I read this question on another board and nobody has answered it yet, speculations mostly, nothing substantial. I thought I would bring it to FT and let you all have a wack at it.

"I recently travelled to Europe and Asia. While on a flight from Milan to Frankfurt (and from there to Istanbul), I noticed two things I found strange."

"First, there was no first class, business class or other in the plane. Perhaps the Germans have decided that they will treat all the way Marx would have: egalitarianly (word?). "

"More disturbingly, though, there was no row 17. There was now row 13 either, and I understand all the superstitious Christian claptrap that surrounds that. The Jews whaking God's son who was the 13th invitee to a dinner party and all..."

"But why no row 17? Is there some similar Teutonic superstition I don't understand? Or do Germans just not like the number 17?"

"Now for the details:

I flew four legs on Lufthansa: Milan - Frankfort, Frankfort - Istanbul, Istanbul - Frankfort, and Frankfort - Milan. All were on A-321s. Perhaps it is an issue with Airbus, but I have flown on other Airbus planes and they had not eliminated row 17. I only noticed the lack of a row 17 on the 2nd leg of that part of my journey. But neither of the planes on the last two legs had a row 17."

"Row 17 was not omitted because of a bulkhead. As I said, the Germans seem to believe in egalitarianism."


If anyone can help, please do so. Thanks