Flat beds in Economy??

[NM]

Would you like to travel this way if it was offered?

From news.com.au

CATTLE-class travellers may soon be able to luxuriate at full length on long-haul flights with the news that German airline Lufthansa is considering an economy sleeper cabin.

The idea, which the Associated Press said would radically alter intercontinental travel, was still in its early stages and the airline was polling customers to gauge interest, Lufthansa spokeswoman Amelie Lorenz said.

 

[Optics]

Re: Flat beds in Econpmy??

Would you like to travel this way if it was offered?

From news.com.au

Looks interesting, but awfully sterile. Very efficient use of space, trust the germans .
Flat beds would be great during overnight long-hauls, but its hard to see how this arrangement would work for sitting, especially when travelling together with someone?

 

[NM]

I would expect that somehow the three bunks would need to convert into three seats. So all three must be in bunk mode or bed mode at the same time.

 

[d15.in.oz]

...now imagine, if each row or column could flip over for day time flights!

 

[tscharke]

it looks like a morgue :shock:

 

[Optics]

Its also going to make seat allocation more difficult, as they are going to have to ensure anyone with mobility problems is not allocated anything other than ground (well floor actually ) level.

 

[NM]

...now imagine, if each row or column could flip over for day time flights!

Now you are approaching my theory for efficient flight. All we need to do is place a large enough mass in orbit above the Earth. If the mass is large enough, it will have sufficient gravitational force to overcome the gravitational force of the Earth on the aircraft, allowing the aircraft to remain at altitude for extended periods with the only force to overcome being the small amount of drag due to the very thin atmosphere.

I call this Gravitationally Optimised Neutral Acceleration Delivery, or GONAD for short. As the aircraft climbs towards the optimal cruising altitude, the fuel burn rate decreases until only very small amount of power is required to propel the aircraft. The Anti Gravitational Mass (AGM) orbiting the Earth need not be continuous along the flight path, but the aircraft will need to use its own power to overcome any gaps between

The side benefit of using the AGM is that not only the aircraft is experiencing weight equilibrium, but so are all the objects inside the aircraft including passengers. So now there is no reason to have a horizontal sleeping surface. If there is no vertical gravitational force inside the cabin, then the passengers will be comfortable sleeping vertically, where a standard economy 31" pitch would be quite acceptable.

This, and my theories of light, electricity and metric time are often discussed in depth following a few beers at events such as FT's AGM to be held in February.

 

[d15.in.oz]

All we need to do is place a large enough mass in orbit above the Earth. If the mass is large enough, it will have sufficient gravitational force to overcome the gravitational force of the Earth on the aircraft…

I think your flying balls idea is interesting, but my guess is (And my fuel burning computational skills, are not as good as your demonstrated rocket science understanding)… a Space Lift –

Space Lifts could be installed at major airports around the planet, and they would haul us up and out of the atmosphere. (Presumably at an incredibly cheaper cost than launching a rocket every time.) Once up there, purpose built non-atmospheric vehicles would shuttle us off (swiftly and cheaply) to another Space Lift, which would bring us back down to Earth.

The ultimate hub&spoke operation! (Of course, for obvious reasons, the US government is more focussed on funding NASA research into costly rocket science… so we will need to wait a long time before "private industry" develops the cost effective(?) flying balls theory.)

 

[NM]

I was going to be relying on your spacelift to get my AGM in position in the first place .

 

[winetraveller]

Looks like something out of invasion of the body snatchers.

 

[stryker]

I don't stay in Japanese cubicle hotels either.

 

[Tiki]

Hell yeah, I would love that arrangement for longhaul. It doesn't seem much different than train bunks and people use those all the time. As long as they can still incorporate the personal video screens into the design.

 

[bossreggie]

What IS this "economy" thing you speak of???? Is that where the people go when they "turn right"?

 

[Commuter]

Ugh I'd rather sleep upright.

 

[moa999]

It'd only be worthwhile on a long flight -- and then you also want to get fed, and those seats are not conducive to eating.

Unless you manage to combine it with a bar style are where you get up to walk around and get fed.

Still I dont think too many airlines will take the risk.

Would also make the emergency exit tests somewhat interesting

 

[davi]

Give me a window seat in economy anyday. I agree with comments that say it looks like a morgue.
Surely airlines desire to attract customers by making their economy and business classes more similar/closer to the class above, as opposed to creating a unique, bizarre experience that will make economy customers feel even more jealous, dare i say embarrased, when they walk through the better places on the plane.

 

[wallacej]

What IS this "economy" thing you speak of???? Is that where the people go when they "turn right"?

OUCH!!.. I had a friend once, and I am sure that she thought that making a right hand turn was where the luggage and cargo was kept!!!

 

[acampbel]

What IS this "economy" thing you speak of???? Is that where the people go when they "turn right"?

Yes. It separates the good citizens from the drug dealers, corporate fraudsters, and general onanists.

 

[straitman]

Yes. It separates the good citizens from the drug dealers, corporate fraudsters, and general onanists.

Let us not embarrass anyone here by asking where they fit within this definition :!:

 

[bossreggie]

Yes. It separates the good citizens from the drug dealers, corporate fraudsters, and general onanists.

Surely there are MORE than 12 "Good Citizens" on an aircraft???
Oh..... BTW I NEVER pull out of ANYTHING early! hehe