumentative... I'm defeating your argument against me.

      There's a difference. Are you being argumentative?

      We are having an argument... So sure... from that stand point we're both inherently argumentative.

      Look, if you want play word games with me, you'll find I'm probably a lot better at it than you are. Its a skill I have. But if you want to have a rational discussion then you're going to have to let that go.

      You don't a point by playing word games. That's just semantical nonsense.

      You win an argument by proving to whomever matters to you that you were right and they were wrong.

      Now... on the internet... generally that's just yourself. If you think you were right then you are going to declare victory. We all do that and we really have no choice because we argue against people that will just be stubborn when they lose. So you have to just take what you can and move on.

      In the context of this discussion... people said I didn't have a right to an opinion because I didn't have an aeronautical degree.

      That's an obvious fallacy and one that I defeated not by arguing the illogic by by potinting out that even if it weren't an irrational argument, that it would still be wrong because the idea was popularized by people with such degrees.

      now if you want to have a discussion about economics etc... we can do that, but its going to boil down to you saying that we can't do a thing because we don't currently do it that way.

      Most of the economic barriers are about sunk costs of existing infrastructure. You do things a different way and lots of things have to be redesigned.

      Frankly I don't really care about this argument anymore. Instead of thinking about something interesting you decided to be a prick and a stupid one at that.

      So fine. You disagree and you apparently don't like me. Fine... I don't really care. You're boring and you brought nothing of interest to the discussion. You failed to enlighten anyone, show a new way of thinking, add new information, or add any value to the people that were here.

      If that's what you consider to be success... then so be it.

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    46. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the context of this discussion... people said I didn't have a right to an opinion because I didn't have an aeronautical degree.

      Where did *anyone* say that? You are flat-out lying here.

      now if you want to have a discussion about economics etc... we can do that, but its going to boil down to you saying that we can't do a thing because we don't currently do it that way.

      Yeah, he's told you over and over again why the economics wouldn't work. You've got nothing.

      Frankly I don't really care about this argument anymore.

      That's what happens when someone calls you on your bullshit and you lose the argument, huh?

      You're boring and you brought nothing of interest to the discussion. You failed to enlighten anyone, show a new way of thinking, add new information, or add any value to the people that were here.

      Why are you lying again? His original comment was modded +5 "insightful," so how can you possibly claim he "failed to enlighten anyone?" He explained why the idea you were championing was economically impractical. You should be thanking him.

      You sound like nothing more than a sore loser.

    47. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1
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    48. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      Even though the guy is "just" an AC, he's right. You have a right to an opinion. But I also have the right to tell you that your opinion is based on incorrect assumptions.

      Seriously, don't put words in other people's mouths.

      You're wrong != You're an idiot

      You are an idiot, as demonstrated above, but not because you're wrong.

    49. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      ... being right =/= right to an opinion. ... right to an opinion =/= being right.

      You have a right to believe magical squirrels live up your anus. That does not however make you correct.

      Your inability to grasp this elementary distinction fatally undermines your credibility at determining the intelligence, education, or sanity even of anyone in this thread. What you said has earned you this response:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      You've allowed your fee fees to get in the way of what passes for your brain. Master your animal emotions or you're little more than a monkey that thinks he's a man.

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    50. Re:I'm all for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... being right =/= right to an opinion. ... right to an opinion =/= being right.

      You have got to be kidding me. Are you actually incompetent? This is the mistake *you* made, not anyone else. The other guy explained why your idea was impractical, and you equated that with him claiming that you "didn't have a right to an opinion." Now you are pretending to lecture him about making that mistake? Why are you being dishonest again?

      You've allowed your fee fees to get in the way of what passes for your brain. Master your animal emotions or you're little more than a monkey that thinks he's a man.

      Sorry, but you're the only one who appears to have had his "fee fees" hurt. And you're not handling it very well, either.

    51. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      I think that everything posted so far speaks for itself.

      Anyone who bothered to read all this unnecessary crap will have surely figured out by now who's trolling and who isn't.

    52. Re:I'm all for it by Karmashock · · Score: 0

      On this we can agree.

      I've been authentic and forthright throughout. That is obvious.

      Thanks for playing.

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    53. Re:I'm all for it by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      True, but once all the flights are flown by computer (we'll be there before you know it), the takeoffs and landings probably won't be nearly as high a percentage of crashes. A computer won't cut the wrong engine when one flames out, nor will it hesitate in throttling up the other one. It won't clip the edge of the barrier at the end of the runway. And so on.

      That said, I'd kill to watch an aborted takeoff where sections of the plane get boosted a hundred feet straight up into the air, then deploy parachutes explosively. That would be pretty cool.

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  14. What about people with legs? by yakumo.unr · · Score: 1

    Seriously, squeezing past people on flights or at the cinema is bad enough already, the pictures of this design look like they've literally not considered people who actually have legs at all getting into the two rows of seats nearest the window.

    1. Re:What about people with legs? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      Flip-up seats.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:What about people with legs? by camperdave · · Score: 1

      So instead of mildly inconveniencing people, they now have to unbuckle, stand up, fold up their seat, and let you pass?

      --
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    3. Re:What about people with legs? by yakumo.unr · · Score: 1

      Yes, I see that now, I hadn't looked even considering that as surely it's grossly unsafe in a crash.
      But then packing this many people in I guess they're dropping any suggestion that survival in a crash is consideration anyway :/ o_O

    4. Re:What about people with legs? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      When was the last time you were on a plane that had so much leg room such that you could let someone by without getting up from your seat and going into the aisle yourself?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  15. Interlacing our knees by perpenso · · Score: 2

    Do you really want to spend multiple hours staring into the face of one or more strangers? It's bad enough on a short trolley ride.

    That's how long distance train travel worked for a century or so.

    Of course the airlines will put the seats much closer. On the plus side we can get more legroom by interlacing our knees, on the downside we'll have to take turns holding each others meal trays.

    1. Re:Interlacing our knees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > meal trays.

      Sounds like you haven't flown in a while. I think it's been twenty years since I had a meal on a plane. I fly Seattle to Miami and back four times a year for work, and pretzels just don't do it.

    2. Re:Interlacing our knees by Vokkyt · · Score: 1

      It's standard on most international flights outside of the US to have some sort of meal. Even my last relatively short flight from Amsterdam to St. Petersburg had two "meals" and snacks and drinks.

      It's only when I've been flying within the US for long flights that they get stingy with the freebies.

    3. Re:Interlacing our knees by pjt33 · · Score: 1

      What do you mean, "worked"? It's still how it works in the countries whose trains I'm familiar with.

    4. Re:Interlacing our knees by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      On seats without a meal tray falling down from the seat in front of you, it pops up out of the armrest.

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    5. Re:Interlacing our knees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no such thing as long distance train travel anymore. If you want to go a long distance, you fly.

    6. Re:Interlacing our knees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no such thing as long distance train travel anymore. If you want to go a long distance, you fly.

      Bullshit. Japan is a great example of long distance train travel that actually works.

    7. Re:Interlacing our knees by omfgnosis · · Score: 1

      Shit, did they finally decommission Amtrak? I was just planning a trip.

    8. Re:Interlacing our knees by perpenso · · Score: 1

      Shit, did they finally decommission Amtrak? I was just planning a trip.

      Long range trips are slower and cost more. Ex. NY to Los Angeles, not NY to DC or Boston.

    9. Re:Interlacing our knees by dave420 · · Score: 1

      Speak for yourself! In Europe there are lots of long-distance trains, and they are spacious, quick, easy to use, and have full restaurant cars. Some have sleeper services, and most trains have compartments for 6 or so people, in conjunction with cross-table & standard seating.

  16. Probably just about patents guys by cfalcon · · Score: 2

    Zodiac has been attacked by seating patents by their competitors. This is probably a defensive patent, something vague enough to discourage future lawsuits. I doubt they are intending to go and hexagonify all the seating, but it is pretty lol.

  17. Three thoughts... by Pollux · · Score: 3, Insightful

    #1) This will make it that much more inconvenient for passengers closest to the window to get out when they need to use the bathroom.

    #2) Forward-facing seats make more sense during takeoff, as the acceleration from the plane pushes passengers into their seats, but the seats keep them secure. Passengers facing the rear will find it a bit more uncomfortable holding themselves in the seat when basic physics is pushing them out of it. (Yes, I know airline attendants have rear-facing seats. A cousin of mine served as steward on an airline for some years and always complained about them.)

    #3) Are airplanes engineered to handle the additional weight of 80 more passengers and their luggage?

    1. Re:Three thoughts... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      #1) This will make it that much more inconvenient for passengers closest to the window to get out when they need to use the bathroom.

      I don't see how. As things currently are you need the aisle/middle passengers to get up out of their seats to let a window passenger out, and that won't change.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:Three thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      #2) Forward-facing seats make more sense during takeoff, as the acceleration from the plane pushes passengers into their seats, but the seats keep them secure. Passengers facing the rear will find it a bit more uncomfortable holding themselves in the seat when basic physics is pushing them out of it. (Yes, I know airline attendants have rear-facing seats. A cousin of mine served as steward on an airline for some years and always complained about them.)

      You should be aware of the reason that airline attendants have rear-facing seats: they're safer in a crash, because you're being pressed into the seat rather than yanked out of it.

    3. Re:Three thoughts... by scsirob · · Score: 1

      80 more people also means 80 more carry-on items to stow. As the overhead bins are too small already, I'm sure carry-on will be considered a luxury that needs to be purchased from now on.

      --
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    4. Re:Three thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then why aren't ALL passenger seats rear facing too?

    5. Re:Three thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      aft-facing seats are much safer in a crash or sudden stop. I miss the Southwest rear facing bench.

    6. Re:Three thoughts... by Nethead · · Score: 1

      The overheads are not too small, people are trying to put too much in them. By FAA regs, you can get everyone off a plane in 90 seconds if they don't take their stuff out of the overhead (and use all the exits.) If I fly, I just check everything and only take a Kindle on board. So much easier that way.

      --
      -- I have a private email server in my basement.
    7. Re:Three thoughts... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Rear facing seats make more sense in a crash situation (most crashes that are survivable happen in a nose-is-forward configuration). The entire seat supports the body in the rapid deceleration of a crash instead of just the seat belt. IIRC, some military transports are rigged that way. So you trade off a bit more discomfort on the very common scenario of the plane taking off with the possibility of better surviving a very rare crash situation.

      Decisions, decisions.

      --
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    8. Re:Three thoughts... by tirefire · · Score: 1

      Only explanation I can think of is: rear facing seats aren't always safer.

      During a crash, shit will be flying fowards at very high speeds. If an overhead bin in row 30 crumples and a gym bag full of barbells sails into the aisle seat in row 20, you'd want that to hit a padded headrest of a seat bolted to the floor, not the front of your face.

    9. Re:Three thoughts... by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      Some people have a deep aversion to traveling backwards.

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    10. Re:Three thoughts... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      Rear seats do protect better in crashes, but this alternating seat plan is an emergency de-planing nightmare. You basically have to climb over the seats to get to the aisle. What it doesn't show is the exit rows. Adjusting for those may give up some of the extra seat gains claimed.

    11. Re:Three thoughts... by swillden · · Score: 1

      If I fly, I just check everything and only take a Kindle on board. So much easier that way.

      I never check anything if I can avoid it. Too much hassle to pick up luggage at the destination. It's so much more convenient just to walk straight out of the airport.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    12. Re:Three thoughts... by Deadstick · · Score: 1

      Forward-facing seats make more sense during takeoff, as the acceleration from the plane pushes passengers into their seats, but the seats keep them secure. Passengers facing the rear will find it a bit more uncomfortable holding themselves in the seat when basic physics is pushing them out of it.

      If you're having a problem holding yourself in the seat, you might try fastening your seat belt properly. You are SAFER in an aft-facing seat, and the military, which cares more about not killing its people than coddling them, mounts passenger seats facing aft for exactly that reason.

      Are airplanes engineered to handle the additional weight of 80 more passengers and their luggage?

      Yes. In the high-subsonic regime of passenger jets, you run out of space well before you run out of weight-carrying ability.

    13. Re:Three thoughts... by ILongForDarkness · · Score: 1

      Because generally the stewards are only seated for takeoff and landing. Planes tilt towards the nose you'd have an uncomfortable flight in a backwards facing set you couldn't just lean back on your seat and sleep for example. You'll be ever so slightly leaning forward ... for the whole flight. Which also means people's annoying kids will sleep even less during long haul flights, fun times had by all.

    14. Re:Three thoughts... by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      So learn to fly with a small, soft duffel bag. You can live out of one of those for a week easily, it's a quarter (or less) than the size of the typical carryon suitcase, and if you stow it under the seat in front it actually makes a nice foot pillow.

    15. Re:Three thoughts... by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Definitely! This way we get debris to the face rather than having it bounce off the backs of our seats.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    16. Re:Three thoughts... by swillden · · Score: 1

      Meh. I'll stick with my small rollerboard.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    17. Re:Three thoughts... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It looks like it would be easier to get out from the window seat this way, because the seats flip up like cinema seats. That creates a nice clear path to the aisle. With the standard forward-facing configuration there is only a tiny gap you have to shuffle sideways down, especially when the people in front are reclining.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    18. Re:Three thoughts... by Cederic · · Score: 1

      You can live out of one of those for a week easily

      Sure, if you don't want a clean shirt every day, a full change of clothing, any alternative footwear.. if you're happy to sleep naked, use the towels in the hotel, smell..

    19. Re:Three thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      basic physics is pushing them out of it.

      You clearly failed basic physics. Nothing is "pushing them out of it". Repeat after me - nothing!

      The engines are pushing the plane, and by extension the rear-facing seat away from the passenger. The passenger - being an inertial body - is remaining at rest until some force acts on him (through the seat belt and cushion, most likely) to accelerate him in the same direction as the seat.

    20. Re:Three thoughts... by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      If you can't put a weeks worth of clean shirts, underwear, socks, a couple of pairs of pants, a change of shoes, a tube of pit stick and a toothbrush in a reasonably sized carryon perhaps you should investigate the rolling vs. folding debate. Or type "how to pack a small carryon bag" into Google.

      PS: sleeping naked is good for you.

  18. Engineers not account for social aspect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The only reason we allow sitting so close right now is that we can pretend to ignore one another since we're all facing in the same general direction. Once we're forced to look at one another, we'll need more room. Plus, how will I manspread in this new arrangement?

    1. Re:Engineers not account for social aspect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      how will I manspread in this new arrangement?

      Interlacing legs, as mentioned above. Enjoy knees in your crotch.

  19. "those with window seats board first" by Nutria · · Score: 1

    You *obviously* don't have a family.

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    1. Re:"those with window seats board first" by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Families should board last, and have aisle seats and adjacent center seats, or board as individual passengers, not a family. You're riding together, maybe you don't need to stand next to each other getting onboard.

      Except parents of small children, which goes back to the matching aisle/center seat solution.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    2. Re: "those with window seats board first" by TheMeuge · · Score: 1

      Unless you have both parents and more than 1 child traveling together?

    3. Re: "those with window seats board first" by David_Hart · · Score: 1

      Mythbusters to the rescue...

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    4. Re:"those with window seats board first" by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Since most flights board from the front of the plane, people should board back to front. First Class should be the last people being boarded.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    5. Re:"those with window seats board first" by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Families should board last

      Families should be dragged by a short length of rope attached to the underside of the plane.

    6. Re: "those with window seats board first" by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Then you board with the two parents and two children taking the four seats straddling the aisle. If you have more little children than people able to care for them (which could be older kids, whatever) where you cannot sit them "child in center, responsible person on aisle", you should have to bring a nanny, cause you're not controlling that many kids, and I don't want to put up with them. Bonus, small person in the center seat.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  20. And the baggage? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    With current layouts, baggage space is already tight.

    I doubt that 80 more fliers hand baggage would fit on the overhead space. So it is not just seat space that needs to be considered.

    1. Re:And the baggage? by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      Ha ha, they'll just start charging for this privilege so fewer people will dare to bring a carry-on bag. It's a win-win, with both sides of the "win" going to the airlines.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  21. rear facing seats on city buses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've been on many buses in the DC metro area that have rear facing seats on the buses with seats across from them. It's not really that big of a deal.

    1. Re: rear facing seats on city buses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And trains. And boats. Who are these people complaining about such a non-issue.
      I spent years on a train for an hour facing many people, hot and ugly. Didn't care less.
      I'd still not care if it were more, since this could allow for my own arm rest!

  22. Looks great... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 2

    This is a wonderful idea, as long as: the people facing backward don't puke on takeoff; flight attendants don't mind breaking up the inevitable fistfights; and you remove the bathrooms so that there's no temptation for the 6'4" next to the window to want to pee mid-flight. Except for all the horrible downsides, I don't see any drawbacks.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  23. Motion sickness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    'Nuff said.

  24. I Call B.S. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The article is misleading. Simply reversing the middle seats would not result in more space to add new seats.
    The only way this would work is if this configuration somehow reduces the distance between adjacent rows.
    So what is really going on here is a sneaky way of hiding the fact that leg room will be diminished.

    1. Re:I Call B.S. by naris · · Score: 1

      If you had glanced at TFA, you would of realized that by flipping the middle seat and making the seats flip up when unoccupied like theatre seats that they can, and have, squeezed the seats together to eliminate the space between rows. This allows more rows of seats to be added in the same space.

    2. Re:I Call B.S. by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      It's not misleading, because it doesn't actually tell you anything about why this arrangement leads to more seat space.

      At a guess, I think it might allow you to increase the number of seats per row, because you won't be sharing leg space with the person next to you. So they can cram everyone's hips closer together while still allowing knees not to knock.

      But who knows. It's hard to tell. The image makes it look so unlike any normal airline seat it's hard to get a handle on it.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    3. Re:I Call B.S. by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      Looking at the picture I don't see any elimination of space between rows. There is still space there. Not enough for a human being to put there legs there, but there is space. I don't see how a flip up seat saves any space. The only thing I see that adds space is that they have gone with an extremely thin and painful looking backboard. The seat itself also looks thin and painful and that doesn't even save any space by being thin and painful. The rearward facing seat does not save any space at all. It might as well face forward. It appears that all the space savings is due to the elimination of seat back cushion and armrests, and they probably crammed the rows closer together.
      The supposed "hexagon" arrangement is really more of a triangle. It assumes a human is widest at the hips and gets narrower as you go forward. This is the opposite of how most male humans are shaped when sitting. Women tend to sit with their ankles crossed which meets the shape that this seating arrangement desires. But men either sit with their knees spread or with one leg on the other knee and both of these arrangements result in the area of the knee requiring more space than the hips.
      For this to work correctly, the men's seating section would have to have a different staggering of seats than the women's section.For the women, the widest area needs to be for the hips. For the men, the widest area needs to be for the knees.
      Also, there is no need to face anybody backwards to do this staggering arrangement. It can be done with everybody facing forward, but the middle seat being offset.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    4. Re:I Call B.S. by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      This assumes that people are wider at the shoulder than they are at the thighs.

      They need to take a walk in a Wal-Mart and reassess their anthropological models.

    5. Re:I Call B.S. by ILongForDarkness · · Score: 1

      Or alternatively assumes that you are widest at the ass and then taper down at the legs. It could just be an optical illusion but I don't think so: the seats look narrower at the front than the back. They are making them irregular quadralaterals and then overlapping them as far as I can tell. Essentially assuming everyone is going to be cool having their feet and knees touching for the whole flight. Nutcracker ballet.

  25. It isn't about comfort by BigSlowTarget · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It is about staying within safety guidelines mandating the speed of evacuation of aircraft. Beyond that it's about not violating social standards so much that too many fights break out (they're expensive). After that it's about stuffing the most people in with the final limit being not making too many of them so uncomfortable they are willing to pay more for a more expensive seat. There are finally concerns about the actual cost of manufacture of the seats. Southwest has had seats facing each other in exit rows for a long time.

  26. Emergency evacuation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No mention in the article or here how it would effect emergency evacuations? Seems it would be more hindering to get across from the window. Any commercial pilots here?

  27. Bathroom by naris · · Score: 1

    Only those in aisle would be able to get to the bathroom, everyone else would just have to wait for the end of the flight!

    1. Re:Bathroom by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, the backwards and the window people would be able to easily insert a catheter to each other, another advantage of that seating.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    2. Re:Bathroom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nonsense! You could piss directly into the face of someone facing the other way.

  28. No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane. by Chas · · Score: 4, Informative

    It isn't about getting more seats in a plane

    Yeah. Yeah it is. This is why you have seating arrangements designed for the average hypermetabolic midget ectomorph who can exhale, suck it in and hold it for the duration of the flight.

    And, if you happen to be a normal sized person or a non-ectomorph body type, or carrying any extra weight at all, said planes are sardine cans where you're expected to die of asphyxiation.

    And that's BEFORE the person in front of you reclines their seat and crushes you.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  29. Habe you heard of Casket Transport? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I really want to start a company and get a patent on casket transport. The idea is we would all get into these caskets for transport and they'd then be stacked upon each other to maximize space efficiency why flying. Everybody could fly in comfort then. You'd just have to make sure you went to the bathroom before you got into your casket and be liquid and food deprived for the journey of the trip. And if this all sounds creepy to you we'll even have mild sedatives available.

  30. Higher prices for more discomfort by Theovon · · Score: 1

    Hey, if they really want to fit more people, why don't they...

    - Shrink the already narrow widths of the seats to fit four on each side of the aisle. (Anyone slightly larger than average has to buy two seats.)
    - Take out the seats and just make everyone stand.
    - Replace the seats with shelves only about 1 foot apart that everyone has to slide into.
    - Cram passengers into small boxes.

    There are lots of very uncomfortable ways we can cram people into, next to smelly other passengers on the plane.

    While I'm at it, I feel like ranting about how rude people are on planes. Small children don't bother me. That's not intentional or neglegent. The alternative is to drug toddlers, which I would never sanction. However, people do weird stuff:

    - I've been next to people who smelled like they had done lawn work, not showered, and then got on the plane.
    - I've been next to people who just could not sit still, so every time I would just doze off, they would wake me up.
    - Some people insist on bringing strong-smelling food onto the plane and then eating it sloppily. Those smells can turn my stomach.

    You know how broccoli, when cooked beyond a certain point emits hydrogen sulfide? One time, this one women brought on some food she'd gotten on the airport that apparently had breaded and deep-fried broccoli. For the first half hour, everyone near us in the back was trying to figure out how to get the bathroom door to close better. Until we realized that it was HER FOOD that smelled like farts. When we figured it out and people started looking at her, she was all indignant about it.

    If you're going to join a large number of people in a confined space for four hours, could you please not be a self-centered asshole about it?

    1. Re:Higher prices for more discomfort by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      - Take out the seats and just make everyone stand.

      I would actually pay extra for a vertical bed kind of thing. I can lean against a wall for 5 hours far more comfortably than sitting in most airline seats.

    2. Re:Higher prices for more discomfort by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      There's a whole lot of space under the floor where they currently carry cargo. We could go full Japanese cube hotel on the design and lay people in bunk-beds stacked 6 high in the middle and 4 high on the outside.

    3. Re:Higher prices for more discomfort by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Not such a bad idea. We can call it the 'underclass'.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    4. Re:Higher prices for more discomfort by germansausage · · Score: 1

      Many years ago my regular airline stopped supplying free meals on cross country flights. Since I didn't want to pay $17 for a ham sandich (we like to call it banquet on a bun), and as a mild form of protest, I started bringing my own lunch. Pickled herring and hungarian farmer sausage are ever so yummy, and the garlic, smoked meat and fish smells would fill the nearest third of the aircraft. I got a few dirty looks (thank goodness, or what's the point), but there were no rules against. Since the airline didn't gve a damn, and I was mostly annoying fellow passengers, I eventually toned it down to a less aromtic lunch. (I'm still not going to pay $17 for a ham sandwich).

    5. Re: Higher prices for more discomfort by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I cant eat plane food so i always took my own food, but mostly id just take a pack of wheat and jam snack bars, health food bars, that sort of thing. The shit they put out on planes is inedible.

  31. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

    Well they could also have hammocks in the aisle way up near the ceiling.

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  32. Safety third! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously whoever designed this should be fired and blacklisted from the industry. It should have only taken an average human being a few moments to see this and facepalm.

  33. I'd hurl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can't sit backwards in cars. I could easily imagine getting motion sick and hurling over the stranger in my face.

  34. Stand up, please. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I notice that you can't get out of 2/3 of those seats in each row without someone completely standing up, and then lifting their seat out of the way. Cute idea, but impractical.

  35. How Does the Window Seat Pax Get To Their Seat? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe just an issue with the picture of the design, but I don't quite understand how the window seat passenger is supposed to get into their seat without stepping on the middle seat.

    Does seem to perhaps work better with the reality that many passengers are, uh, wider than the seat though.

  36. One good thing about all of this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...they're making the annual 30-hour drive from Arizona to Illinois (and another 30 hours back, of course) look better and better all the time.

  37. Nobody will be happy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  38. Patentable? by WPIDalamar · · Score: 1

    How are seat configurations patentable anymore? Why hasn't someone generated every single configuration possible on a given plane and published it?

    1. Re:Patentable? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I often thought this about music and books. We now have enough processing and storage power to generate every variation of 12 semitones or 26 letters to cover at least a few minutes of music or a few pages of text. Enough to invalidate every copyright claim from now on.

  39. Fuck all to me by paiute · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't give a shit. I can only fly these days by ingesting 15 mg valium while boarding and 5 mg every two hours until the flight is over.

    The sad thing is that I used to like flying. They just kept squeezing us closer and closer until one day I had a panic attack at 30000 feet and that was the end of my ability to relax on a flight.

    --
    If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
    1. Re:Fuck all to me by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      Ever try Business Class? It's a whole different experience. Too bad the corporate beaners won't spring for it at my pay grade, but if you really like to travel, just do it 1/3 as often, pay 3x as much, and be treated like a human being again.

    2. Re:Fuck all to me by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      I can only fly these days by ingesting 15 mg valium while boarding and 5 mg every two hours until the flight is over.

      I don't get it. What is the problem again?

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    3. Re:Fuck all to me by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      If airlines offered a chloroform soaked towel at the start of the flight I'd gladly take a nice big lung full of the stuff. I'd even sign a wavier absolving them of responsibility in the event of a crash and me not being able to get off the aircraft.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:Fuck all to me by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I have found a number of scenarios that make it actually cheaper to charter a plane, take a bit longer, and fly on a small private jet. It is a bit more expensive but worth it. I fly private charter almost everywhere except intercontinental flights.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  40. Not sure by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    Basically, it sounds like you'll get to become a member of the Mile-High Club whether you want to or not.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  41. Passenger capacity is dictated by evacuation times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Airlines can dream all they want about cramming passengers into planes for increased revenue but the limiting factor will always be evacuation times. Unless they can get everyone off the plane in the amount of time required by the FAA and other governing bodies, it won't be allowed. This was one of the key concerns with the A380 actually, they weren't sure they could meet the mandates and went through several drills/tests.

  42. Re: If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffi by TheMeuge · · Score: 2

    That's because sedation is dangerous. Most times you need an intensivist or anesthesiologist to do even moderate conscious sedation... At least a CRNA... And the risk of adverse events is never less than 1:100000. Just imagine if 1:100'000 passengers died.

    Sedation in real life is not like in movies. Ask Michael Jackson.

  43. I like the deranged nonsense you speak. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Especially considering for all the bluster about how 'fat' America is, the rest of the world has nothing whatsoever to say to us on the matter.

    I suppose we deserve it though, after all, we never miss the opportunity to link the French and white flags, the British and poor teeth, the Germans and Hitler... So game on, rest of the world.

    1. Re:I like the deranged nonsense you speak. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bluster? The hell are you talking about? Have you even flown on a flight across the US recently?

      I'm talking from experience. The last several flights I've been on I got the middle seat (the perils of going for cheap tickets where they're trying to fill empty seats) and I wound up between porkers who should in no way have been allowed onto the flight without buying two tickets.

      It's fairly standard to have to fly with your arms crossed lest you find yourself getting coated in fat-sweat from your seatmates. I wonder how much weight is wasted on seatbelt extenders on domestic US flights compared to international flights?

  44. old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    British Air and Virgin Atlantic have been doing this for years in business class.

  45. Sweet dreams, Mr. Dallas! by mpercy · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I could travel like that too.

  46. What about the flotation device? by mpercy · · Score: 1

    It's supposed to be under my seat in the event of a water landing...

  47. We're way ahead of you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  48. I'm against it. I suffer from motion sickness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Flying backwards would just increase the nausea.

  49. Alternate Row Enhanced Crash Safety by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It has been shown that backwards-facing seats are safer in a crash. Link

  50. Basic Bodily Functions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is one supposed to do when one has to sneeze, or take a piss?

  51. Vegas, eat your heart out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fight night at 30,000 feet
    fights in 3, 11, and 32 rows....LIVE!

  52. No thank you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would hate that arrangement.

  53. Or ban fat people from flying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you can't fit comfortably between the arm rests take a Greyhound. Being squeezed between two sugar addicts is never a fun experience.

  54. The Airline Creed by WhoaNotSoFast · · Score: 1

    We're not happy 'til you're not happy.

  55. Great, they're patenting train seating? by Ihlosi · · Score: 1
    Trans have had this type of seating for years.

    Also, it's no good airplanes. Do you really want to be on the receiving end of an acute case of motion sickness?

    1. Re:Great, they're patenting train seating? by no-body · · Score: 1

      Trains have different safety requirements than planes - there are illuminated flow markers on the floor, artificial atmosphere pressure, emergency procedures - all in all a totally different environment. Good luck to the folks sorting this out this dehumanizing effort.

  56. Still have meals, they are just paid not free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > meal trays.

    Sounds like you haven't flown in a while. I think it's been twenty years since I had a meal on a plane. I fly Seattle to Miami and back four times a year for work, and pretzels just don't do it.

    How, with two stops, so you have three short regional legs?

    I fly Los Angeles to New York every year or two, to Hawaii every three to five years, and these longer flights have meals. Even Los Angeles to Dallas or Chicago to New York have offered meals on one leg or the other. What has changed is that meals are no longer free and are often prepackaged sandwiches, wraps and fruit/cheese platters; not so much the reheated entree with veggies.

    Short flights like Los Angeles to San Francisco, yeah, just snacks.

  57. Ticket prices are rising anyway.... by no-body · · Score: 1

    Fuel/Oil prices dropped, did the air fairs?

    I observe ticket prices on a particular route overseas and five years ago, it was in the area of $ 700 - $ 800, if one was lucky, even lower by $ 100.
    What I am seeing now is something like double of that, $ 1500 - $ 1800 and higher. All on Economy.
    On the way from there - 5 years ago to now, what have I seen...

    Food served to be disgusting, charges for luggage which was free before, Allowable luggage weight decreased and now the size of allowable cabin luggage is apparently adjusted down - one needs to buy another carry-on case.

    Then we have the 2-class check-in sequence. Is it efficient to load the plane from front to back - sure no, back to front would be the choice where the passengers coming in first would not interfere with the one's already at their seat stowing their luggage into the upper bins.

    Nothing like this happens - first the front of the plane is loaded - first class, then business class, then the largest volume, economy after that, also in reverse, lower number rows first, obstructing the flow of incoming people with higher rows.

    There are some planes where the "better" people have their own entrance door at the front.

    All in all, another dehumanizing experience for the majority of travelers and the underlying reason for this is????

    1. Re:Ticket prices are rising anyway.... by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Most airlines load coach from back to front, though the ideal is probably back to front and outside to inside. And ideally, they would load people almost precisely in row order—basically use the whole Southwest numbered boarding thing, but with seat assignments. Otherwise, it is still pretty inefficient for the reasons you mention. I don't know why nobody does that.

      As for why they load first-class first, that's easy. If they don't, there's a very good chance that first-class passengers would find themselves with insufficient overhead bin space for their stuff. If you paid three prices for a ticket and then they forced you to check your bag, you'd be seriously angry.

      The reason some aircraft have a separate entrance for first-class is efficiency. When you have that many people boarding at once, you can't realistically load them all through one entrance. An ideal arrangement would put that second door in the middle of coach, so that half of them go forwards and the other half go backwards, rather than at the front of coach, but even just separating first/business from coach reduces the number of people using the coach door significantly. I realize that a center-boarding arrangement would be much harder to achieve (with the wing being in the way and all), but it would be nice if they could find a way.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    2. Re:Ticket prices are rising anyway.... by Gryle · · Score: 1

      First-class passengers have their own segregated overhead storage bins, at least on US Airways and United.

      On a side note, I flew first class once about three years ago when Southwest delayed me for five hours due to overbooking. I considered flying it again next time I had to travel but the prices were enough to talk me out of that.

      --
      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not entirely sure about the universe - Einstein
    3. Re:Ticket prices are rising anyway.... by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Semi-segregated. At least in my experience, if there are passengers in coach coming in whose luggage won't fit in their overhead bins, the flight attendants will usually put the bags into empty bin space in first class, rather than going through the hassle of gate-checking it.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  58. Safer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Rear facing seats are probably safer in a crash why not just flip all the seats around.

  59. Simple Geometry?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok maybe I'm dense but how does this configuration allow more seats? This doesn't seem to reduce the pitch of the rows at all. How does rotating the middle seat allow more dense seating, unless you are reducing row pitch and cutting everybody's legroom, in which case you could just do that without rotating the middle seat? What am I missing here???

    1. Re:Simple Geometry?? by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      Width. Your ankles are skinnier than your hips.

    2. Re:Simple Geometry?? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      You're not missing anything.

      They're changing:

      [>__[>
      [>__[>
      [>__[>

      to

      _[>_[>
      <]_<]_
      _[>_[>

      They're decreasing the spacing between the rows to get more seats.
      They're flipping the middle seat in order to "make up" for the lost leg room under the theory that people will accept a much more intimate orientation.

    3. Re:Simple Geometry?? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Wrong. The spacing between rows remains the same, as you're still facing the same way as the person in front and behind you. But you're closer to the person to the left and right of you. Well your feet are closer to their hips anyway. They're increasing the number of people they can fit across the width of the plane.

    4. Re:Simple Geometry?? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Wrong. TFA says nothing of the sort - they only mention flipping the middle seat in the standard 3-seat row.
      The ONLY way to get more space when doing this is to also make the rows closer together. And this is plainly evident in the picture.

    5. Re:Simple Geometry?? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Flipping the middle seat doesn't allow the rows to be closer together. The person in front and behind you is still facing in your direction. However, you are narrower as your hips are not next to your left and right neighbour's hips. Draw a diagram to work it out....

  60. Lack of choice by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    On existing airlines, why couldn't they have slightly larger/longer seats and charge say $15 more for them? It's either passenger level OR first class now, nothing in between.

    In fact, they could also have slightly smaller seats for a $15 discount. Same total room in the end, just better allocation per body size.

    1. Re:Lack of choice by jonnythan · · Score: 1

      Icelandair has "Economy comfort," where you have a few extra inches of knee/leg room and the middle seat is kept empty.

    2. Re:Lack of choice by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      I'd pay for that in a heartbeat, but I've never seen that option on other airlines (KLMs "Comfort Class" is a few extra inches of leg room and nothing else) I've been tempted a few times to buy the middle seat by getting 3 tickets when travelling with my girlfriend, it could be a relatively cheap way to buy a lot of extra comfort. However I think the airline would somehow still screw it up: "I am sorry, we've had to reshuffle some crying infants around to spread te noise evenly across the cabin, and now your empty spare seat is somewhere 2 rows behind you", or "I am sorry but we are overbooked and we are commandeering your empty seat. Enjoy your massively overweight smelly neighbour".

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    3. Re:Lack of choice by mjwx · · Score: 1

      On existing airlines, why couldn't they have slightly larger/longer seats and charge say $15 more for them? It's either passenger level OR first class now, nothing in between.

      In fact, they could also have slightly smaller seats for a $15 discount. Same total room in the end, just better allocation per body size.

      A lot of airlines already have this, they call it "premium economy" and they charge a hell of a lot more than $15 for them.

      That being said a decent airline's economy offerings are better than a bad airlines budget offerings. Singapore Airlines offers 19" wide seats in standard, Virgin Australia has 18.5" seats on their trans-pacific routes where as QANTAS only offers 17" seats.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    4. Re:Lack of choice by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      A lot of the economy carriers allow you to pay for an exit row, which is effectively premium economy for less than $50.
      Some carriers allow you to bid on the empty business class seats, a friend got an upgrade to business on a 10 hour flight for an extra $200.

    5. Re:Lack of choice by jonnythan · · Score: 1

      You won't be able to buy a seat and leave it empty both ways.

      When no one checks in for the flight out, there will be probably be someone waiting on standby to take it. And when the person doesn't check in for the outbound flight, their return ticket is canceled and sold.

  61. Sitting backward sucks by NotPeteMcCabe · · Score: 2

    A few years ago I sat facing backwards in one of those Southwest flights with two rows facing each other. It was terrible. Planes tilt nose up on takeoff, which meant that I was leaning forward, most uncomfortably. I figured I'd at least make it up on landing, but planes also tilt nose up on landing, which meant more discomfort. You'd have to give me a sizable discount to get me to fly backwards.

  62. The Mr. T Option by Irate+Engineer · · Score: 1

    Why don't the airlines just sedate all the passengers and stack them like cord wood in a pressurized cargo container and be done with it?

    --

    Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!

    Vote for Bernie in 2016!

    1. Re:The Mr. T Option by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I would actually pay extra for this service. I had a business class flight once where I wasn't feeling well, I ate a big meal and a couple of beers, with the fully flat bed I went straight to sleep and woke up 8 hours later on approach. It was the best flight I've ever had.

  63. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by Chas · · Score: 1

    Trust me. If they thought they could get away with it, they would.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  64. Definitely needs shifted some more by sideslash · · Score: 2

    "Oh hi, random person of the opposite sex. You don't mind if my hand rests against your hip and frequently gravitates to your crotch while I sleep here, do you?"

    I thought airline seats were already bad for violating personal space, but the way the picture shows it, this would expand new horizons of awkward.

    1. Re:Definitely needs shifted some more by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I'd wear a miniskirt and no underwear. Yes. I am a man. An old, ugly, man.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  65. Re: If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffi by Nethead · · Score: 1

    It also would be hard to get out of the plane in an emergency if you're knocked out.

    --
    -- I have a private email server in my basement.
  66. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

    You've touched on a big advantage of back-to-back seating: it will be impossible to recline because the back of the seat already touches the back of another seat. No more will you have to spend a flight looking at the top of the head of the ahole who reclined into your lap.

    --
    Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
  67. Re: If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffi by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    OTOH, a cabin full of Nitrous Oxide - now that's an idea.....

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  68. How do you get in/out? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously. Look at the picture and tell me how the hell window seat guy is supposed to get to the toilet past snoring obese man and sour old crone 12 hours in to his 24 hour red-eye. Do they put some sort of ropes course on the ceiling for vertical access mid flight?

  69. First man gets leg space by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Second man gets seat. When first man can't stand, second man get seat and leg space. Punch line: First man in gulag, hahaha!

  70. Bring it on! by SpaghettiPattern · · Score: 3, Informative

    As a guy with very broad shoulders I say: Bring it on!

    On planes I prefer aisle seats because that way I don't have to constrict myself in order not to disturb fellow passengers. For me one shoulder in the aisle is the way to travel. Every now and a trolley bangs into me. But so what.

    Still I wonder how this is ever going to work gracefully.

    --

    I hadn't the slightest objection to his spending his time planning massacres for the bourgeoisie... (P.G. Wodehouse)
  71. Just fix the fucking boarding order ... in reverse by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    Even a 1st year comp. sci. persons knows that it is fastest to load the plane with LIFO.

    I estimate you could cut loading time down by 50% .. 75%, but no, the airlines are to stupid to figure this out and make loading time be exponentially long.

    They could even sell it if they worded it properly:

    "We have some good news. You no longer have to wait 20 minutes to board the plane. It will take around ~7 minutes! The downside is that 1st class will have to wait a little longer. All in all this means we can reach your destination about ~10 minutes sooner."

  72. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2

    I'd pay extra for that spot.

  73. Simple Geometry = More Slaves on the Ship by Irate+Engineer · · Score: 1

    Every time I see some of these crazy machinations to try to jam more and more people into less and less space, I can't help but think of this diagram:

    Description of a Slave Ship

    The economic motives are even similar, more bodies per craft = more profit.

    --

    Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!

    Vote for Bernie in 2016!

  74. yeah "space savings" by ILongForDarkness · · Score: 1

    It looks like from the picture that the extra compacity comes from having the seats taper Ie the seats next to you "overlap" what would normally be your leg room. This isn't using geometry to save space, well it is but in the weakest sense. It is assuming people will be okay having their legs together for an entire flight. They do realize guys have balls that need some space right?

  75. Window seats first surprisingly not optimal by superdana · · Score: 1

    Whatever downsides it has, if such a design is adopted, I hope it leads to a stronger adoption of a convention that those with window seats board first.

    Someone did studies on this and found that window seats first isn't significantly better than the current system. The most efficient method they found was to board odd rows first, then evens (or vice versa), the theory being that it gave people enough elbow room to get their luggage into the overheads without interfering with each other.

    1. Re:Window seats first surprisingly not optimal by Gryle · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately no one does this. Or at least not the two airlines I've flown recently. They board the first-class passengers first, then all their special clubs (Gold Members, Sapphire Members, etc), then they board by groups. I can't really identify what makes you a Group 1 vs a Group 4 member, but I don't think it's based on seat assignment. On the last four flights I was on, I spent five minutes standing in the aisle, trying to get to my seat at the back of the plane but blocked by a dozen people in various rows trying to put their luggage in the overhead bins. From the time the airline started boarding to the time they shut the cabin door was anywhere between 30-40 minutes each flight. Getting off the plane, by contrast, took about 15 minutes.

      --
      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not entirely sure about the universe - Einstein
  76. Time to reconsider flying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe next time I head to the US I'll go by boat.

  77. interlacing by BlindRobin · · Score: 1

    This is simple interlacing and is exactly how one optimises the number of sardines in a tin. People will not like being treated as cargo, no matter that they are. Besides it's harder to ignore the obnoxious person facing you that the one sitting next to you.

    1. Re:interlacing by RuffMasterD · · Score: 1

      The next patent will fix that by interlacing vertically instead of horizontally. One up, one down, one up... all facing the same direction to minimise social discomfort.

      --
      Human Rights, Article 12: Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
  78. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by mysidia · · Score: 1

    You've touched on a big advantage of back-to-back seating: it will be impossible to recline

    Big advantage? Hell no.... reclining is the only comfort/relief you get from being crammed into these tight quarters. Always recline first thing, and stay reclined every moment except during takeoff/landing.

    And don't spend your dollars to fly on any plane that doesn't have reclining seats.

  79. also More people = more FA's by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FARS, 14 CFR)

    FARs > Part 121 > Section 391 - Flight attendants

    (a) Each certificate holder shall provide at least the following flight attendants on each passenger- carrying airplane used:
    (1) For airplanes having a maximum payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds and having a seating capacity of more than 9 but less than 51 passengers -- one flight attendant.
    (2) For airplanes having a maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less and having a seating capacity of more than 19 but less than 51 passengers -- one flight attendant.
    (3) For airplanes having a seating capacity of more than 50 but less than 101 passengers -- two flight attendants.
    (4) For airplanes having a seating capacity of more than 100 passengers -- two flight attendants plus one additional flight attendant for each unit (or part of a unit) of 50 passenger seats above a seating capacity of 100 passengers.
    (b) If, in conducting the emergency evacuation demonstration required under 121.291 (a) or (b), the certificate holder used more flight attendants than is required under paragraph (a) of this section for the maximum seating capacity of the airplane used in the demonstration, he may not, thereafter, take off that airplane --
    (1) In its maximum seating capacity configuration with fewer flight attendants than the number used during the emergency evacuation demonstration; or
    (2) In any reduced seating capacity configuration with fewer flight attendants than the number required by paragraph (a) of this section for that seating capacity plus the number of flight attendants used during the emergency evacuation demonstration that were in excess of those required under paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) The number of flight attendants approved under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section are set forth in the certificate holder's operations specifications.
    (d) During takeoff and landing, flight attendants required by this section shall be located as near as practicable to required floor level exists and shall be uniformly distributed throughout the airplane in order to provide the most effective egress of passengers in event of an emergency evacuation. During taxi, flight attendants required by this section must remain at their duty stations with safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened except to perform duties related to the safety of the airplane and its occupants.
    [Doc. No. 2033, 30 FR 3206, Mar. 9, 1965, as amended by Amdt. 121-30, 32 FR 13268, Sept. 20, 1967; Amdt. 121- 46, 34 FR 5545, Mar. 22, 1969; Amdt. 121-84, 37 FR 3975, Feb. 24, 1972; Amdt. 121-88, 37 FR 5606, Mar. 17, 1972; Amdt. 121-159, 45 FR 41593, June 19, 1980; Amdt. 121-176, 46 FR 61454, Dec. 17, 1981; Amdt. 121-180, 47 FR 56463, Dec. 16, 1982; Amdt. 121-251, 60 FR 65933, Dec. 20, 1995]

  80. How do you get in and out of them? by ghjm · · Score: 1

    Imagine someone who walks with a cane trying to get out of the window seat in an emergency. Or even get in and out of it at all. Or what happens when the window seat person has to go to the bathroom?

    I think this might be a good seating plan for getting more troops into less space in a military transport aircraft. But for civilian airliners? I just can't imagine that it would work.

  81. Re: If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffi by CrankyFool · · Score: 2

    Don't make me laugh.

  82. make 1st cheeked bag free and boarding time will g by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    make 1st cheeked bag free and boarding time will go down.

  83. No arm rests. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apparently this sardine packaging idea only works without arm rests. At least that is what the picture shows.

  84. Shoulder width by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if they could solve for the privacy and don't-want-to-stare-at-your-face issues, this is actually a great idea.. Shoulder widths are the limiting factor in current airplane seat designs and by staggering shoulder positions, instead of lining them up like in current configurations, this design could make sense.

    You could pack more people in while giving each person *more* individual space.
    Many business class seat configurations already take this into account.

  85. stand up and take it like a ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The seats are part of the problem, not the solution. I say ditch the seats and make everyone stand, like on the subway/tube.

  86. That's 80 more lives lost when the plane goes down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Our endless drive to efficient packing of sardines in a can may just increased risks and impacts.

  87. Here's a "solution" by dbIII · · Score: 1

    Here's a "solution" - not a very good one I have to admit :)
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...

  88. idiots by l3v1 · · Score: 1

    "Whatever downsides it has, if such a design is adopted, ..."

    Well, if such a design is adopted, all long haul flights would fly with empty economy sections if all people would be normal, which they are not. There are always enough people to accept everything like sheep, and the flights would go on.

    But, I have a better idea. Make everyone take sleeping pills before boarding, then put handcuffs on them and hang them up on meathooks. Bet you could fit 3-4x people.

    As things are going these days, demand for cruise ship tickets might just see a steady increase.

    --
    I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I can think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
  89. Will not be adopted by American airlines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Many Americans require two seats, and judging from the pictures, that configuration of seats simply cannot accommodate that, meaning that a large amount of fliers in the U.S can not travel on those planes. It may lower the airlines' income, it may even out given the greater total of seats, it may cause lawsuits on discrimination, and more. I think this will work well in the world, for airlines like Ryan Air that pack people in like sardines, but it simply cannot work over in the U.S.

  90. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And if the person behind you is on the last row (i.e. the one that usually doesn't allow for reclining), fuck them, right? And if the person behind you wants to be able to eat or use their tray for something at all, fuck them, right?

    I'd gladly pay MORE to fly on a plane that DOESN'T have reclining seats. If nothing else, just for the advantage of not having to travel with self-centered people that don't understand that everyone else around them is in the same situation and that it would be good for everyone if there is some minimal level of mutual respect of people's spaces.

    Let me guess, you're also one of those type of people that, when feeling space-constrained, have the need to kick (or push with your knees) the front person's seat.

    Because fuck everyone else, right?

  91. who wants to be forced to face people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    who are just an arm's length away? Touch knees with them? No privacy at all? No chance to recline your seat? Seems psychologically unwise unless all facing seats are for couples.

  92. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

    You get what you pay for. I do the Japan-UK route regularly and will pay a little bit more (about â50 on average) to fly with JAL or ANA instead of British Airways or one of the other European carriers. For that I get to fly a more direct route and take hours off the journey, and get a wider seat with 10cm extra leg room.

    A lot of business class users fly on those two airlines because they seats that allow their staff to work and arrive reasonably healthy without paying for business class seats. Of course, Japanese companies actually care about the welfare of their staff, not just saving â50 on a flight...

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  93. Re:No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plane by Cederic · · Score: 1

    I have a new resolution for this challenge. I lean forward, put my arms on the top of the chair in front and go to sleep with my head on my arms.

    I mean, it's in my space, clearly it's there for my use..

  94. It's already been done... by Retron · · Score: 1

    ...by British Airways (BA).

    BA's business class uses (heavily patented) ying-yang seating in order to cram in extra passengers - it has 8 abreast in its 777s, for example (2-4-2), whereas most competitors have 6 abreast (2-2-2) or even 4 abreast (1-2-1). As a result BA is doing very well for itself in terms of profits!

  95. The design..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    .... Is about the exact same that is used to more effectively transport as many slaves as possible in a trade ship. Since we are already slaves of the industry.... it is kinda fitting!

  96. Stupid idea by YoungManKlaus · · Score: 1

    rather finally give us planes that have arrays of sleeping compartments like in fifth element! One stash to the left, one to the right of the isle, job done.

  97. Re: No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You'll be paying a lot more for that ticket, because no one else will want to fly with you.

  98. Re: No, it *IS* about getting more seats in a plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You think the chair in front of you is in your space... how cute. Let me know how well you sleep when I raise my seat back and quickly recline it again into your head.

    Your space is behind you, recline into it.

  99. Re: If you sedate everyone and put them in a coffi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Was thinking the same. So who owns the patent for that?

  100. Obesity by hucker75 · · Score: 1

    You'd fit more people in if you banned anyone who's fat from travelling.

    1. Re:Obesity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That would reduce the income generated from U.S. continental flights, most likely to a level where it would simply not be sustainable.

    2. Re:Obesity by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      And Bodybuilders...

    3. Re:Obesity by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Those are less common.

  101. rear-facing safer by Herve5 · · Score: 1

    No, really. I have been for years in the aircraft business, and it is perfectly clear that in case of crash, rear-facing is much much better.
    None of the study considered the present swap patent though, and for a global swap generally the conclusion would be, 'rear-facing passengers won't appreciate during takeoff and landing, so let another company propose this first'.
    That's probably what'll happen here too, in spite of the better compaction. But maybe they'll prepare a low-grade compact class at the back of the plane.
    Which is, btw, the place of choice to survive a crash -another clear output of all real-size crash-tests done these last 10 years (yes there have been a couple of them)

    --
    Herve S.
  102. Where will the bags go? by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

    Airplanes already don't have enough room in the overhead bins for bags; passengers sometimes end up having to check bags they intended to carry on because no room is left. Cramming in more passengers will make the problem worse. This seating arrangement is also likely to have little room under the seats for bags.

    1. Re:Where will the bags go? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Why do you need a bag in the cabin? Anything more than a tablet, headphones or paperback is a waste of space. I'd be happy if they banned cabin bags, it would make loading and unloading a lot faster, and wouldn't have to put up with dicks fidgeting around with pointless shit while you're trying to relax.

    2. Re:Where will the bags go? by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

      Why do you need bags in the cabin? Because there is a significant probability that the airline will lose your checked bag, leaving you in a strange place with nothing. Or destroy your checked bag. Or steal things from it.

      Banning cabin bags might make loading and unloading the plane faster, but it would make the total travel time slower because of the wait for your bag after arrival. Frequent travelers would likely be more in favor of adding more space for carry-ons and eliminating checked bags.

    3. Re:Where will the bags go? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Why do you need bags in the cabin? Because there is a significant probability that the airline will lose your checked bag, leaving you in a strange place with nothing. Or destroy your checked bag. Or steal things from it.

      I've been in that situation and nothing in my carry-on helped. Everything required to deal with the situation was in my pockets.

      Banning cabin bags might make loading and unloading the plane faster, but it would make the total travel time slower because of the wait for your bag after arrival. Frequent travelers would likely be more in favor of adding more space for carry-ons and eliminating checked bags.

      I'd argue that total travel time would be about the same. The extra minutes added waiting to collect your bag would be saved in the minutes that you don't have to wait in screening queues at departure (these would still exist, but be much faster). So you get to the airport a few minutes later, and leave a few minutes later. Same duration, but less hassles dealing with retards and their carry-on bags.

    4. Re:Where will the bags go? by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

      Your changes of clothing for the next three days were in your pockets?? Or are you rich enough that you can just go out and buy more at your destination? Yes, I've had it take that long for an airline to find a bag.

    5. Re:Where will the bags go? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      That's what travel insurance is for. If the airline loses my bag I am allowed to go purchase emergency supplies including clothes, soap, toothbrush etc. The last time it actually happened on xmas eve, and where I was staying everything shutdown for 3 days. So even though I was entitled to buy replacement stuff, I couldn't because nothing was open.
      I've flown hundreds of times, and had bags lost twice. This is not enough for me to carry a wardrobe everywhere I go in carry-on just in case.

  103. Arm Rests? by Toad-san · · Score: 1

    "this means not sharing arm rests with people."

    Because NO ONE will have arm rests. There ain't no steenking arm rests for anyone! How .. interesting.

    And stepping across one or two seats to reach the outward seats will be unpleasant, especially if you're a woman with a tight skirt.

    Nope, this idea really really sucks.

  104. Re:Just fix the fucking boarding order ... in reve by mjwx · · Score: 1

    Even a 1st year comp. sci. persons knows that it is fastest to load the plane with LIFO.

    The problem is a first year comp sci person doesn't get that people aren't rational and reasonable.

    Last In, First Out (yes it helps to explain acronyms) requires all passengers to co-operate and understand what's going on as well as not trying to abuse the system for their own game. The problem is people in large groups can meet none of these criteria, which is why we end up with the current barely controlled cat herding that are current boarding procedures.

    People aren't reasonable or even good at following instructions and this is for ordinary, polite individuals. Beyond them you've got the arseholes who think the world owes them and would happily push in and abuse the boarding system with no regard for others.

    LIFO's big problem is that it only takes one person to break the entire system. One person to board out of sequence, one person to hold up the line talking on the phone, one person to waste time storing their stupidly oversized carry on.

    Airline planners and operations managers are a hell of a lot smarter than your first year comp sci student. They've thought of this and found that it was unworkable, it would make boarding worse than it currently is because no-one would understand it and even if they did they would ignore it.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  105. Tetris by Kentokae · · Score: 1

    So I take it that the a manger was playing tetris as was like, you know what? If we arrange the seats in 4 squares we can maximize the space and eliminate crowd id we form unbroken rows!

    --
    Mutated by Scientists.
  106. Still inefficient. by crispin_bollocks · · Score: 1

    Why does it posit keeping people semi-vertical? I'm sure we could be better-packed as logs. And stripping to put on bunnysuits, rather than a 3-D scan.

  107. Re:Just fix the fucking boarding order ... in reve by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

    Even a 1st year comp. sci. persons knows that it is fastest to load the plane with LIFO.

    So it encourages everyone to turn up late?

    I estimate you could cut loading time down by 50% .. 75%, but no, the airlines are to stupid to figure this out

    Either that or they know things you don't

    All in all this means we can reach your destination about ~10 minutes sooner."

    You don't get anywhere sooner because your departure time, travel time, arrival time, customs processing, and bag pickup are still all constant. All you've done is introduce complexity that will fail as soon as the first person shows up late.

  108. Patent? by Kirth · · Score: 1

    I really don't see how they could patent something this obvious. In fact, I read the headline, and exactly that came to my mind.

    I didn't quite realise this was a very bad idea until I read the comments ;).

    --
    "The more prohibitions there are, The poorer the people will be" -- Lao Tse
  109. this one isn't back-to-back, you can recline by bingoUV · · Score: 1

    Yes, but the one being discussed here is not really back-to-back. The *middle* seat faces backwards, windows and aisle seat face towards the front.

    So everyone looks at the top of the head of the ahole who reclined into your lap, and also exchange sympathetic looks with other people in similar predicament.

    --
    Bingo Dictionary - Pragmatist, n. A myopic idealist.