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Just in Case You Thought Flying Coach Was Already Like Being in a Cattle Car

posted by cmn32480 on Friday July 10 2015, @05:45PM   Printer-friendly
from the crisco-and-a-shoehorn-to-get-more-in dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

One of the few comforts we economy class fliers have left is our right to strap on noise-canceling headphones, stare at the back of the seat in front of us, and pretend we're on a beach, or at home, or in a modest-sized jail cell—anywhere, really.

Now that right is at risk. Zodiac Seats France, an industry supplier, has patented a new seating configuration that rips out the (horrid) middle seat in favor of one that faces the rear. With "Economy Class Cabin Hexagon," you get more neighbors than ever before—and they are right in your face.

The goal of the design is "to increase cabin density while also creating seat units that increase the space available at the shoulder and arm area." To be fair, it seems to do that—because you're no longer facing the same direction as your immediate neighbor, you have more shoulder room. And if you're traveling with your kid or spouse, being face-to-face can be nice (we guess).

Why not move to standing-room only, with roller-coaster style restraints?

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  • (Score: 2) by AndyTheAbsurd on Saturday July 11 2015, @01:44PM

    by AndyTheAbsurd (3958) on Saturday July 11 2015, @01:44PM (#207873) Journal

    I know about trains. I'd love to take trains, and have in the past when I wasn't going too far. But I'm in the US, where we've only got Amtrak for intercity passenger service...and it covers disappointingly little of the country (especially away from the East Coast), is disappointingly pricy, takes a surprisingly and disappointingly long time, and has absolutely dismal on time performance on many routes. Which adds up to "well I avoid the TSA bullshit and get a wider seat but the trip is just as expensive and literally takes at least five times as long (if things are on schedule, which they usually aren't) so it's probably worth being uncomfortable for a few hours on a plane."

    (And Amtrak's AutoTrain service only runs from Sanford, FL to Lorton, VA. They don't offer the service on any other routes, and they don't let you get your car off at any other stations besides the two end points.)

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  • (Score: 1) by toph on Saturday July 11 2015, @03:31PM

    by toph (5509) on Saturday July 11 2015, @03:31PM (#207897)

    Same here in Canada. I'd love to ride the train more, but the only option is Via and there is simply no motivation here to improve speed and/or cost.