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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: 3, Interesting) by Common Joe on Sunday April 19 2015, @05:24AM
I did not realize that economy meant I was no longer a civilized person. In my definition, economy means no-frills but safe. I like no-frills. But it is not safe for me to travel transatlantic in economy to see my family. The seats are designed for the average 5'9" person. I am almost six foot so when the person in front of me leans back in their chair, they bump my knees -- for several hours. I have naturally broad shoulders so I have to hunch for 8-9 hours without moving around. Doctors recommend that you get up and move around during a long flight, but the cabin personnel usually tell you to sit back down. Every trip I've taken in the past 7 years, I've heard the stewards and stewardesses saying to clear the aisle because there are 3 or more people waiting to use the bathroom and they don't want a line forming.
So, you recommend business class. Is there really any more room? When I board an aircraft, I only see 1st class accommodations. I look at seats immediately behind 1st class and I see no difference on the transatlantic in leg room. Maybe I just need to try out a business class seat, but I can't exactly do that when boarding an aircraft and I'm not willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for an "upgrade" that may or may not give me extra leg room. My experience with airlines is that they are incompetent. I once had to get a three-way phone call going between me and two different departments at an airline so I could inquire about buying tickets for my cat. They didn't know which department was responsible to sell me a ticket for my cat. Never mind they do this all the time. (We were moving across the Atlantic at the time.) That was an eye opener as to the blatant stupidity and disregard for passengers they have.
I tell you something that would cost the airlines almost nothing that would get me to pay extra money: Post how much room there is between my hip and the back of the seat in front of me when it is in a reclined position and how much shoulder room I have. I'd spend extra money if I knew what I was getting. Now THAT makes sense. As a matter of fact: The airlines can put up [easily accessible and understandable information] or shut up [about their monetary problems].
(Score: 3, Funny) by Dunbal on Sunday April 19 2015, @03:42PM
I did not realize that economy meant I was no longer a civilized person.
Then maybe you should travel more. Everyone knows it's the cattle car. Everyone. Tell me do you go to McDonad's and bitch because they didn't ask you if you wanted your burger cooked well done or medium? That's what you buy with an economy ticket. McDonad's. It's bad for you. Everyone knows it's bad for you. It's disgusting. But yeah, it's cheaper than "Chez Pierre's" with his $150 steak. GUESS WHAT. The ambiance is different too. The quality of the staff is different. At Chez Pierres you will be expected to tip more than the cost of your entire meal at McDonad's. THERE IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO.
You want to bitch about economy and how you don't fit and people bump you with their seat fine, bitch away. You get what you pay for.