(Photo credit: 'The Art of Standing' by Material Boy)
As discussed in our earlier blog, Ryanair is polling its passengers on whether they'd be willing to stand if it meant a free flight.
And the results are in.
Two thirds (80,000 passengers) would be up for the standing challenge, but for a third this apparently takes price sensitivity to the limit.
But Ryanair passengers are a democratic bunch and 60% believed that standing should be an option on short-haul flights.
Unfortunately for Mr. O'Leary, this particular idea didn't originate within Ryanair. Chinese carrier Spring Airlines got there first and then the charismatic Ryanair chief jumped on the bandwagon.
To see the survey questions and results, read on.
If it meant your fare was free would you stand on a one hour flight?
Yes: 66%
No: 34%
If it meant your fare was half that of a seated passenger would you stand on a one hour flight? Yes: 42%
No: 58%
Do you think passengers should have a choice of standing on short flights as they currently do on trains, buses and underground transport?
Yes: 60%
No: 40%
on July 22, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply
Of course there's the pesky issue of the 737-800 only being certified for a maximum of 189 passengers, so you couldn't legally squeeze any more in than Ryanair already does even if they were *all* standing, but hey, since when did Ryanair ever let mere facts get in the way of more press coverage? :-)
on July 22, 2009 4:11 PM | Reply
An even worse problem: The overhead bins are in the place a taller persons head would be and taking out the bins will leave absolutely no space for hand luggage. The window seat will still be very uncomfortable with or without bins.
on July 25, 2009 8:17 AM | Reply
Judging by the terrible landings we have experienced recently at the hands of Ryanair pilots all the passengers would end up in a large crumpled heap at the cockpit door! I suppose instead of the usual stupid announcement from the incoherent cabin crew that the flight had supposedly landed ahead of the falsely extended travel time they could pipe up with " and the last man standing is......"
on October 8, 2009 11:24 PM | Reply
how they are going to modify the cabin to provide oxygen masks for standing passengers, to use in case of emergency, while the aircraft flying above 14000 feet