And you think Southwest is bad

[mgilmer]

Just as an aside...

I don't think Southwest is bad. I think they are great. Seats as spacious comfortable - if not more so - than legacy airlines. And the best customer service in the industry.

Oh, I agree, its just that I see a lot of complaints about SWA concerning their lack of reserved seating, etc.

 

[maxiesmom]

All I can think of is the screams of "Mommy he is kicking me!" coming from children who are seated across from each other.

 

[NotUrsula]

What I find interesting is that they're for "short" flights, 30-60 mintues. Where do you see those?

The story is from the UK. Quite a few intra-country flights, flights to Ireland, and flights between European cities are that short. I fly Ryanair quite frequently, and I don't think I've ever been on one of their planes for more than 90 minutes.

Planes are cheaper than trains in Europe now if you book ahead. Ryanair frequently has sales where they sell tickets for around $2 --they make up the cost in duty-free sales. (Also, in some parts of Europe airlines must pay landing taxes on every seat, regardless of whether or not it is occupied.)

 

[onelilspark]

Sorry if I came across as offended to anyone! I find this topic kind of fascinating, so I'm more speaking what's on my mind and typing it out as I were having a conversation with someone, sorry!

I guess when you fly from large airport to large airport, the planes are still big planes. The puddle jumpers are just used when flying into and out of the smaller airports (like here in Rochester, which is why I'm familiar with them!) I wonder if that's where these planes would be useful in the US...

And that's a good point NotUrsula. I was thinking in terms of the US, not over in Eruope. But I can see how the flights there would be much shorter than here.

 

[bumbershoot]

Complaints about not assigning seats are from people who have never been randomly assigned NEW seats by an airline that lets you choose your seats. That was FAR more frustrating to me, and happened often (after I thought long and hard about where I wanted to sit) with the seat-choosing airlines...SW is lovely. You never *lose* your seat!





So anyway, this is an article from the UK, and the guy making these designs isn't part of an airline at all, he's part of the company Design Q. Their company is a "premium design consultancy creating unique solutions for the luxury transport sector". Oh gracious, it's never good when a luxury design place tries to make something lowbrow...our last rental house was a townhouse built by a luxury builder...the expensive homes across from us were fine, but when we moved out, the owners of the townhouses were getting ready to sue the builder, as after one year the foundations were cracked.

This article sounds like a fluff piece meant to drum up business for the company...

Taht said, it looks like the Nemo Submarines at DLR! For a short flight, as long as everyone was wearing pants (so no flashing) and shoes with socks (so no stinky feet), I wouldn't mind it. Hubby would hate it, though.


As for the standing, it was only something they looked into. But I do love what airline it's on....

"Ryanair recently claimed it was looking into having standing areas and bar stools located at the back of some of its flights so passengers could travel on flights of less than an hour and a half for free."

If they serve proper Guinness on those flights, I'm THERE! Barstool in the back? Free? Sign me up!