Flying Saddles

As if airplane seats weren’t already uncomfortable. Recently unveiled last week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference, the new SkyRider is a saddle-like seat that allows airlines to sardine passengers into their already cramped planes.

The idea behind the SkyRider is that it is similar to riding horseback, “Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle,” says Dominique Menoud, director general of Aviointeriors Group, which will make the seats. If I’m not mistaken, I thought riding horseback was supposed to be the opposite of comfortable.

In addition to making passengers suffer, the SkyRider is made to save airlines money by eliminating seat-pitch to a mere 23 inches. Seat-pitch is the distance between the same point on two seats and the smallest seat-pitch in economy is about 31 inches. As seen above, some of passenger’s weight is transferred to the legs, and their legs are tucked under the seat ahead. However instead of reclining, these seats can raise up to accommodate for longer legs. This could possibly be comfortable than regular seats.

Don’t panic yet, the SkyRider won’t likely be in your next flight. Though, Aviointeriors, says several airlines, including some in the U.S., have expressed interest. "We feel extremely confident that this concept will ... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes," says Menoud.

Personally I would do anything in my power to avoid sitting in the SkyRider. Hopefully airlines won’t force to use them. Most likely, airline would use them as their own class of seating, Menoud says. “Passengers would likely pay lower fares. But airlines could boost their profits because the narrowly spaced seats would allow them to squeeze more fliers on board”

What do you think? Would you rather walk to your destination, or is this the face of cheap air travel? Leave your comments below!