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London - Discount Airlines Looking for New Incentives: 'Fly For Free If You Stand Up' |
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By offering "standing" seats.
Seriously.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told Sky News 
the low-cost airline was considering ripping out the back few rows of seats on some flights.
Passengers would be able to sit on bar stools, similar to the buffet carriage on trains, or stand up for flights lasting less than an hour and a half.
"We might take out the last five or six rows and say to passengers 'Do you want to stand up? If you do you can travel for free'," Mr O'Leary said.
The company has asked Boeing to look at the possibility of converting its planes or delivering a new fleet with "vertical seating".
Meanwhile An airline in China is mulling over plans that would allow passengers to stand during short flights and pay less than those who have seats.
Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier based in Shanghai, said having passengers stand up in flight would enable it to cram 40% more travelers into its Airbus A320 planes while cutting operating costs 20%.
The president of the airline, Wang Zhenghua, told a Chinese television station that the idea was getting some traction since it was also raised by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang.
"He suggested that, for a lower price, passengers should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus, with no seat, no luggage consignment, no food, no water, but very convenient," Wang said.
The idea isn't so farfetched. Airbus, the European aircraft maker, has been studying the safety issues of standing passengers for years.
Passengers would be strapped to a bar-stool-like stand during takeoff and landing, a Spring Airlines spokesman said.
"It's just like bar stools. The safety belt is the most important thing. It will still be fastened around the waist," airline spokesman Zhang Wuan said, adding that Airbus had told the carrier that the proposal was safe.
"Once the government approves it formally, we'll try it."
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Read Comments (33) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 06, 2009 at 02:00 PM rynair Says:
So would there be an option of a window staning or an isle stand?
2
Jul 06, 2009 at 01:54 PM flyer Says:
i'm booking on the right wing
3
Jul 06, 2009 at 01:53 PM Anonymous Says:
Why in the world should the sitting passenger have to sit right next to someone right on top of him/her in the aisle?! They should give the sitting passengers some discount as well for the inconvenience!
4
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:01 PM Bubby Says:
I'll take the floor. I'm sick of paying $600+ to have someone's knees in my back or Mr. Fatty spilling himself onto my seat. How bad can it be? But I need to take luggage...all the gifts for the European grandchildren!!!
5
Jul 06, 2009 at 02:53 PM ShatzMatz Says:
Why don't the airlines just call them "mincha seats" and charge extra for them. It will alos solve the problem of people blocking the aisles to daven mincha.
6
Jul 06, 2009 at 02:46 PM HolyMoe Says:
I have a better idea.
Let them turn all the seats around 90 degrees facing one side of the plane instead of the front.
Let them put up a sign "Mizrach" on that side and charge double for all the Mizrach-side seats.
7
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:14 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Why in the world should the sitting passenger have to sit right next to someone right on top of him/her in the aisle?! They should give the sitting passengers some discount as well for the inconvenience! ”
they're not standing on top of the sitting passengers or even in the aisle next to them, a fews rows in the back are being removed to give room to the standing passengers.
8
Jul 06, 2009 at 02:28 PM sitzer Says:
This stupidity keeps getting in the press. It was never a serious idea but it gets great headlines.
1, Weight limits also apply so airlines need to lower the freight or baggage they carry. The stool idea takes almost as much space as the space of a seat on ryanair. Ryanair even uses this cushions to squeeze more space and forget the widow shades.
2, The seat back lends a lot of support that you need.
9
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:35 PM mewhoze Says:
“ they're not standing on top of the sitting passengers or even in the aisle next to them, a fews rows in the back are being removed to give room to the standing passengers. ”
and all they need is one person to fall and get hurt and sue them ....then what?
all the extra money will be gone
10
Jul 06, 2009 at 02:22 PM mkarpas Says:
This should be a great boon for us Charedim. Besides all the money we save, the crew will no longer harras us for standing in the back of the plane to davem.
11
Jul 06, 2009 at 02:15 PM Anonymous Says:
will this be called the new "stand by" tix
12
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:39 PM mayer Says:
All I know the next cheaper fare will be "bring along your own wings.
13
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:16 PM Avrohom Abba Says:
Great, wonderful idea!!!
Why only for an hour or so?
People can stand in line to buy tickets to a concert for 20 hours.
Let me on your flights to Israel, Mr. O'Leary! Please! if you don't fly there, please start, and I will be glad to "stand" up for you!
14
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:16 PM Anonymous Says:
“ and all they need is one person to fall and get hurt and sue them ....then what?
all the extra money will be gone ”
they will have to sign a waiver for standing at your own risk
15
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:51 PM Anonymous Says:
i dont get how they're making money if its free to stand
16
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:38 PM Askupeh Says:
“ they will have to sign a waiver for standing at your own risk ”
They already have a sign "sit at your own risk".
17
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:07 PM Askupeh Says:
In the engine, like the guy in the picture, at least you can sit.
18
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:04 PM logic Says:
if we stand how will they harass us about seatbelts,, hmmmm
19
Jul 06, 2009 at 04:02 PM Anonymous Says:
“ they're not standing on top of the sitting passengers or even in the aisle next to them, a fews rows in the back are being removed to give room to the standing passengers. ”
Gotchyeh!
20
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:58 PM Anonymous Says:
They should get ready for all the law suits coming...People will start to complain of pulmonary embolisms due to standing room only.
21
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:57 PM yossi Says:
Does the USA government allow standing on a flight while flying?...
22
Jul 06, 2009 at 03:56 PM Gefilte Fish Says:
I can't figure out what will the airline gain from giving away "free" tickets to those who are standing?
P.S. I was always dreaming of having "stand up" on the plane...
23
Jul 06, 2009 at 05:10 PM Loshon Hora Says:
Well BA already has a sardine cabin, called economy coach, regular coach is coach plus, s I fly Continental.
Will standing be like Ny subway? No mandated showers B4? so you may smell the next peoples natural body perfume through the squashy noisy flight.
enjoy!!!!!!!
24
Jul 06, 2009 at 06:25 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I can't figure out what will the airline gain from giving away "free" tickets to those who are standing?
P.S. I was always dreaming of having "stand up" on the plane... ”
so they can charge you for luggage, snacks, drinks, the use of restrooms, and even maybe to rent a seatbelt with the headsets.
25
Jul 06, 2009 at 08:33 PM Anonymous Says:
If we stand do we still get the 7 peanuts in the little peanut packet or is that only for seated pssangers?
Will there be new instructions in case of an emergancy given to the standing people or only seated people?
Can someone clarify? I was told that in case of an emergancy all standing people will have to sit on someones lap.
26
Jul 06, 2009 at 08:28 PM Anonymous Says:
After reading all the comments I am so glad to pay for a seat and will never complain about the price of airline seats again.
I don't want to fly on the wing. I don't want to stand. I don't want a bathroom seat. Just a seat without a fatty seated next to me is just fine.
27
Jul 06, 2009 at 08:26 PM Anonymous Says:
And the first time there is turbulance you watch everyone flying around. And when food will be served will there be a waiter serving cocktails and mini franks? How will this work?
I am also wondering why not sell the bathroom seats? Some of you are saying that is a stupid idea because what if someone has to use the facilities?
The ceo of JetBlue has figured it all out and he said when someone knocks you just walk out until the person using your room is done and you press the air refreshner twice. Can't complain if your going for free.
28
Jul 06, 2009 at 09:22 PM Anonymous Says:
Then if an eldery will pay for standing what's the din?
29
Jul 06, 2009 at 11:27 PM smart people Says:
if u have 100 people in a flight let in 200.the first 100 gets to sit for 1/2hr then the other 100 gets a turn and so on avery body is happy but hey i copywrite the idea im waiting for my approval
30
Jul 07, 2009 at 07:40 AM clever Says:
I wish the bp williamsburg bus would also have a rule that u don't pay when u stand!!!!
31
Jul 07, 2009 at 09:41 AM Anonymous Says:
If u save up enough miles u can upgrade to the Squatting Position!
Also this is part of the new seating class called "no class"
32
Jul 07, 2009 at 11:20 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I wish the bp williamsburg bus would also have a rule that u don't pay when u stand!!!! ”
They say that the Williamsburg-Boro Park bus shakes so much that, mener in frohen tantzen tzizamen.
33
Jul 07, 2009 at 03:46 PM Anonymous Says:
here's an idea for airlines to save money, let passengers be the cabin crew...save money on stewardesses...