The biggest problem here is increasing the passenger density while not increasing the amount of cabin baggage storage. This is particularly a problem in the US where there seems to be basically zero enforcement of cabin baggage limits. When I flew coach, I would always try to get on first just so my perfectly reasonable backpack would be near me. Get on last and it might not make it on the plane at all.
I say "when I flew coach" because AFAIAC that phase of my life is over. I'll pay to fly in a premium cabin when I have to fly. I consider myself fortunate to have that option and a not unreasonable indulgence.
I actually have no problem with this seating per se because it fits into the overall model of passenger/price segmentation. I'm not sure how much of this will be aimed at the developed world since flying is already ridiculously cheap in terms of real income [1].
I mean I've flown from NYC to SF return for @260. A mere 25 years ago in Australia it was relatively common to take a 2-3 day train journey from Perth to Sydney because a domestic flight was too expensive for many.
There are some general trends in the airline industry. First, first class is rapidly disappearing (eg Qatar Airways doesn't even have a first class cabin on many of its planes anymore). The reason is that business class is basically what first class used to be. What's now premium economy isn't much worse than what business class was 20 years ago.
I say "when I flew coach" because AFAIAC that phase of my life is over. I'll pay to fly in a premium cabin when I have to fly. I consider myself fortunate to have that option and a not unreasonable indulgence.
I actually have no problem with this seating per se because it fits into the overall model of passenger/price segmentation. I'm not sure how much of this will be aimed at the developed world since flying is already ridiculously cheap in terms of real income [1].
I mean I've flown from NYC to SF return for @260. A mere 25 years ago in Australia it was relatively common to take a 2-3 day train journey from Perth to Sydney because a domestic flight was too expensive for many.
There are some general trends in the airline industry. First, first class is rapidly disappearing (eg Qatar Airways doesn't even have a first class cabin on many of its planes anymore). The reason is that business class is basically what first class used to be. What's now premium economy isn't much worse than what business class was 20 years ago.
[1]: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/02/how-airl...