Oh,No,...Budget airlines again..
By ShepherdSpy
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
Omagh, Northern Ireland
July 8, 2009 5:35am CST
This time they're considering doing away with conventional seats so that you're effectively standing during the flight?! How exactly is that going to work? Me,I'm picturing something like Hannibal Lecter being wheeled in on one of those trolleys strapped in..
(Face Mask Optional!)
Assuming everyone's not going to say "The hell with this!",Rebel, and fly with conventional airlines instead,they're thinking this will mean 50% more passengers on a plane.So,as the beancounters have our baggage allowances squeezed to the point it's not easy to bring anything back with you from your trip without paying large,and people try to make do with everything in a cabin bag,so what do we do with 50% more baggage inside the cabin when already there's seldom room in an overhead locker if you're not in the first 60-70% aboard? Further cuts to the limit? If you're going to be in one of these Hannibal carriers,they're going to have to meet safety specs..will they be heavier or lighter than a conventional seat? if lighter,will that be enough to offset 50% more passenger weight? how about the balance of the aircraft,if everybody's upright as opposed to sitting? I don't think airlines like the idea of people all on their feet at the one time in midflight..How crowded or overloaded does a plane have to be before it's performance is compromised? Just wondering...
thanks for thoughts or comments!
(Face Mask Optional!)
Assuming everyone's not going to say "The hell with this!",Rebel, and fly with conventional airlines instead,they're thinking this will mean 50% more passengers on a plane.So,as the beancounters have our baggage allowances squeezed to the point it's not easy to bring anything back with you from your trip without paying large,and people try to make do with everything in a cabin bag,so what do we do with 50% more baggage inside the cabin when already there's seldom room in an overhead locker if you're not in the first 60-70% aboard? Further cuts to the limit? If you're going to be in one of these Hannibal carriers,they're going to have to meet safety specs..will they be heavier or lighter than a conventional seat? if lighter,will that be enough to offset 50% more passenger weight? how about the balance of the aircraft,if everybody's upright as opposed to sitting? I don't think airlines like the idea of people all on their feet at the one time in midflight..How crowded or overloaded does a plane have to be before it's performance is compromised? Just wondering...
thanks for thoughts or comments!3 responses
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
8 Jul 09
I read about it too. If really as they suggest, say, providing a pub, where people stand and drink, it might be accepted by some, but only for short distance flights. The safety issue must be fixed before execution. I guess this might be only creative ideas put forward to deal with the tough financial crisis. There might be little chance of bringing it into practice.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
8 Jul 09
I don't think air safety regs would ever allow for 2-300 free standing passengers straphanging like they're on a bus or metrorail train...midair turbulence will still be an issue,and the number of deaths and injuries possible in that situation with the resulting lawsuits from even one aircraft would sink an airline! I was joking about the "Hannibal carrier" arrangement,but I did read a report a while back that a vertical passenger support "rest" was being considered for certain short haul commuter aircraft..
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
28 Jul 09
hopefully such things won't be happening in the near future...
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
30 Aug 09
Thankfully,This photo isn't from a budget airline flight-There's an amphibious aircraft based at my local airport,and they were offering pleasure flights from a WW2 seaplane base close to where I live..I always wanted to say I've flown in a seaplane,and from a former base too was cool...So this is the area where I live from the air!
@flydanman (111)
•
11 Jul 09
It won't ever happen, it's just Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, doing what he does best: saying something outrageous for publicity. Over 6 million passengers travelled with Ryanair last month and O'Leary believes any publicity is good publicity. It seems to be working. Personally I find them to be an unprofessional outfit but because they're so cheap people will simply book with them, even if it means you have to spend more on the taxi ride from the airport to where you want to get to than the flight cost you.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
12 Jul 09
Fair comment-I sometimes wonder does O'Leary have to use a Publicity Agency,or does he manage to come up with all these attention grabbing tactics on his own? The genius scheme that I saw they came up with was a prize being offered on the company website for members of the public to come up with winning suggestions for their next surcharges! Toilet rolls in the on board facilities with his face on them was one I saw mentioned..!
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
10 Jul 09
Not every passenger is young, healthy and strong plus willing to stand or perch on a stall. I know there are often elderly people, pregnant ladies, children and infirm people on board. I like to look forward to a journey not dread it. The weight of the passengers might lead to disaster.
On my first flight to Italy on a budget airline I remember the shock of seeing how closely together the seats were. I was especially concerned about the emergency exit and its narrow space. In an emergency if people are crowded together standing it would be more dangerous than if one happens on a normal airline with people sitting down.
When I paid for my flight to Latvia I noticed I was allowed 15 kg of baggage and I would have to put all my stuff with my toddler's stuff in one backpack. I had his pushchair carried free. However I had to pay extra for the budget airline to carry his light weight travel cot.
I am an experienced traveler. From now on I will avoid budget airlines and travel on ordinary airlines. Sadly two airlines have crashed this year. I wish all planes could fly safely.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
10 Jul 09
Agreed on the unsuitability of these flights for some..there were issues and complaints before about people with limited mobility or disabilities being told only so many could be carried on one flight,andI recall one seriously ticked off Mother on a radio phone in saying she was made to pay for access to a wheelchair for her Son when She had carried him on board and wanted to do the same getting off-they wouldn't let Her! Looks like such airlines are aiming only for able bodied commuter flyers with no luggage,and not holidaymakers,those with small children,or those with mobility issues..
