Latest news with #standingseats
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
And you thought the standing-only seats were bizarre! Airbus is working on a DOUBLE-DECKER plane seat to give passengers more legroom - but baffled travellers dub the bottom level the 'fart zone'
The news that several budget airlines are set to introduce standing-only seat options rocked the world this week. The bike-style padded seats allow passengers to lean at an angle without completely sitting down – and could be introduced as early as 2026. However, the standing-only seats aren't the only bizarre airplane seats to hit the headlines in recent months. In February, Airbus revealed that it was working with Spanish start-up, Chaise Longue, on a double-decker plane seat. The concept features one row of seats on a raised platform, followed by one row at a normal level, and so on. For passengers up top, worrying about the etiquette of reclining will be a thing of the past, with no one directly behind to complain about it. Meanwhile, bottom passengers would be able to stretch their legs more and even put their legs up slightly, thanks to added space under the chair in front. However, the idea proved controversial among social media users, with one posting: 'Last thing I want when flying is being stuck in someone's fart zone.' The dual level concept is courtesy of Alejandro Núñez Vicente, CEO and founder of Chaise Longue, who said his firm is exploring 'early stage concepts' with Airbus. 'After 4 exciting years pursuing my dream of improving the passenger experience and giving passengers what they truly deserve, today I am very excited to make [this] announcement,' Mr Vicente said in a LinkedIn post. 'It's the dawn of a new era for commercial aviation, so I hope that you are as excited as we are with this announcement and that soon, you can be crossing the skies in a more comfortable, spacious and two-level seat.' The initial images have raised concerns among many travellers about people passing wind in the cabin. One person on X said: 'The nice thing about this arrangement, is that farts from the higher seats in front of you will hit you right in the mouth so you don't have to wonder where they came from.' In response, Mr Vicente said: 'With some common sense and maturity you should be able to find your answer.' He added: 'Gas in general doesn't go through solid objects like seat cushions, seat covers and plastic shells.' It's unclear when the two parties are aiming to roll the design out to aircraft; MailOnline has contacted them for more information. One Threads user said: 'Last thing I want when flying is being stuck in someone's fart zone' An X user said: 'The nice thing about this arrangement, is that farts from the higher seats in front of you will hit you right in the mouth so you don't have to wonder where they came from' Chaise Longue seating: Key benefits 6ft 2in seat allows you to almost 'lie down' if you're on an upper row Personal storage space under your own seat Increased storage under seat for those in bottom row Greater sense of privacy Lets airlines fit more seats in a given space Mr Vicente, who studied industrial engineering at Brunel University of London, started building his first plane seat prototype by hand in 2021 using just a 'bunch of planks'. Chaise Longue has provided a digital model online of the layout, which lets web users control a Sim-like figure in a mock-up of an aircraft cabin. According to the concept – which has also piqued the interest of Emirates – passengers would decide whether they were booking top seats or bottom seats. From the promo images, it seems passengers in the bottom seats would have ample legroom – but less space behind them to recline. Conversely, the top passengers would have lots of room to stretch back but not quite as much legroom. However, considering the bottom passenger would have their head directly behind a fellow flyer's backside, the top seats may prove more popular. What's more, bottom passengers would have the back of someone's chair looming high over them, which could either increase the sense of privacy, or claustrophobia. Everyone would have space under their own seat to put their baggage – but the bottom row passengers would get a little extra space in front of them too. Another said 'soon they will be packing us in with the luggage', adding: 'I will NOT fly in a double decker seating arrangement' Yet another said: 'The day this seating arrangement goes into planes is the day I start travelling only as far as I can drive' Notably, the design gets rid of the overhead luggage compartments in order to utilize the plane cabin's height as much as possible. Mr Vicente told CNN he's not on a mission to eradicate normal airplane seating. Instead, he envisages a cabin where his concept is in the middle, flanked by two rows of traditional airplane seating, but he admitted 'there is still a long development ahead'. He also said he's thankful Airbus sees 'the true potential of two-level seating', while adding he's 'open for collaboration' with other aviation companies. Airbus confirmed the collaboration but offered scant further details about the project. An Airbus spokesperson said: 'Chaise Longue is exploring some early stage concepts with Airbus on two-level seating solutions for Airbus commercial aircraft.' 'Given the nature of this early phase level,' the spokesperson added, Airbus preferred 'not to further comment at this stage'. No one wants to get stuck sitting in the middle seat while flying. It offers the least personal space - not to mention the fact it has no window view, limited access to the aisle and only half an armrest to use. Now, an avid flyer has revealed a genius hack to avoid the dreaded centre seat. he claimed has a secret hack that 'has a 100 percent perfect record,' which allows people to avoid the dreaded middle seat free of charge. Travel influencer Jordan Tually said the hack has a '100 per cent perfect record,' allowing people to avoid the middle seat free of charge. In a video clip, Tually demonstrates how to avoid this while booking a Ryanair flight from Bologna, Italy to Barcelona, Spain online.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Would you pay to stand on a flight? How vertical seats could be the future of budget air travel
Budget airlines are constantly trying to find ways to keep their costs down, whether that's removing in-flight meals or charging extra for cabin bags, but now it seems they could go one step further by bringing in standing-only seats. A handful of European budget airlines are reportedly planning to remove some of their economy seats to swap them for standing seats, according to Euro Weekly News. Known as the Skyrider 2.0, the new seat design, which is shaped like a saddle, is an improvement from the original that was first touted in 2018. The re-designed seats, which would see customers leaning at a 45 degree angle, have reportedly met safety requirements and regulations, and could be in use in planes as soon as 2026. The silver lining is the ticket price is predicted to be very low, although prices haven't been shared yet. The compromise is not only having to stand, but also endure a much reduced amount of space. Currently, a traditional economy seat has what is known as a pitch of around 30 inches, referring to the amount of space you your legs. But with a Skyrider 3.0, customers will have just 23 inches of space. Standing-only seats first made headlines in 2018 when a plane seat manufacturer introduced them at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, offering them up to the industry as a space-saving solution that would allow airlines to pack more passengers into the aircraft. The original prototype, known as 'Skyrider', was designed by Italian company Avio Interiors is more upright than a standard seat, allowing passengers to perch or lean, rather than sit down completely. Avio Interiors estimated in 2019 that airlines could accommodate 20 per cent more passengers with this new seat. 'Evolving market environment in short-haul routes is steering Avio Interiors to the new design of the Skyrider concept,' the company said in a statement that year. The seats would not work for long-haul flights, as passengers wouldn't be able to position themselves almost upright for hours on end. There are some positives to introducing the seat into aircrafts though, such as allowing more passengers on the plane and therefore selling more boarding passes. Avio Interiors also said that the new seat weighs 50 per cent less than normal seats, and has fewer components, making it easier to maintain. While some passengers could potentially cope with not sitting down properly for a few hours, the seats have drawn criticism since they were showcased at the expo. On an Instagram post from 2018, the manufacturers posted a picture of the seats, and was met with backlash. 'Whoever designed this should only be allowed to fly in seats like this,' one person wrote. 'I will ride trains the rest of my life, if y'all use these abominations,' another said, tagging various airlines. Meanwhile, the seats were also labelled as 'torture devices' and 'human coat hangers' under another post. Avio Interiors was not the first to come up with a stand-up seat idea, as back in 2003, plane manufacturer Airbus looked into creating a vertical seat, but abandoned it shortly after. Michael O'Leary, CEO of low-cost airline Ryanair, has also previously floated the idea of standing seats on his aircraft from as far back as 2010, likening them to 'bar stools with seatbelts'. He even expressed doubts that seatbelts were needed on a flight, as he vouched for standing areas on planes that could be sold cheaply. A plane is 'just a bloody bus with wings', he said in 2012. 'If there ever was a crash on an aircraft, God forbid, a seatbelt won't save you. You don't need a seatbelt on the London Underground. You don't need a seatbelt on trains which are travelling at 120mph.' While Ryanair's plans never materialised, other airlines have never made the leap to add vertical seats, and none appear to be gearing up to introduce them in the future.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Budget airlines have finally hit rock bottom – cheap standing seats on flights would be a disaster
IT'S time to take a stand against budget airlines - although we might soon not have a choice. Terrifying travel news this week, that a handful of unnamed airlines are considering introducing standing-only seats on planes. 4 4 Despite looking better suited to a death-defying rollercoaster than a two-hour plane journey, it's been suggested that they could become be the norm for cheap flights, with it becoming a 'privilege' to get a proper seat. The uncomfortable-looking designs by Aviointeriors have a slanted, saddle-like base that allows the passengers to still be strapped in, while standing upright. it's the third version of the design, which was first revealed by Aviointeriors as far back as 2010 and has since gone through a number of 'improvements.' They claim to take up much less space than a standard economy seat, with just just 23 inches compared to 31 inches. That'll be music to low-cost airlines ears, who presumably are envisioning more crammed passengers to squeeze cash from - after repeatedly shrinking legroom, chair width and luggage allowances over the last 20 years. I love to walk around a cabin to stretch my legs, but I hardly want to be standing the whole time. Standing might even be preferable over this bizarre, half leaning situation. It reminds me of that awkward perch against a pub garden fence when you run out of seats - something never comfortable but acceptable after a few pints. Maybe these are the seats for those passengers enjoying some Wetherspoon beers before a flight, who will barely notice whether they are upright when boarding. I am all for a cheap flight - notoriously never checking in a suitcase to avoid any extra fees - but there are some things that I think are a necessity on a flight. Plane seats of the future – with no tray tables, TV screens or seat pockets and full screen dividers between each row And one of them? Being allowed to sit down. The rollercoaster like seat certainly would be just as uncomfortable during turbulence as a rollercoaster seat is when being spun and flung around corners. And I don't expect them to be a 'cheaper' option despite Ryanair's Michael O'Leary previously touting the idea of £1 standing seats in 2012. After all, Ryanair and easyJet's cheapest fares are now around £15 - but this comes without any luggage, unlike good old days when it had a free suitcase. Low-cost airlines ditched these back in 2018 - but this has hardly been passed onto the consumer in the way of price, seeing as flights back then could be found for £4.99. So with free luggage gone, and it appears cheap sit-down seats to be next, who knows what' else could gone. else is around the corner. 4 It was Ryanair who once suggested they would charge passengers to use the bathroom. Perhaps we'll have to pay to have a back to our seats, after a bizarre back-less easyJet seat went viral back in 2019. Thankfully we seem to be a way off from them being rolled out. Aviointeriors confirmed that while there has been "interest" in the seat, no airlines have actually bought them. Don't expect to see them on long-haul flights either, as it's suggested it will only be on flights less than two hours. But who knows, it's one step closer to removing seats all together, making the term "cattle class" that bit more apt. The only upside? Don't expect someone wanting to take the seat next to you if it's empty. Hey, it could be the latest plane hack to getting a row to yourself.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ryanair's most outrageous ideas to cut costs - from standing seats to £1 loos and 'fat tax'
It was reported yesterday that standing seats could be introduced on budget airlines in the very near future. The seats, which are being introduced by manufacturer Aviointeriors, will increase passenger capacity by 20 per cent. And, while Ryanair has denied plans to use them, CEO Michael O'Leary has been vocal about his desire to implement the 'standing berths'. In 2012, he said he wanted his Boeing's 737 and 800 fitted with 10 rows of them and 15 rows of traditional seats. At the time, Michael suggested the standing tickets may potentially cost as little as £1 to £5. But it's not the most outrageous cost-cutting idea Michael has had in the past 40 years of operating – even claiming in 2007 that Ryanair would be running flights across the Atlantic for just £6. Toilet troubles In 2009, he told the BBC that he was considering fitting the airline's toilet doors with coin-slots so that passengers would have to pay £1 to use them. At the time, Ryanair's PR chief Steven McNamara added: 'I don't think it's going to happen in the foreseeable future. 'It's one of those things that when Michael starts looking at something, you know, it's always up for discussion.' Michael later admitted the idea was unfeasible and would go against EU regulations. He later considered getting rid of two of the three toilets found on his aircraft in order to make room for more seats, suggesting it would save passengers a 'jaw-dropping' £2 on tickets. Cockpit cuts Michael even once suggested cutting the cockpit crew in half. In 2010, he said to Bloomberg BusinessWeek: 'Why does every plane have two pilots?' 'Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it.' He suggested training a member of the cabin crew to take over in the event that the sole pilot had a medical emergency. 'Fat tax' In 2009, Ryanair announced it would introduce a 'fat tax' for overweight flyers – with Michael suggesting it was after listening to customer feedback. At the time, a spokesman for the airline said: 'A 'fat tax' will only apply to those really large passengers who invade the space of the passengers sitting beside them. 'These charges, if introduced, might also act as an incentive to some of our very large passengers to lose a little weight and hopefully feel a little lighter and healthier.' On-board porn In November 2011, Michael said Ryanair was working on an in-flight app which would offer paid-for content, including pornography and online gambling. He told The Sun: 'It would be on handheld devices. Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn't we?' This, thankfully, never happened. No armrests One of the few comfortable parts of Ryanair's seats that still exists are the armrests. But in 2012, the airline said it was planning to scrap them, in order to reduce aircraft weight. Other mooted fuel-saving tricks at the time included reducing the amount of ice taken on board, slimming down the size of the Ryanair magazine, and using lighter trolleys for the bar service. 'Business' baloney Ryanair now has an add-on option for passengers of a bigger bag allowance, fast-track boarding and 'premium' seating – which is just seats located near the front or back of the aircraft, or on an exit row with more legroom. But it was originally called 'Business Plus' – despite not offering lounge access, complimentary food and drink, or a separate cabin. Due to this, the word 'Business' was dropped from the name. It comes after we revealed Ryanair had been told to refund a passenger £124 over hand luggage charges. A landmark court ruling in Salamanca, Spain, earlier this month decided that hand luggage is an essential part of air travel and should not be subject to extra fees. The passenger involved in the case will be reimbursed £124 (€147) for hand luggage costs charged on five flights between 2019 and 2024 following the judgment.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Budget airlines could launch standing-only seats as early as next year in bid to increase capacity on flights
BUDGET airlines could launch standing-only seats as early as next year after the designs were said to have finally passed safety tests. The stand-up rollercoaster-style padded seats allow passengers to lean without fully sitting, and would increase capacity by up to 20 per cent. 3 3 The Skyrider upright seats were first created in 2018 by Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors. They would most likely be introduced on flights of up to two hours. A spokesperson for Aviointeriors said in 2018: 'The Skyrider 2.0 is an innovative seat. 'It allows an ultra-high density in the aircraft cabin. "Skyrider 2.0 opens the travelling experience to a wider passenger market, creating also a useful space for the introduction of mixed classes boarded on the same aircraft. 'Its main feature is the original bottom that ensures an increased upright passenger position allowing installation of the seat at a reduced pitch, while maintaining an adequate comfort. 'The design of this seat enables carriers to increase the passenger number by 20 per cent, allowing increasing profits for airline companies.' Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has supported 'standing berths' since 2012, and suggested tickets could cost as little as £1. However, Aviointeriors declined to comment and no airlines have officially confirmed plans to introduce the seats. 3
