New Airplane Seat Fitted As A Saddle, Offers Less Room (VIDEO)

A new brand of airline seats called SkyRider, created by Italian company Aviointeriors, are already causing controversy, even though they have yet to be placed in any airplanes. The new seats are basically extremely upright saddles, providing 7" less legroom than most economy seats do now.

The seats are being introduced as an option for low-cost airlines as a way to fit more people in planes. They hardly seem to fit people of normal height and weight. When a company representative was asked about how these seats would accommodate overweight passengers, his response was "try to lose some weight."

It seems as though these types of seats won't work. You be the judge.

WATCH, below:

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Comments

[Mike Wrona]

10:20 PM on 10/05/2010

Thirty years ago the airlines were deregulated to: Improve service. Increase Competition. Reduce ticket prices. Since then, communites have lost air service. The number of flights have declined. Convenient point to point service has disappeared. Near continual mergers have reduced competition to a handful of airlines. Ticket prices have become an advertising scam as hidden add-on fees, luggage and services charges have risen dramatically. Even after clearing the field, the airline industry remains in trouble for the only reason they have ever been in trouble - It sucks. Time for a national super highspeed rail (180+ mph) network be constructed to put as many short and intermediate airline segments out of business, leaving the survivors to haul cattle.

[dben]

10:06 AM on 09/19/2010

The genius of the "saddle"?

An airline ticket used to be FOR a seat. Now, airlines can separate the cost of a ticket FROM your seat. The cost of a seat will be charged for a "saddle" and economy class tickets for actual seats will increase.

[dben]

09:59 AM on 09/19/2010

Disgusting.

Now "sitting" is value added?!

Just a transparent scheme (NOT to charge LESS for "saddles" but) to charge MORE for economy class tickets (i.e. actual "seats").

Reminds me of the way so many companies today have MONETIZED THE IMMATERIAL.

Facebook turns identity into a product via a marketing plan masquerading as a personality contest. Water companies charge naive consumers for a fancy designed bottle containing a "product" that is actually free.

Now we'll be expected by airlines to accept sitting as a "product".

Disgusting.


.

[chachachamp]

01:21 PM on 09/18/2010

Now we know why those who can afford to travel in Private Jets do so. At what point do we as air travel passengers surrender our dignity--probably at the curb when we unload our luggage. The airline industry suffers from a lack of customer service skills, underpaid workers, including flight attendants, and pilots. Overworked, underappreciated and frustrated to no end, the innocent passenger absorbs the throwback. Adding insult to injury, an inefficient securty check system, X Ray machines that create "naked" images and exposure to low level radiation, antiquated AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL service, and a luggage nightmare certain to misplace your most valuable travel garments, and right before that long anticipated cruise to the Caribbean. AND NOW THESE NEW SEATS-- Are you kidding me ?? Has somebody been smoking their shorts ?? Get real. Guess what ex lax--I'm bringing my own carry on SEAT!!

[chachachamp]

01:08 PM on 09/18/2010

Welcome aboard ladies and gentleman, Junk Airlines non stop service to who knows where. This is your Captain speaking. In an effort to pack even more passengers into our already overcrowded, germ infested and smelly airplane cabins, we have introduced a new, less comfortable but good for our BOTTOM (no pun intended) line seating arrangement. Would I trade my plush Captain's chair for yours ? Not likely, but sit tight and enjoy the ride--At JUNK Airlines, where our motto is: NO FRILLS---JUST THRILLS!!!

[erinker]

11:32 PM on 09/17/2010

Ah, finally an invention for those of us who just find flying in coach WAAAAY too comfortable!

[dben]

03:59 PM on 09/17/2010

Disgusting.

This is a transparent plan to charge to charge MORE for economy class tickets.

Hyper-capitalism exists and thrives not for the benefit of the citizenry but their exploitation.

[zerepas]

01:11 PM on 09/17/2010

They're fine, if you're a sardine.

[Cori527]

12:51 PM on 09/17/2010

In the picture, I don't even see how a third person can fit in the middle without becoming intimate with the other two.

[erinker]

11:33 PM on 09/17/2010

Exactly! Forget about "overweight" customers. I really can't see how anyone but a small child could fit in the middle seat.

[angrymanspokane]

11:35 AM on 09/17/2010

They look brutal on the schnuts

[Uproar]

09:05 AM on 09/17/2010

I wonder if it's a surprise that it's an Italian company making these seats. The worst seats I've had on an international flight thus far, was on Alitalia. I was literally kissing the seat back in front of me, and I'm about 5' 5". There was NO room at all. I think Italian design often seeks to be space-saving and compact, they are known for making furniture that converts into other pieces of furniture.

But these seats seem like a safety hazard - hard to get out to use the bathroom, hard to get out in case of emergency, impossible to maneuver in your seat to get to a life jacket or anything else. I would fly in these seats even for free.

[liberalbug]

09:51 PM on 09/16/2010

I'd accept this willingly if I could have a mouth-bit piece and some reins for the naughty and noisy little children in front of me so I could rein them in every time the little brats acted up.

[Cori527]

12:51 PM on 09/17/2010

That's what cargo bays are for. ;)

[suemag]

08:51 PM on 09/16/2010

I"m getting hemorhoids just thinking about it!

[MajorKong]

05:54 PM on 09/16/2010

Wow. Just when I thought they couldn't make it any worse.

[Dmk2032]

04:35 PM on 09/16/2010

As a female passenger, I wouldn't mind these seats...during turbulence

[OKSunny]

04:45 PM on 09/16/2010

u beat me to it! Lol

[BlindChance]

09:31 PM on 09/16/2010

LMFAO. Oh gawd. And if they're "massage chairs"? Forget it. Sign me up. I'll put aside my discomfort and claustrophobia.

[Rassie]

11:08 PM on 09/18/2010

But where can you put it - there's no space.