Classes on planes.

[∞]

One thing that has always bothered the shit out of me since I was a kid was different classes on the airplanes. People in business and first class have an extremely comfortable seat, a big TV and different food. Why? Because they can afford it. Since 2000 economy class hasn't got any upgrade at all. But what do I see in commercials? "You now have your own private room in first class," "Business class gets these weird roof thing over their head". Yeah well thats nice I'll just keep watching re-runs of Two-and-half men eating a cold omelet trying to ignore the foul odor of the fat man next to me. I always thought in a socialist society every one would have nice seats, not some people have amazing seats, and most get shitty seats in comparison.

http://content.emirates.com/us/english/images/2_fc_tcm272-349461.jpg

-Fuck you yuppie, my mother's a doctor she deserves that more than you.

[Ocean Seal]

I guess its always bothered me since in the few times that I've flown I've never flown first class, but then again I guess I don't really complain because I feel somewhat privileged of the fact that I'm flying in the first place.

[jake williams]

It's actually a price targetting thing. Airlines make more money if they offer larger seats, or dick-waving points, for much inflated prices. I'm pretty sure ot an extent they help subsidize everyone else's tickets.

It's a pretty natural consequence of having some people who have a whole lot of money, lots who have less, and private airlines. If all seats were the same though the cost for the cheapest seat would probably be higher.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

If all seats were the same though the cost for the cheapest seat would probably be higher.

Not necessarily. JetBlue only has one class of seats and their tickets are often much cheaper than those of other airlines (65% cheaper on average.... at least in the early years I haven't checked lately). They are definitely more comfortable than the typical U.S.-based airlines' economy seats (leather, with personal TVs in the headrests, more leg room, etc.).

[Tablo]

I fly a lot and the worst thing to me is when the person next to me is loud or the person in front of me leans their seat back. I want better seats all around. I don't need a bunch of fancy services, but if they can give me a large enough seat, I will be a happy sailor.

[jake williams]

Not necessarily. JetBlue only has one class of seats and their tickets are often much cheaper than those of other airlines (65% cheaper on average.... at least in the early years I haven't checked lately). They are definitely more comfortable than the typical U.S.-based airlines' economy seats (leather, with personal TVs in the headrests, more leg room, etc.).
I don't have any deep insight into the airline industry, and I could be wrong. My point is if the airlines figured they could make more money with all ticket prices/classes the same, they probably would.

The only other reason I could think would be if they were concerned about competition from private flight. They may be worried that if they don't offer special benefits, they'll lose higher-end customers to private jets (a concern JetBlue wouldn't have). It's not inconceivable that they would even lose money doing this, but I doubt that would continue for very long.

[Dr Mindbender]

My wife and i once got upgraded to business class on a long haul flight because she was heavily pregnant.

Massaging, recliner chair with hot towels and express catering. It was the fucking business alright.

[praxis1966]

My wife and i once got upgraded to business class on a long haul flight because she was heavily pregnant.

Massaging, recliner chair with hot towels and express catering. It was the fucking business alright.

Had the same experience except I was flying solo and it was because the airline had oversold coach. Simply by luck of the draw or perhaps because I bought my ticket really far in advance (dunno which because the airline didn't explain to me one way or the other their decision making process and I wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth :lol:), I got bumped to first class because they had no place else to put me. Anyway, you forgot the best part of first class: all the free booze you can funnel into your gullet and way better food.

Anyway, ever since then if I've had to fly, I get annoyed just getting onto the plane knowing I'm going to be (true story) stuck someplace where the worry wort two rows up can point his AC jet right at my face to disperse the noxious gasses emanating from his nervous stomach and my modest 32 inch inseam is sufficiently long enough to cause perpetual discomfort.

[Rafiq]

Ah, the Airplane class never ceases to literally be the worst class analysis on actual Classes.

[∞]

^No I'm just talking about how much it pisses me off.

[praxis1966]

Ah, the Airplane class never ceases to literally be the worst class analysis on actual Classes.


^No I'm just talking about how much it pisses me off.

Yeah, I don't think he was attempting a serious class analysis using a airline seating as a microcosmic example. There's a reason he chucked this down here in Non-Poli and not in Theory, lol.

[wunderbar]

eating a cold omelet


Whoa whoa whoa, you get FOOD in coach still?

[∞]

On a 16-hour flight, yes.

[Aspiring Humanist]

unrelated but is the word "classy" related in any way to the classism

[Dr Mindbender]

On a 16-hour flight, yes.
You can get food and drinks on short haul flights as well but the prices are mile high piracy.

[JustMovement]

I don't need a bunch of fancy services, but if they can give me a large enough seat, I will be a happy sailor.

You wouldnt really be a sailor on an air plane tho, would you...

[Comrade J]

This is a common practice that many corporations use, which I forget the exact name of but basically it is where you offer a standard package (in this case Economy Class), a much more expensive middle package and then on top of that you put an extortionately priced package, which is way more costly than the middle, but only offers a little more (eg. in terms of services provided). The idea is that people will go for the middle one, as they notice it is not too different from the top one in terms of what you get, but it is in fact considerably cheaper. In reality, people tend not to realise that the services offered are only slightly better than the bottom (Economy) one, yet the price is much steeper. Instead, they analyse the difference between that and the highest-priced one and think they're getting a bargain going for that. This drives demand for the middle ground one, where they make most profit.

You see this everywhere, it's a key tenet of capitalism. You especially notice it in airlines though, and also with car manufacturers. In some cases, companies expect to make very little money from their highest-priced item/service but have them simply as a way to create the illusion of a bargain with their middle-range one, which is already overpriced but looks great compared to the top-price one with fairly similar features.

I have never flown anything but economy, but I'd rather be a bit cramped with ordinary people than sit and listen in luxury to rich fucks for the entire journey. The only extra charge I wouldn't mind having is for a seat with extra leg room on a long flight. In fact, we did this when we went to Cuba cause it's like an 8 hour flight, but then we were next to the toilet so there was a mild odour of shit for the entire journey... :glare:

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

It's a price targetting thing, as was said above.

The luxury seats (first class) are very price inelastic and have a fairly small but stable demand, so are charged extortionately.

It makes sense and, in all fairness, especially in long haul, I don't think that equalising class types on planes would necessarily make economy class noticeably better. Airlines would lose so much revenue from shedding the extortionate tickets that they would probably have to cut back on economy class services and comfort even more to make up for it.

[Dr Mindbender]

aircraft would have to be fucking huge for everyone to get a business class quality seat.

[praxis1966]

aircraft would have to be fucking huge for everyone to get a business class quality seat.

Honestly, I wouldn't need that much bigger a seat, just a little more padding in the ones they do have. My bony ass doesn't have much cushion in it so I need some help from the chair, plus some lower lumbar support might be nice. That, and about four more inches between rows so I can actually unbend my knees would make all the difference in the world.

That last bit is, by the way, my biggest gripe. I really like looking out the windows of airplanes if I'm lucky enough not to be sitting over the wing. I went to Vegas once (no, not to gamble or party as I was only 19 at the time) and it was super cool on the inbound flight... We arrived at something like 9:30 or 9:45 PM local time and it was a sight to behold; all those lights from the strip coming out of the basin the city's in and the ginormous spotlight coming out the top of the Luxor rising into the darkness... It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. On my return flight, I actually got an aerial view of the Grand Canyon and a pilot with a sense of humor, "If you're sitting on the right side of the aircraft, you'll see some nice views of the Grand Canyon in just a moment. If you're sitting on the left side of the aircraft, you should've sat on the right."

The trouble is, it's either cool shit to see from the sky out of the window or aisle seat so I'm actually comfortable...

[Metacomet]

Jetblue FTW. It's slightly better economy class. Using to go to Seattle next month.

Or Virgin. Purple seats. Mood lights. Flight attendants with cool accents.

[Black Sheep]

Am i the only one who expected this thread to be a communist parody of "Snakes on a plane"?:confused:

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Had the same experience except I was flying solo and it was because the airline had oversold coach. Simply by luck of the draw or perhaps because I bought my ticket really far in advance (dunno which because the airline didn't explain to me one way or the other their decision making process and I wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth :lol:), I got bumped to first class because they had no place else to put me.

You got lucky. Usually they just bump you off the flight completely in that case and make you wait for the next one.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Whoa whoa whoa, you get FOOD in coach still?

Sure. NYC to San Francisco isn't a long flight, but you get fed. Even shorter ones too. Depends on the airline.

And if you go to East Asia you get fed on any flight. Even the very short Japan to Korea flights come with a full meal.

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

flights are bullshit, i think we should have trains instead

[praxis1966]

You got lucky. Usually they just bump you off the flight completely in that case and make you wait for the next one.

Yeah I know, which is why I think they may have given me priority based upon my ticket purchase date (I bought my ticket several months in advance). I heard PA announcements for quite a while before boarding where they were offering $200 travel vouchers to anyone who would give up their seat. I didn't even realize I had been reassigned until I was getting on the plain, headed to coach and couldn't find the seat number on my boarding pass. They didn't even say anything, lol.


flights are bullshit, i think we should have trains instead

You do realize that building train bridges across the ocean would be a virtually impossible ask, right?

[Rooster]

I actually don't mind cheap seats on planes. Means I can vomit all over the place and no one gives a shit.

[Comrade J]

On my return flight, I actually got an aerial view of the Grand Canyon and a pilot with a sense of humor, "If you're sitting on the right side of the aircraft, you'll see some nice views of the Grand Canyon in just a moment. If you're sitting on the left side of the aircraft, you should've sat on the right."

Hahaha! I love when pilots have a sense of humour. I once had one who said (shortly after everyone had boarded) something like "passengers on the left of the aircraft, please do not be alarmed by the engineer stood on the wing, he's just checking the ailerons for debris. Passengers on the right of the plane may feel mild alarm as there is nobody checking their side."

Also had a stewardess who came on the tannoy during landing once, saying not to panic if there is a "violent roar" after landing without any further explanation :lol: Obviously most people know it's just the reverse thrust, but for first-time flyers it must be a terrifying thing to hear.

[Dr Mindbender]

Honestly, I wouldn't need that much bigger a seat, just a little more padding in the ones they do have. My bony ass doesn't have much cushion in it so I need some help from the chair, plus some lower lumbar support might be nice. That, and about four more inches between rows so I can actually unbend my knees would make all the difference in the world.
.
For the one time i got to fly business class, YOU WOULD. In the big long haul airliners the business end tends to have the big reclining seats with shitloads of leg room so you can lie down to sleep. You could probably get about 30 economy seats in the space consumed by 10 business class seats. My gripe is, i'm not opposed in principle to having such luxuries in aircraft. However i dont see why people should have to feel like second class citizens. So the solution is build bigger planes, or build more planes. The problem then is the eco-fascists start bawwwing about emissions. Its a delicate balance.

[scarletghoul]

Enough is enough, ive had it with these motherfucking classes on this motherfucking plane.

..im about to open some windows .

[scarletghoul]

Its even cooler because he actually used to be a Black Panther

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

flights are bullshit, i think we should have trains instead

Trains are cool, but so are planes if they are designed correctly. I think airliner designs should be more like this:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/NoXion604/Bel2001.jpg

Designed in 1929 by Bel Geddes, this is a seaplane that can carry up to 606 passengers.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/NoXion604/Bel2003-1.gif

OK, so it doesn beat the A380 in sheer passenger numbers, but look what they get: nine decks, a crew of 155, three kitchens, two dining rooms, three private dining rooms, a library, a gymnasium, a barber, a hairdresser, and somewhere to play deck tennis. Plus numerous suites, staterooms and a promenade or two.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/NoXion604/Bel2002.jpg

Although not the nippiest of flyers, having a cruising speed of 100 MPH and taking 42 hours to cross the Atlantic, this overfed flying wing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_wing) design has an appeal that's distinctly lacking in today's flying sardine tins.


You do realize that building train bridges across the ocean would be a virtually impossible ask, right?

Yeah, tunnels would be a better choice.

[scarletghoul]

Whoa that plane design is pretty cool. Thing is though plane flights dont last as long as ship voyages so you're not really gonna need a gymnaseum barbershop etc are you.. unless you wanted it to stay flying round the world for weeks at once, but that would just be fucking decadent lol

[Dr Mindbender]

Whoa that plane design is pretty cool. Thing is though plane flights dont last as long as ship voyages so you're not really gonna need a gymnaseum barbershop etc are you.. unless you wanted it to stay flying round the world for weeks at once, but that would just be fucking decadent lol

Mate you get on the Belfast to Stranraer Stenaline ferry. It has a games arcade, a gift shop, 2 fast food restaurants, 3 bars and a slot machine casino. Total sailing time - 45 mins.

When I flew on a 9 hour flight before the chance to stretch my legs a bit wouldve been more than welcome.

[scarletghoul]

Wow lol

I'm more of a Megabus man myself ..

[Quail]

Not sure I'd be up for getting a haircut on a plane... Turbulence?

[praxis1966]

Not sure I'd be up for getting a haircut on a plane... Turbulence?

:lol: Never even thought about that until you said something. I keep the 'do pretty short, so rather than getting woops in my hair, my first thought was my barber stabbing me in the side of the head accidentally.

In case you were wondering, I used to have this hairstylist who cut the whole family's hair and whom worked out of her house. If I started getting lippy with my parents or something, she'd threaten to put woops in my hair. She'd said this for years and I had no idea what she was talking about so one day I asked, "Oh, that's when you cut somebody's hair and say, 'Woops, I'm so sorry!'"

[Metacomet]

I say bring back the airship. They could probably make them pretty big and sophisticated these days if they wanted too as well.

I'd totally take a few days to go to Europe if you could kick back and relax while doing so.

[Aspiring Humanist]

Wow lol

I'm more of a Megabus man myself ..

Im with ya, id rather pay $1.50 to go from New York to dc in a bus than hundreds in a plane

[∞]

I wish they could bring the concord back.

[Salyut]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_Princess
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Brabazon

This is how they rolled back in the day.

[praxis1966]

I wish they could bring the concord back.

I loved that thing, too. Too bad even if it were still in use I'd never be able to afford it, lol.

[Magón]

http://content.emirates.com/us/english/images/2_fc_tcm272-349461.jpg

That's at least got to be on a private jet?

[∞]

That's at least got to be on a private jet?

Nope...Emirates.

[ryacku]

Economy class has improved a bit. You can listen to music with your headphones (plugged into your armrest) or watch tv.

[Comrade J]

Economy class has improved a bit. You can listen to music with your headphones (plugged into your armrest) or watch tv.

Hell no! Every time I have been on a flight and had my earphones plugged into the armrest, I have been deafened by announcements from the pilot or the cabin crew. For some reason, even if you're listening to the music or TV at a reasonable volume, any announcements (and the 'ding!' before) have been extremely loud and made me nearly jump out of my seat. :ohmy:

It doesn't help that my ears get really fucked up flying anyway. Am I the only one to have experienced this?