Air Standing: Straphang For Lower Fares? Print


Riders on crowded city buses and streetcars have been familiar with it for at least a century, but will standing during flights become a reality? Just when you think airlines have run out of ideas to make flying less comfortable, this discussion has come up again.

The premise is that on flights of less than two hours, by providing standing sections, they can sardine-can in up to another 25% more passengers, and it could reduce fares by as much as 35% for willing standees. As uncomfortable as it may seem, most proposed designs are not for being just unaided upright.

They allow passengers to lean against bulkhead pads while secured with shoulder straps. It leaves arms free for using smartphones, snacking and other activities. For more info, go to www.cnn.com/2014/07/10/travel/standing-cabin-plane-study/index.html?hpt=tr_c2