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Taking a stand

May 2, 2006

I didn’t invent standing airline seats, but some believe that I have.

Maybe the only way to clear this up is to post a picture of the seat that came to me by way of an industry expert. I am told that it is one of two sit-stand seat concepts that have been proposed in the recent past.

standing.gif

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

7 comments

  • mathew

    Perhaps you could contact your industry friends and ask them about *lying down*.

    I’d love to see an option for a “bunk seat” so I could lie down and sleep my way across the Atlantic. You could probably stack them 3 high and get as many people in as with regular seats.

  • Heather

    These seats are designed the same as the standing-up roller coasters. What a joke! Flights are bad enough already without having to stand.

  • Judi Abbott

    The airlines can do anything they want. Even with a confirmed seat (in which I was seated waiting for taxiing) I was moved to a much less desirable seat, so that two exceedingly large people could be seated in my and 2 other seats. Guess it was better than being left where I was and being squished. I like the idea of bunks 3 high. I’d pay more for one all to myself.

  • Anonymous million-mile flyer

    You know, a “standing up” configuration might actually be *better* for passengers (yes, for *passengers*) on short-range flights such as BOS-LGA or SFO-LAX. It’d probably be quicker to enplane and deplane, better for the lower back than most airline seats, and there’s potential for less-expensive fares. Maybe it’s not such a bad idea after all?

  • Louise Weiss

    Once, en route from Tel Aviv to London, I had an aisle seat next to a very large lady. As soon as we were airborne, she wanted to go to the lavatory. After getting up to let her out, I realized there was no point in sitting down again, then getting up to let her past. So I stood in the aisle and had a very enjoyable convesation with a man who was standing because his back hurt. We both sat down for lunch, but stood in the aisle again until I got off in London. I always said airplanes were just like buses and this proves it. It was the Third Avenue bus all over again.

  • Jean Borden

    Chris, I’ve been reading your columns for a long time, and I know you would NEVER deliberately mislead anyone in your writings.
    All this “tempest in a teapot” must hurt you, and I’m sorry it happened. It sure doesn’t alter my opinion of your contributions to the travel industry.

  • Many Miles Traveler

    HOORAY for you Chris! Thanks for being the lightning rod and telling the truth. I applaud you for reporting what is. One of my pet issues is that the “spin” of the day is more important than speaking what is happening. I know you take a lot of heat for sharing the truth about travel. Thanks for doing that.

    I remember not too many years ago the airlines were profitable and debt was not so overwhelming. The airlines were in fighting contests over who could be in more places faster with more services. Then, they added more and more “stuff” linked to the frequent flyer programs – diluting the value of miles earning flying vs. money spent on charge cards or joining wireless phone plans. Now the airlines groan under the weight of what they created in their short sighted rush to the present – losing sight of long term vision. I am one who used to have loyalty to an airline company or two, but none anymore. They created their own messes and WE, as consumers and frequent flyers are paying the costs.

    It would not surprise me to be crammed into stand up seats in time.

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