6 July 2009 – According to The Daily Mail (London), Ryanair is looking to squeeze more passengers on-board thier Boeing 737′s by changing the type of seat, well, stool, that you card park your bum on.
Ryanair has been a leader in the low cost carriers (lcc’s) in terms of being will to challenge how things are done. Ryanair is already schedule to get rid of manned luggage check-in counters, making the passenger do their own luggage check-in. Ryanair was one of the first carriers to introduce luggage check-in and now they are looking to change aircraft seating.
Now, if this idea of essentially a stool like seat is approved from the aviation authorities, aircraft passenger capacity could increase by about 30% according to the Daily Mail article. My guess is that there would be no tray table, no means to conduct any work during the course of the flight and probably no cup hold or means to store anything under the seat in front of you. To me, this is a stone throw away from how slaves were transported back in the 1700′s and guess what, we get to pay for the privilege.
With Ryanair’s model, you are paying to essentially be uncomfortable and crammed in to an airline. You get to pay for the privilege to have luggage on board. I am still waiting to see if Ryanair is going to start charing for use of the toilet in-flight. But if you want a discount fair and are willing to go with what Ryanair has to offer…. more power to you. As for me, I will pass.
Reference: Smith, Graham, “Ryanair to make passengers to STAND UP during flights,” The Daily Mail (London), 6 July 2009.
You’re making your points effectively though I still am not sure yet.