"When we initially started to bring the 787 to the market we felt the market would be for eight abreast and more comfort" than earlier planes, Boeing's sales manager for the project, Marty Bentrott, told reporters.
"But 65% of our customers are going for nine abreast, and we think that (ratio) will probably go up."
I know it is not FT PC to call people names, but can I say this about 65% of Boeings customers: You B*st*rds.
Dear Boeing:
That money in your pocket does not come from the airlines, your customers. It only goes throught their bank account. It comes from their customers, people like me, the airline passengers. Who will pay for a wider seat. (I'm talking that extra 7.5% you are claiming to save. Don't give me the Just Pay 500% more and buy a FC tic.) How do you know? You don't, because I do not have the opportunity to patronize an airline with a one inch wider seat. The corporate CEO and Beancounters, with their million dollar golden parachutes and pension plans, will buy the nine seating and say "look, people are flying it, so they must love it." No, it just happens that we must travel and you are one of the airlines going there.
Enough ranting, I'm going off to buy a lottery ticket. If I win $500 million, I'll buy a small airline just for the fun of being able to fire all the top mismanagement.
After I make them fly every day for six months in the center seat of a 9 across till they claim it's "cruel and unusual punishment"