In article IyV3g.288$KB.208@fed1read08, says...

Looks like somebody was dumpster diving in Tolouse and came up with an
oldie...



No - or not completely anyway. You are right, of course, that the idea has been
floaing around for some time, and has been rejected in the past, but it appears
they are giving it a fresh look now. Airlines are taking a cool distance though
- even in Japan (the ANA spokesperson said it does not fit with their immediate
needs). It would seem they see this as a poor publicity stunt - no one wants to
be the launch customer for the most uncomfortable accommodations in the history
of air travel! If they could get past the stigma though, I'll bet it's burning
a hole in the heads of airline bean counters, trying to figure a way back to
prosperity - and in Japan, where they use white-gloved "pushers" to cram more
people into the subways, this must seem almost utopic - even if they don't want
to be seen favoring it yet.

GF