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Its the exam season again. Once again I have been asked for exam TIPs. Rather than replying individually, follow the links below:

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Good Luck!

Laurence Kuek

I thought I take a peek into the future of low-cost airline's "standing seats"! Yes, the creative cost-cutters are at it again. They are looking to push the balance between comfort versus economy to the "max". This is not really new but have been bounced around for quite a while. Personally I thought the idea was quite novel when a colleague of mine (Mr. P3/7 Lecturer, sorry Joey) brought it to my attention.

I estimate you could add another 6 rows of 6 passengers (count... 36) from the five inches of space savings. Ryanair's Michael O'Leary reckons he can knock off 20% to 50% off the cost of a seat. Sounds like a great deal right?... or is it? Seasoned air travellers know what an extra inch or two could do for comfort so I am not so sure.

But wait a minute... there has got to be some safety compliance issues right? Apparently, the details of how to make sure passengers can survive a crash in the standing up position has yet to be ironed out. So Michael O'Leary or Tony Fernandes won't be rolling out any standing-room-only flights any time soon. Ryanair's Boeing's 737-800 approved passenger load is 189 and Airbus's A320 used by AirAsia is 179. Both airlines would have maximized their passenger loads by now.

From all accounts in the press, the standing seats concept is not a matter of if but when. I am starting to feel a twinge coming on, no doubt brought on by the thought of lying on a surfboard-like-contraption on one of my many trips home to Kuching.

Here are some of the other notable changes that are likely to make their way into the low cost airline industry soon:

• Charging for toilet access.
• "Fat" tax for the amply built.
• No luggage check-ins, ALL passenger-carried.
  

Just how much more discomfort can we subject ourselves to, just so we can save a few extra ringgits. I guess pushing higher economies of scale by increasing our "tolerance for discomfort" is the mantra of the industry for now.