Jaunted

In the new model, passengers would be sitting on something resembling a bar stool with seat belts tied around the waist. The president of Spring Airlines likened the experience to 'catching a bus, with no seat, no luggage consignment, no food, no water.' The plan would supposedly help the airline cut 20 percent of their cost while allowing 40 percent more room for passengers.

The idea hasn't yet been submitted to the Chinese aviation authority, but already the mention of cost-cutting has perked up the ears of Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who we know as the crazymouth already backing the ideas of paying to pee, cutting out checked baggage completely, and oddly enough for a bare-bones carrier, in-flight cell phone use.

Since both of these airlines do not touch US ground, domestic travelers have little to fear in the next few years in terms of the standing-room only plan, but who do you think would be the first to jump on if the idea takes flight? Spirit? By then, we'll bet that the cost-cutting will seem too good to resist to the legacy carriers, and perhaps our children's children won't be so opposed to the idea.

Related Stories:
· China's Spring Airlines to offer 'standing room only' fares? [5 Blogs Before Lunch]
· Spring Airlines Wants to Make Flying Even Less Comfortable [Shanghaiist]
· Now Ryanair wants passengers to STAND UP during flights [Mail UK]
· Airline News Coverage [Jaunted]

[Image: Graham Roberts/NYT]