I actually think this is a great idea. For 80 minutes, I would do this.

doesn't southwest already do this?

I would definitely do this, especially if I saved on cost. The flight I typically take is only about 70 minutes or so, so I wouldn't mind the discomfort.

And I'm a relatively small person with short legs, so I guess it wouldn't be as uncomfortable for me as it would for some others.

I'd do this for the short trips

Seems like a great idea, they started doing that on the buses here more in Chicago. As long as it does not spike the prices, it's fine and not uncomfortable.

I guess I am on the minority on this but I think this is an awful idea. As if I want to be standing if the plan hits turbulence!
The facing seats are slightly more acceptable. They do have these on trains after all. You and your travel partner could face each other and possibly play cards or something.
Well if only I had the money, I'd fly 1st class only! LOL

I was speaking to the seats facing each other, not the idea of standing. I think everyone else was, too.

I thought the same thing, Zivanod--the facing seats would be like the train. Not a big deal, I guess.

I could tolerate the facing seats for short flights (2 hours max) as I already do this every day on the train, but anything longer than that and I'd be willing to pay more for traditional seats.

I wouldn't care; it's no different than being jammed next to some stranger in those three-across coach seats they have now. So you don't get a tray-table; big deal, I think people will live.

I'm skeptical that the airline companies would actually pass their savings on to the customer. They would simply have a lower operating cost that doesn't translate into savings for the consumer.

Could you imangine the complaining? People already lose their minds flying as it is.

I think this is an awesome idea for the airline industry. With all the other problems in the industry this might help it get a much needed boost.

i dont think they meant like trains or buses, the the seats are facing each other but with the window seats, ones back would be to it with someone acrossed from them . and if they dont have a small aisle for each row of seat , youd have to slide acrossed how many seats to get to yours . remember, the keyword was sitting sideways and facing each other

Facing each other is fine. However consider this, you are standing for what the author says 80 min flight. Ok, what happens if your flight is stuck by a snow storm and 80 min turns into hours and you are not allowed to deplane. Would you like to stand for at least 3 hours. Now that you have added 50% more peopel, are they going to compensate the qty of bathrooms? How about families with kids or babies,where do they go? Sounds good on paper and cost savings but there are other ramifications they have not addressed.

I thinks it's a horrible idea and everybody on this post is crazy or works for Design Q.

As long as they keep it short and not like it was when I was in the military flying to places like Germany, Somalia, etc. where you had your knees crushed against an M1 Abrams tank or something...lol

Okay, look, I cant even get my luggage in the overheads the way it is now due to people bringing on huge carryons and a second computer bag or large purse...so now we are going to add twice as many people and yet not add luggage area. You guys are idiots. I know...maybe this design company can come up with a hitch that goes on the back of the plane and then we can just tow a baggage trailer in the air!

If you actually think this will reduce the price of travel by 30%, you're insane. Reduced prices mean reduced revenue for the airlines which they would make up with having more people on the planes? That makes no sense what-so-ever. If that's the case, it only derives the same profit point as the seats are currently. In all likelihood, the airlines will do this whether you want them to or not and your ticket price won't change. Then, voila', the airlines make a few more cents.

With the situation airlines are in now (and have been for so long), they're not going to put the money into re-designing a plane so that they can ultimately make the same amount of money they are already.

I wish they had a picture of the floor plan instead of the nose of the plane so we could get a better idea of what this would look like.

nice

Aircraft have what is called Max Gross Takeoff Weight. More people, more weight. You can't stuff 10 pounds of *%&# in a five pound bag.

Can't really picture what this would actually look like. A diagram would be nice. Standing... I am too old to stand for 80 minutes!, but sitting across from someone could be fun. Much better for conversation. Don't need a tray.

If the plane fits 50% more people, why is the ticket price only going down 30%?

It sounds like a good idea but the problem with airline travel is that their seats are too small already. With this system, they'll just have 50% more small seats (maybe even smaller seats) and just shove 50% more people together.

I'm never flying again.

I do not like this idea. Do not be surprised if you see the initially lowered price creeping up sooner than the passengers would like. The difference? . . . turned into profit for the company's benefit not the passengers'.

Would they be able to afford the extra bag of pretzels?

How about the airlines offering incentives for passengers to fly separate from their luggage and have their luggage delivered via a courier such as UPS or FedEx or the post office? In other words, you get one (smaller) carry on - your luggage will arrive within 2 days to your destination - if you do this, then your cost is x% less. Then, convert that luggage space into a deeper cabin and add more seats; thereby adding more passengers and more revenue.

80mins flight -3 hours take off and landing.If you fall in sleep you will a crown in that roll .If you sit next to a smelly person your flight will be remember for the rest of your life.Do not think the air line won't rais the price after that.Would you like other 20-30 people see you eat- see you sleep ......?

So it would be a contest. Who could stare at the other without laughing

I would like to see a photo of this idea first before buying into this idea?

What if the person in front of u is UGLY?!?! And u have to stare at them your entire flight!! I'd rather stare at the back of a seat with a built in TV.

Hopefully someone has also done a study about how 30 percent more obese people will not crash the plane due to too much weight.

horrible idea as quoted before what if you hit turbulence and also things can get heated in there what if some thing starts to 2 people yelling at eachother and then getting in to a fist fight i would much rater have facing seats than standing seats

This idea would never pass safety standards. I design aircraft interiors and we put a lot of effort into making crashes survivable, sitting sideways in a 9g forward crash is not ideal! Plus you could not evacuate passengers quickly if you don't have a main aisle.

I would prefer hanging from the ceiling facing each other, then it would be more realistic, you know just like beef swingin'.

This wouldn't work for people that are so big that they have to purchase two seats to travel. To make this work you would have to get people to honestly give their weight to the airline so that they can actually make sure they make this safe. Plus I'm sure this would reduce the amount of weight your suite case can be as well. I don't think they thought this through.

This is a terrible idea and it baffles me that people are actually so eager to give up there seating space and semi privacy under the premise that the airline industries would actually pass the savings along to the customer. This is not going to be like a bus ride where there's a large large isle between you and the person on the other side, that seating arrangement wouldn't generate more seating, it would redue seating....my guess is that this would have people more or less knocking knees throughout the entire flight sacrificing leg room (which is restricted as is) to add more passangers. Exactly what is the plan when someone say 6'7" is sitting across from you while you have a few larger individuals sitting beside you? talk about a nightmare.....on a 60-90 minute flight you're talking about the difference of roughly $60 roundtrip, i think i'll pony up the cash and keep my seating as is (this doesn't even take into account the heat generated from so many more passengers, or as others have said the bathroom and luggage issues)

What if passenger bring their own food and drink and diaper would the air line reduce the price?what if airline charge the passenger from the weight that passenger carrie just to make it fare?you charge them extra but you do not give discount to less weight?I would take a s-h-it befor I hit the plane.!

This sound terrible ... there is already a shortage of space for carry-on baggage; how would they handle a 50% increase?

I fly commercial airlines 30 weeks out of the year, so that's over 120 flights (round trip, two legs on each flight). While this concept may sound like a great idea to somebody who rarely flies, it would not be as welcome to a frequent flier like me.

I use this time to catch naps since I'm often up at the crack of 3:15am to catch a 6am flight. I'm 6 feet tall with long legs and the current seating is fine when I can stretch my legs underneath the seat in front of me. Reducing the personal space I have now would make my business travel more of a frustrating experience.

As others pointed out, what may be scheduled as an 80 minute trip usually involves more like 100+ minutes of total time inside the plane. That can be much longer with weather and traffic delays. Those delays are a daily occurrence. Since most trips people take involve two flights, we're talking about standing up in plans or sitting in extremely cramped seats for 4 hours of the day.

Don't even get me started with the loud talkers, noisey babies and those who cough/sneeze without covering their mouths. I'd start wearing surgical masks if I had a row of seats facing me in addition to the earplugs I already wear.

For those who compare this to riding a bus or a train, keep in mind that a plane trip is much different. You have to stow your belongings and follow certain rules for taxi, take-off and landings. You don't have the same freedoms during air travel.

With whatever inconvenience is created , why is it automatically assumed that lower cost for passengers automatically means happy passengers?. Remember when they cut meals to pass on these great savings? Do you feel more happy now? Well, take that disappointment and multiply it when they start seating you like your on a train. For those of you who already ride a train, who cares that you don't mind? It's not a train! I realize that most folks use there company to get frequent flyer miles and rarely ever actually pay for a plane ticket themselves, so the sort of riff raff that is happy with riding on a city bus can keep it.

Seats facing forward is not entirely by chance or common sense. When a plane takes off and lands, there is a tremendous force being generated. Now imagine sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone. I don't particularly like idea of some smelly person falling over into my lap as we take off.

This would be a great option for family traveling with small children.

And they could always do part of the plane in the new configuration and part of the plane traditionally and sell seats according to the demand.

I would sit in seats facing each other just so the kids had a bit more room and weren't bothering other passengers (ie kicking and hanging on seats).

No no no no no... This sort of sitting arrangement is totally unacceptable in an aircraft.
Fights and assaults could become part of the inflight "entertainment".
No one has thot of emergency evacuations it seems.
Comfort??? None at all...

This idea would even hold more passengers. Have several layers of bed platforms and pack everyone in like sardine. It would be great.

I think it is a poor idea. Military does this as they are GI General Issue no more important than other cargo so know one cares, but maybe you do now. This is a safety issue this isn't right and should not be tolerated. Think about sitting on a tarmac for 6 hours in an airplane like this. I for one vote NO!

I hate this idea. Hate it. I hate getting on the train and having to sit across from someone as it is. I hate the awkward looks, the constant looking away and looking at the floor or at the ceiling. Oh great, i have to stare at this damn ad for the next 80 minutes so the crazy psycho in front of me doesn't think im into him. I don't know how you guys like this at all. Seriously. I rather look at the back of a seat anytime than another person. People are just not nice like that come on. Seats don't retaliate. We won't even see the savings. Our planes are like 10 -15 years old, and we pay them to carry our luggage. They'll save money but we'll just have to pay more. Its ridiculous.