Next for air travelers: Standing room only? (Airbus Proposal)

International Herald Tribune ^

[Wilhelm Tell]

Good grief if they want to be that cheap about it use some lessons from military cargo planes. Place netted seats on the plane.

Maybe they should go all out and have passengers wear parachutes, stand in line, and jump out the door when they are over the right city. Instead of landing at each stop, the airliner could just go down to 3,000 ft and fly slow, the passengers for that city could jump, they close the door, climb to cruising altitude and do it all over again over the next big city. You see, I have the imagination it takes to be an airline executive. Maybe I could become a "consultant" and sell this brilliant idea for $1million.

[operation clinton cleanup]

We can see where this is going!

[Better Dead Than Red]

This is why the future of air travel is speed not size. With the development of the supercruise and research into dampening the effects of sonic booms, an SST may finally become a practical reality.

[MarkL]

Greyhound should think about cashing in on this. Set up cabins like Amtrack does and schedule straight thru routes to major hubs.

UGH! I will never get on another bus! Back in college, Greyhound had a $99 round trip special, anywhere in the US. So I took a bus from KC to NYC. 56 hours! Never again! Not even for 10 minutes!

Mark

[cva66snipe]

Maybe they should go all out and have passengers wear parachutes, stand in line, and jump out the door when they are over the right city. Instead of landing at each stop, the airliner could just go down to 3,000 ft and fly slow, the passengers for that city could jump, they close the door, climb to cruising altitude and do it all over again over the next big city. You see, I have the imagination it takes to be an airline executive. Maybe I could become a "consultant" and sell this brilliant idea for $1million.

Nope that ideas been taken too. Oliver Wendell Douglas did that on Green Acres flying on Pixley Airlines LOL. Of course he was flying with livestock too.

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

Life is cheap in those miserable third-world countries. I gotta' believe some of those people didn't reach their final destination. When that happens, it is like, "...Oh, poor Freddie. He fell off the train as we approached the tunnel. Oh, well..."

Heck, if I lived there and had to get someplace, I would literally lash myself to the train in case I got drowsy. ;-)

~ Blue Jays ~

[CindyDawg]

That's a long way but say you were going 300-400 miles. By the time you get to the airport, check in an hour-two early and then get delayed, you can almost drive it. If you had a private space on a nice bus with a tv and a table and chair that made into a bed and a steward on board for whatever you needed wouldn't you try it. Same service as Amtrak without the dining room. They could even have VIP rooms for meals at stations for long trips. I would try it.

[Naptowne]

How can people stand when a plane takes off or lands?

[hypocritter]

How can people stand when a plane takes off or lands?

I don't know, but I hope the bathrooms aren't SRO!

[operation clinton cleanup]

I used to hang on the back of the ice cream truck just to get a ride around the block... nowadays I need a good reason for such foolishness! (and the drivers are not so friendly!)

[Timm]

How can people stand when a plane takes off or lands?

If a person can ride a roller coaster in a harnesses in a standing position, he can certainly ride a *commercial airliner* in a standing position, in any phase of flight.

Airlines like to make a bit of drama of takeoffs and landings to (1) frighten the passengers into unquestioning obedience to all rules, however silly, and (2) because of stewardess unions, who like to promote the notion that stewardesses are trained "safety professionals" just a small step below pilots. If the stewardess didn't have some urgent task before landing, like telling you to move your seatback forward 1.5 inches, it would be undeniable that she was a waitress.

As far as the desirability of standing places goes, I'd stand on a t<1 hour flight to save, say, $100, without question. On longer flights? Make me an offer.

[Kozak]

[libstripper]

All they need to do is look at old schematic drawings of slave ships showing how to do a "tight pack" and follow those drawings.

[libstripper]

Hillary knows all about flying brooms. This year her campaign in upstate NY should be easier than it was in 2000--all the air ports are now cleared for single seat broomstick landings.

[Aquinasfan]

Greyhound should think about cashing in on this. Set up cabins like Amtrack does and schedule straight thru routes to major hubs.

That's a good idea. But imagine how gross the bunks would be. < shudder>

[CinnamonBear]

Judging from the size of some passengers, I think we're all flying with livestock.

[RoadTest]

"If they really want to max out their space, just stack 'em floor to ceiling ..."

Like the slave ships

[MarkL]

How can people stand when a plane takes off or lands?

Velcro, and or duct tape!

Mark

[MarkL]

That's a long way but say you were going 300-400 miles. By the time you get to the airport, check in an hour-two early and then get delayed, you can almost drive it.

Actually, my cut-off point is about 300 miles. If it's going to take me some 3.5 hours or more to drive, I'll take a plane. And with the direction gas prices are going, with advanced purchase, it's soon going to be cheaper to fly.

Just yesterday, I needed to purchse an airline ticket from KC to NY, and somehow I managed to get a deal on Midway Airlines (my favorite) for only $238, round trip. And with only 3 days notice! With fees and taxes, it's just under $275. I figure that with my car getting around 36mpg on the highway, it would have cost me about $200 - $225 to drive, based on $3.00 a gallon gasoline!

Mark