Would you sit in THIS airline seat?

[Hollywoodhaha]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flig...anding10_ST_N.htm?se=yahoorefer#uslPageReturn

Think your seat in coach is cramped? Take a look at the SkyRider.

The new airplane seat, to be unveiled next week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference in Long Beach, would give passengers an experience akin to riding horseback.

They'd sit at an angle with no more than 23 inches between their perch and the seat in front of them — a design that could appeal to low-cost airlines that have floated the idea of offering passengers standing-room tickets on short flights.

AIRLINE COMFORT: Spirit installs non-reclining seats

The SkyRider isn't headed for an airplane cabin just yet. But its designer, Aviointeriors, an aircraft seat design firm based in Latina, Italy, says several airlines, including some in the U.S., have expressed interest.

"We feel extremely confident that this concept will ... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes," says Dominique Menoud, director general of Aviointeriors Group.

The SkyRider could be its own class of seating, like business or coach, Menoud says. Passengers would likely pay lower fares. But airlines could boost their profits because the narrowly spaced seats would allow them to squeeze more fliers on board.



"For flights anywhere from one to possibly even up to three hours ... this would be comfortable seating," he says. "The seat ... is like a saddle. Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle."

The novel design may draw interest — especially from two overseas carriers that have entertained the idea of providing no seats at all.

Ryanair, the Irish low-cost carrier that has set trends such as charging for in-flight meals, has said it would let passengers stand during flights if the Irish Aviation Authority would allow it.

And last year, Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier in China, tried to get the OK from regulators to redesign its planes to accommodate some standing passengers.

But Gaetano Perugini, Aviointeriors' director of research and development who created the SkyRider, emphasizes that the firm isn't proposing that passengers be on their feet.

"Even though the (distance between seats) is extremely narrow, we are talking about seats, not about ... having passengers simply standing on the floor," he says. "You are sitting on a special seat, but it is a seat."

The seats will offer storage space as well, including a shelf for carry-on bags, and hooks to hang a jacket or purse.



If a carrier commits to installing the new seats, Aviointeriors will apply to European aviation authorities and those in the United States for proper certification, Menoud says.

Les Dorr, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates air travel in the U.S., says he's not familiar with the SkyRider's particular design.

However, he says, "While it's not impossible, it's difficult to conceive of a standing seat that would be able to meet all applicable FAA requirements and still be cost-effective."

 

[paintnolish]

That looks horrible! It looks like something you get strapped into at Six Flags! I have long legs and get really uncomfortable on flights anyway...this would make it worse!

 

[momrek06]

I just flew back and forth to Boston (from San Diego) for vacation and absolutely NO on those seats. I saw Anderson Cooper talking about these seats on Friday's Regis&Kelly and thought after looking at THOSE seats, the UNITED seats were very comfy. DH&I did a red eye going to Boston, NO WAY could I have slept in those NEW seats at all.

MHO on the seats ... NO WAY.

 

[Fintastic]

It's like the airlines are trying to do the best they can to make sure we don't even WANT to fly anymore.

 

[sunnyday123]

Besides lookin extremely uncomfortable, they also look dangerous. And is that how close they will be? How can a regular sized adult fit in that row?

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

They haven't been approved yet..and are supposed to be for short flights.
I could barely handle a regular seat on a 1 hour flight!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

That reminds me of those exercises they made us do in P.E. in grade school where you had to sit against the wall with no chair. That looks horribly uncomfortable.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think it needs to be taller. They say it's like a cowboy's saddle, but in a saddle your legs are hanging down, not bent in front of you.

I'm comfortable on a bar stool with somehing 23 inches in front of me, so I think it would be possible to make a seat that's ok with that little room -- that, however, is not it!

But, if it got me to see Mickey more often . . .

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I agree, if it were taller..
It seems like your butt is sitting but your standing.

I would not want to stand on a plane.

 

[Starbrite]

I have long legs and get really uncomfortable on flights anyway...this would make it worse!

I am very tall too, and I actually thought those seats looked pretty high. High enough that my knees might not be in my chest the whole time

While it certainly doesn't look comfy - If the price were right, I'd be fine on a short flight maybe 1 1/2 hrs. But it would have to be a GREAT deal!

 

[Magpie]

I'm not sure those seats would accommodate all body dimensions... particularly North American ones.

 

[suzimar57]

this has to be the dumbest airline seating idea i've ever seen...

 

[momrek06]

That reminds me of those exercises they made us do in P.E. in grade school where you had to sit against the wall with no chair.

Lol, it DOES!

 

[Cinderella94]

I thought this was a joke at first. No way can I see ANYONE buying these tickets!

 

[eliza61]

Really? Sorry, I'm pretty much of the opinion that we Yanks have a serious walmart mentality. As long as we get it cheap or free it can be absolute junk. If Southwest Airlines announced tomorrow that all fights to Orlando were 29.99 but you have to sit in these seats, I'd buy southwest stock because I'm willing to bet that the plane would be full.

Personally the quality of food now being served at the world is proof to me that we will tolerate any thing as long as it's free or cheap.

And I include myself in that catagory. I'm going to Paris this spring, my flight was over $800 bucks, would I pick those seats if my flight dropped down to $199 hummmmm

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Would I sit in this airline seat?
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NO!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I'm claustrophobic and just looking at the 2nd row of seats really, really bothers me. You'd have more room in a coffin!

 

[Tazicket]

Absofreakinglutely not.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I would if the ticket was no more than $25. It would have to be a HUGE savings for me to be crammed in like that. My DH wouldn't even fit!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I couldn't even GET INTO THE 2ND ROW.

I would buy 3 seats next to each other, put up the arm rests and lay sideways.