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from the Airbus-Wants-Your-Flight-to-Suck-Even-More dept.
Airbus has been working on making the economics of the A380 even better for airlines who buy it: pack 11 seats into a row:
Airbus has found a way to make flying economy even worse. That’s quite a feat, given how crummy the experience is these days. The trick, it turns out, is eliminating one the few remaining saving graces of air travel: better than even odds you won’t be squeezed into a middle seat. Generally, you’ve got a two in three chance of landing an aisle or a window.
But now, airlines flying the Airbus A380, the largest commercial jet on the planet, can reduce those odds. The European plane maker announced this week that it will offer a 3-5-3 cabin configuration, creating rows with 11 seats.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the future of civilized air travel lies with airships.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by CRCulver on Saturday April 18 2015, @04:51PM
While slower means of travel may indeed not appeal to travelers in the United States, I'm impressed by how popular alternatives to flying are in other parts of the world even as air travel has become commonplace. Europe has seen the development of new longhaul bus networks that have adopted some of the nice aspects of flying (1st class-like spacious and plush seats, stewardesses bringing food and drink). Some Asian and South American countries have sleeper buses. South Africa has its Shosholoza Meyl trains running from Cape Town to Johannesburg, taking a whole day when a flight would take just a couple of hours. The Trans-Siberian still draws people, whether tourists or locals, who don't mind taking 5 days to get from Moscow to Beijing. People (from many walks of life, it seems) continue to choose these alternatives even when a budget airline flight might be just as cheap – or even cheaper.
Now whether that continuing interest in slower forms of travel is enough to introduce a new method of travel like airships, is of course another story.
(Score: 2) by Ryuugami on Sunday April 19 2015, @05:44AM
Some Asian and South American countries have sleeper buses.
And let me tell you, they can be awesome if you know what to look for.
First of all, I really, really dislike airplanes, buses and all other kinds of transportation where I have to squeeze in and can't stretch my legs. Considering the trains here in Japan, I'm lucky I don't need to commute :)
I used a "sleeper" bus a few times before, and it was even worse than a plane, the only saving grace being that you could stretch your legs every few hours. But the last time I found something called "yuttari seats" (um... comfortable/spacious seats?), and it was glorious. First, you get two seats for yourself... and second, the distance between rows is doubled! I don't remember if there was any price premium, so even if there was, it wasn't much. But 10 hours in a bus without banging your knees in the seat in front of you, and no problems with lowering your seat back? Priceless, lemme tell you.
If a shit storm's on the horizon, it's good to know far enough ahead you can at least bring along an umbrella. - D.Weber