Just when you thought flying could not get any more uncomfortable

[Majin Boo]

New Airplane Design Proposes Seating Passengers Face-To-Face
September 8, 2009 at 3:04 PM | by Omri | 4 Comments

If British design company Design Q gets its way, airplanes of the future will seat passengers in an innovative—dare we say interactive—high-density configuration. More specifically, they intend to essentially seat passengers face to face for the entire trip:

A British design company says it is working on plans for new sideways, staggered seating on airplanes as a cost-cutting option for airlines to maximize the number of passengers on board. Design Q released images of the concept, which has a row of seats facing inward on each side of the plane and two rows running back-to-back down the middle of the aircraft.

Listen. We know that sometimes we can be a little harsh about the so-called "innovations" that so-called "experts" bring to the table. We've even been known to inappropriately dismiss a good idea or two, an overreaction we put down to years of travel having made us jaded. So we want to be very clear about this:

We don't like having to interact with fellow passengers, especially on a 15-hour flight to Hong Kong or a puddle-jumper in the Midwest. There are rules on this. It's not why we get on airplanes. In fact there's a good argument to be made that we travel specifically to avoid other people.

Please airlines, don't make us awkwardly face another human being for an entire flight. You won't like the result and you bet that your customer satisfaction scores will plummet. Also: germs. Dealing with a sneezing and coughing seatmate is bad enough, just imagine them doing it in your face. Just thinking about this concept makes us feel like we need some Purell.

 

[chaseter]

That is stupid. Why would you have a screen where you have to turn your head to see it and can't see it because of a person sitting right there. That looks like a prison plane. It looks uncomfortable and akward. That will fail miserably.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

That's horrible.

 

[Tsunulia]

Please airlines, don't make us awkwardly face another human being for an entire flight. You won't like the result and you bet that your customer satisfaction scores will plummet. Also: germs. Dealing with a sneezing and coughing seatmate is bad enough, just imagine them doing it in your face. Just thinking about this concept makes us feel like we need some Purell.

I like these guys They're looking out for us.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

It doesn't look like it fits more people, looks like it actually fits less. Plus, there doesn't seem to be any seat backs on the outer seats.

 

[Motown Marvel]

i dont fly much, so i find this amusing and am all for it.

 

[chaseter]

Lets just make the planes like the Amistad to save money

 

[Majic Walrus]

This is creepy. I mean seriously seriously creepy. I remember when I used to travel frequently I would have to deal with myriads of people who wanted to talk to me while I was reading my book and angled away from them.

"Is that a comic book?"

"Yeah... well... sort of. It's a graphic novel. Sort of like a book but with pictures."

"Oh.... No words?"

"No it's got words too.. it's just.. Here. See? It's like a comic book but big like a novel."

"Oh, what's it about?"

"**** if I know you haven't let me read it."

When those people are staring at you it will be all some people could do to not hijack the plane and fly it into the ground.

 

[Immortalfire]

The potential for creepiness is very alarming.

 

[bullets]

This is like riding in a C-130 but it seems more awkward on a commercial plane. I'm just imagining being stared at the entire time by someone that doesnt have a magazine.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Well, at least I won't get slapped in the face for looking at cleavage.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I dunno that I mind this.

Would give me an excuse to talk to the hot girl sitting across from me. Might be able to join the Mile High Club.

Also be able to keep an eye on that damned terrorist who's trying to hijack the plane.

 

[Drizzle]

That looks like a prison plane.

 

[wiegeabo]

I dunno that I mind this.

Would give me an excuse to talk to the hot girl sitting across from me. Might be able to join the Mile High Club.

Wait until you see the bathroom design!

 

[The Guard]

Yeah...that'll never fly.

 

[Sam Fisher]

I feel sorry for the sucker who hast to sit across from me.

 

[Dew k. Mosi]

you can't lean your seat back and take a nap? Yeah, this won't work at all

 

[Maximum Carnage]

Yeah. Maybe for short flights, I can see it working. But for more than 3/4 hours? Fail.

 

[DarKJediKnight]

This is creepy. I mean seriously seriously creepy. I remember when I used to travel frequently I would have to deal with myriads of people who wanted to talk to me while I was reading my book and angled away from them.

"Is that a comic book?"

"Yeah... well... sort of. It's a graphic novel. Sort of like a book but with pictures."

"Oh.... No words?"

"No it's got words too.. it's just.. Here. See? It's like a comic book but big like a novel."

"Oh, what's it about?"

"**** if I know you haven't let me read it."

When those people are staring at you it will be all some people could do to not hijack the plane and fly it into the ground.

Nothing wrong with talking with other people, but that design is horrible.

 

[bullets]

Well, at least I won't get slapped in the face for looking at cleavage.

Thats what I'm talking about , just stare and smile the entire flight.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Yeah...that'll never fly.

I see what you did there.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Total fail on the part of the designers of this aircraft

 

[Maximum Carnage]

I agree. JetBlue is doing it right! I love those planes!

 

[Marx]

I agree with what was said earlier...it looks like a prison plane or something.

 

[Casius--J]

Terrible idea, like the article says I dont want to look at somebody for a whole flight lol