I can't decide if the following is pure genius or the worst idea I've ever heard. I'll let you be the judge.
What would you say if I told you that you'd never again have to sit next to a fatty or an ugly chick on a flight? Even better, what if I told you that you could choose who you wanted to sit next to on the plane based on their Facebook or LinkedIn profiles? Well that's exactly what KLM is starting to do, and it could become commonplace across the airlines.
Now I'll be honest. When I first read this I was struck by the fantasy and then the reality. For about ten seconds, I thought about all the Playboy bunnies I could station myself beside. Then reality set in. And the reality is that I won't be sitting next to a playmate; I'll probably have a state school kid on either side of me humping my leg for eight hours on my next transatlantic flight.
All that aside, KLM may have figured out a way to monetize something that was always left to chance. They're not charging for the service at the moment - all that's required is that you share your Facebook and LinkedIn info before you can see anyone else's - but why wouldn't they start charging more for seats next to the most desirable passengers?
It wouldn't even require a complicated computer program. Imagine an airline running some form of "Hot or Not" program in the background and jacking up the cost of seats next to the hottest women? Likewise, it wouldn't be difficult for a program to analyze LinkedIn information and cull the C-level executives so that the seats next to them could be had for a premium.
This is why I think it might be the greatest idea ever. While most of the unaware hoi polloi goes about their miserable flying experience, a whole subset of passengers on the same flight might be having the time of their lives connecting with attractive members of the opposite sex and potential employers or business partners.
And the airlines could definitely charge a premium for that experience. But at some point the airplane starts to resemble a middle school lunchroom. The cool kids are all having a ball while the fat, ugly losers are huddled together to eat paste.
I think if the airlines are going to roll this out and start charging for it like I think they should, they should be required to post the cost of seats around you. So if you buy a seat and link your profile, you can see whether the seats around you drop in price or get more expensive.
This kind of thing has the potential to turn into a major shitshow, too. Like my example above, suppose you're a VP at a bank and some college kid with no hope in hell buys the seat next to you for eight hours and won't get off you? Pretty miserable way to fly.
On balance, though, I think it's worth the risk to be able to further isolate those less attractive or of no value to us professionally. I mean, how many times have you been seated next to some dirty hippie who hasn't bathed in a week or had a job since the Carter administration?
All joking aside, what do you guys think? Should you be able to choose your seatmate on a flight? And, if so, should you be charged a premium for the privilege? I seriously think the airlines are missing out on a potentially huge revenue stream here. But it looks like KLM is catching on.
terrorists can get their own entire section
Haha. I think that this is great because I won't have to sit next to ugly/fat people who take up half my seat too. However, I think that people will start to complain and state that the practice is discrimination leading to major media and social shit storm.
how do ugly people take up half your seat?
how are you going to get the pretty gals? u going to offer them cheaper seats? or pay them to take your flight? the gals have to come before the guys will follow.
Not sure I'd pay for this, but if was free, I might use it for the networking aspect. Sure would make for an awkward icebreaker though. "hi, I was stalking you online- andd now I'm stalking you in person"
Not to mention, the last thing I want are college kids picking my brain on commodities banking 101, when I could be using that 5hr flight time to get prepped for the fifteen fucking meetings I have in the coming 48 hours.
Here's what I'd pay for- one way selection. I get to sit next to big hitters, but don't expose myself to the risk of sitting next to undesirables for five hours. Then again- that's exactly what the big hitters are thinking about me.
So, having thought through it- interesting idea, might work if free, but not as a revenue generator. Executives aren't going to want to sign up for this shit. Hot chicks, maybe- but then again, similar logic... Why would thye want to expose themselves to the risk of sitting next to middle aged, sweaty, parisian expats that'd ogle them the whole trip ;)
Jokes aside I think it's a great & interesting idea as long as its free and they can guarantee the privacy of your profile.
Could potentially turn into one of the biggest politically incorrect practices and resulting shitfight of our time.
HI. FRIENDLY BOFH HERE. THIS IS WHY I TRAVEL BY AIRSHIP. 48 HOURS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND PLENTY OF ROOM TO STRETCH OUT. NO CREEPS SITTING NEXT TO YOU THE WHOLE FLIGHT. THEY EVEN HAVE A 40LB GRAND PIANO MADE FROM ALUMINIMUM.
YOU CAN'T SMOKE ON THESE THINGS THOUGH. FOLKS KEEP TALKING ABOUT SOME PROBLEM WITH "HYDROGEN EXPLOSIONS." OH WELL, WHEN WE GET OVER THE LANDING FIELD IN NJ, MAYBE I'LL SNEAK A CIGARETTE. HONESTLY, HOW BAD COULD IT BE?
In all seriousness, this is a huge computer science problem called "finding stable pairings". Google the marriage algorithm; there's a way to seat everyone without creating a huge fight assuming they charge everyone the same or make it free.
id pay for this, more to make sure that i dont have some person who shouldve paid for two seats breathing on me and taking my god damn arm rest...but then again, i never sit in a seat thats not on the aisle, so it could be worse
Completey agree about the two-seat thing, but you are aware that in general, if you're in the middle seat, both armrests are yours, right? I'm not saying I don't try to get both of them when I sit in a window/isle (usually there's some middle-aged woman next to me who couldn't care less), but if you're stuck in the middle seat, you've got first dibs to the armrests considering you're in the middle seat.
Not if youre a fat fuck that gets up 20 times a flight because your knees hurt
If you are over 23 and travel frequently on business, there's only one quality you look for in the person sitting next to you, and that quality is leaving you the f*ck alone. Corporate flyers are far too important to an airline's bottom line, and most business travelers are too busy or uninterested, for me to see this type of program ever being rolled out or used with any scale.
^^ this x 2
Who cares who you sit next to. I travel for work and let the powers at be place who sits next to me. However nothing is WORSE then selecting a seat than changing it at the gate and its actually a downgrade (when speaking of people sitting next to you).
Can we discuss how we have grandma and Brucey boys as stewardesses? What happend to the smokeshows with the nice rack of lamb and rumproast...and I am not talking about the in flight meal. amirite?
This would be a total mindfuck. I'd be checking my seat 1,000 times before actually getting on the plane. I can see it now: "Why did this guy choose to sit next to me?" "Does he want to talk shop?" "Wait, is he some creepy gay guy who chose the seat next to me because of my picture?" "Fuck, he's totally gay. Should I move? What if he follows me?" "Fuck it, I'm switching seats." "Christ, he followed me. What the fuck." "God damnit, only middle seats available now. And this one is between 2 fucking fat people. No wonder it's open. I hate this shit. Fuck you KLM."
No thanks. I'll leave it to chance.
I often arrange networking meet among the people working in oil and gas industry. I love meeting new people making connections. So, I think i will take it as a networking opportnity :)......just like some Presidential fund raiser dinner where u go to make ur network strong...these are just my point of view
Group all children under 5 together and put them in the back of the plane then I'm happy as long as I'm up front
Yes, I have been advocating for this for years. Put all of the families with kids at the back of the plane, separated by a sound proof wall.
My parents met on an airplane crash. name's Turkish.
Lol
Something similar already exists...and it's insanely absurd, but I wouldn't put it off to a couple people here that would try it.
http://www.misstravel.com/
You basically fly out a hottie on your points or money and that's that
ha ha ha....If some one going to use this let me know how it went
ha ha ha....If some one going to use this let me know how it went
i signed up yesterday..its great
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/is-this-a-joke
Sounds like it could get weird.
yeah this is weird.. technology gone too far
Wtf? You guys fly commercial? I got 10 hookers for each of my jets.
Dumb. How does a college kid have multiple jets
This is bullshit. I like fat chicks. They don't say no.
I know a lot of people that would be willing to buy a first class ticket to sit next to an MD/VP/Associate.
If they were smart they would make it a bid system. Everyone on the flight wants to sit next to the hot chick (or the BSD in this case).
In other news, today I deactivated my FB. I find it hilarious how ego plays as much on the internet as much it does in real life. I would get rid of Linkedin but I dont find it as annoying atm (and thats not ass to mouth EB)
F this. Worst flight I ever had was 3.5 hours stuck next to a potential summer associate coming to interview at my firm, I don't need people quizzing me (or asking me to quiz them) every Thursday.
if you pay big $$s to sit next to a chick or a "bsd" you are fucken pathetic. if anyone paid to sit next to me i wouldn't want to talk to them.
If you are viewed as a desirable seat mate that allows the airline to drive more revenue, do you get some kind of a discount?
It look like a airline escort service
I'd really love to hear from some KLM customers who have used the service. KLM is (or at least was - it's been several years since I flew them) such a pleasure to fly as it is. I'm not surprised they came up with this.
Time for dynamic pricing on individual airline seats based on who's next to you?
This sounds weird. Do you think that this will make good looking women to take other airlines? Or could KLM offer discounts based on looks, or even let for example, models fly free based on the bidding system model? Seems safer to just keep it free and not so convoluted.
The airline could say it was free and just run the dynamic pricing behind the scenes without anyone knowing. That's what I would do if I were them. It's not like you use Travelocity or something to book these, you have to use the KLM Seat & Meet service. There would be no way for customers to know that the pricing wasn't organic.
The problem is that everyone knows you payed more to sit buy so-and-so. If you're a wealthy looking 50 year old due sitting by a good looking 23 year old, people will know something is up (especially if this system is known to all parties). They need to find a way to make this "embarrassment" free. Reputation > sitting by a hot chick, and, like others have said, I doubt she would want to talk to you if she knows the system too.
THIS.
and good luck impressing a hot chick who knows that you went out of your way to sit next to her.
THIS.
and good luck impressing a hot chick who knows that you went out of your way to sit next to her.
Double post bitches.
just noticed, great photo choice btw
Net working just went aviation
I think if I was flying with my girlfriend I'd seat her (unknowingly) next to the smokeshow on the flight and hope they became friends before we landed.
Its called first class..
So. how about this for a good compromise:
Thoughts?
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