New Airline Class: Cattle Class. Standing room only!!!

[HOZ]

From The Times. Unfortunately there is no picture to go with the online version.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...151682,00.html

“CATTLE-CLASS” travel has been given new meaning by a pioneering concept circulating in the airline industry: flights on which some passengers remain standing.

The notion of a standing-room section is a logical conclusion to the cut-throat quest by airlines to milk revenue in the face of soaring costs, industry experts say.
NI_MPU('middle');After cramming as many economy-class seats into aircraft as the human body and the airframe can take, designers are looking at ways of strapping passengers on to boards with small, ledge-like seats. There are no regulations barring vertical passengers, provided that they are strapped in during take-off and landing. Installing more low-fare passengers in the rear of the aircraft would free space up front for the high-profit, premium seats that can come as fold-out beds, with built-in massage, internet outlets and other amenities.

[icarus]

Not that new, at least for some parts of the world. I talked to a guy who flew some local airlines in Western Africa, and he said the passengers (and animals) sit atop the luggage in the hollowed-out fuselage. Apparently ascent and descent are tricky because everything slides all over the place.

[Oil Stain]

That'd be pretty awesome if its cheap enough. I'd gladly stand if I could get round trips to Mexico for 100-200 bucks.

[Claeren]

The other way to look at it is that regular seats could arguably be cheaper if the yeild on the plane is higher.

Pretty messed though really. I would prefer to have stacked up hammocks to hang in!


Claeren.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Sounds like the same concept of hot-racking on submarines. I'd be all for it. I'd rather spend three to four hours on my back than three to four hours in a cramped seat. Bring it on! Sounds like an improvement over the system presently in place.

[T I M]

"cattle-class" ? If we learnt anything from the movie "soul plane" is that the stand up class should be named "No-class"

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

Sounds like the same concept of hot-racking on submarines. I'd be all for it. I'd rather spend three to four hours on my back than three to four hours in a cramped seat. Bring it on! Sounds like an improvement over the system presently in place.

No doubt. Hell, I'd pay more to be able to lay in a hammock for the entire flight!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by T I M

"cattle-class" ? If we learnt anything from the movie "soul plane" is that the stand up class should be named "No-class"

You are assuming people on here would actually pay money to watch Soul Plane.

[rubecube]

You know this is good news if I ever want to take that gay South Africa vacation I see advertised on CP.

[FireInTheHole]

Originally Posted by rubecube

You know this is good news if I ever want to take that gay South Africa vacation I see advertised on CP.

You know that the ads are based on cookies pulled from your computer, right?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by FireInTheHole

You know that the ads are based on cookies pulled from your computer, right?

Really? What the hell does TELUS do with these things?

[T I M]

Originally Posted by rubecube

You are assuming people on here would actually pay money to watch Soul Plane.

The plane was on hydraulics, and snoop dogg was piloting it. Which makes it an instant classic. Not to mention the movie was co-starring Tom freakin' Arnold! I don't want to say that the oscar committee was racist in not selecting, or even nominating, them for movie of the year...but if the shoe fits

[cheung31]

NY Times link with pics

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/20...S_GRAPHIC.html

[STeeLy]

I'll take that standing room over sitting anyday (unless I'm rich enough to afford business/first class everytime I travel)

If standing room on a plane is a lot cheaper than sitting in those crappy economy seats... I'll definitely take it... its unlikely you're going to strapped in for a whole overseas 14 hour flight.

[Reaper]

I would do the "Standing Room" seating for flights as well. There'd be less chance of developing the deadly blood clots in your legs, I wouldn't have to be shoehorned into a tiny seat and it might make for some interesting situations with attractive passengers in your row. "oops, sorry about that...really cramped in here, eh?" There could be some difficulties with stowing carry on luggage as there wouldn't be a seat to put your bag underneath.

[4X4]

Why don't they just hang swings from the roof of the plane, then give you a pole to hold on to...? It'd make turbulence an interesting couple of minutes.