budget airline wants standing room only flights

[Amby 490]

(July 1) -- The Irish budget airline Ryanair wants to introduce "standing-room only" areas on its flights, with passengers strapped into so-called vertical seats.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said the company hopes to bring in 10 rows of standing room on its flights and sell the "seats" for as little as 4 pounds ($6.07) apiece, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The vertical seats would have a belt that goes over the shoulder to secure the passenger, a Ryanair spokesman told the Daily Mail. The spokesman said Boeing is looking at manufacturing the seats.

The standing passengers would be accommodated on shorter flights first, such the Dublin to London route. Later, the company would introduce them on longer journeys as well.

However, Ryanair's proposal is far from winning official clearance, with both U.K. and European regulators sounding skeptical.

"This is unprecedented and unlikely to be certified in the near future," a spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency told The Guardian. The U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority also warned that rules require that every passenger have a seat.

Ryanair is also considering removing some of the toilets on its flights and charging for the use of the remaining ones.

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/irish-budget-airline-ryanair-proposes-standing-room-only-on-flights/19539116

[IndigoSkies 168]

Airlines just dont' like doing business. They want to stop the last person from flying out of sheer stress of flying.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

crazy #### airlines.

[^_^ 5,021]

On any flight that's short enough where I wouldn't mind standing the whole time, I'd probably just drive (or hop on the Northeast Regional if NY-DC).

Edited July 2, 2010 by Legacy member

[Amby 490]

[that_girl 9]

I dunno - we're not talking about flying LA to NYC in standing room flight. They're talking about flights that are less than an hour. I'm sure there are people who'd be happy to pay less than $10 for a Dublin-London flight. I flew Ryanair from Shannon, Ireland to Madrid a few years ago, and while I wouldn't have wanted to be on the plane much longer than I was, but as a poor college student, I was thrilled that the ticket was less than $40 USD.

[^_^ 5,021]

I dunno - we're not talking about flying LA to NYC in standing room flight. They're talking about flights that are less than an hour. I'm sure there are people who'd be happy to pay less than $10 for a Dublin-London flight. I flew Ryanair from Shannon, Ireland to Madrid a few years ago, and while I wouldn't have wanted to be on the plane much longer than I was, but as a poor college student, I was thrilled that the ticket was less than $40 USD.

Why not just drive? Or train? Is it worth it to spend an hour going through security and waiting at baggage claim for an hour in the air?

[Amby 490]

trains really aren't that cheap and I don't think there's anything train wise connecting Ireland to the rest of Europe

[^_^ 5,021]

no, theyre not cheap. but well worth it.

[Amby 490]

I agree they're worth it

[that_girl 9]

Why not just drive? Or train? Is it worth it to spend an hour going through security and waiting at baggage claim for an hour in the air?

It made sense for me as I was tight on time and money. I can see how really cheap (and uncomfortable) seats could benefit people like young backpackers, is all.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Stoopid.

[ScratchIt 12]

Why not just drive? Or train? Is it worth it to spend an hour going through security and waiting at baggage claim for an hour in the air?

Because the drive from Dublin to London is a very wet trip.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Given the spacing that many airlines use, it is not even a surprising development.

[ScottThuy 140]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/205020-chinese-airline-wants-to-sell-standing-tickets/

I remember when we talked about the Chinese airline doing it and Ryan talking about it...