I've always understood that planes weigh alot less if they're not painted. It's a tradeoff, since it's harder to maintain airplanes when the metal is exposed directly to the elements. But if you're interested only in saving fuel, then shiny metal airplanes are the way to go.

Here's a thought - why not take a row or two out. A few less people means less weight and a little more leg room. Everyone wins...

"For instance, when U.S. Airways cuts in-flight videos, people may bring their own entertainment, including heavy books, portable DVD players and the like. Wouldn't that actually weigh more in the end?"

People are bringing all that stuff anyway. Unless it's an airline that has satellite TV like JetBlue or Frontier, nobody counts on being entertained by the movie.

Here's a thought - why not take a row or two out. A few less people means less weight and a little more leg room. Everyone wins...

Posted by: Chasmosaur | July 24, 2008 2:53 PM

Except the extra legroom is negligible and the airline will lose money by having fewer seats to sell.

I would expect them to cut back baggage weight limits further and begin to charge for carry on bags.

I refuse to travel by air unless there is just no other way to get there. Not because I am afraid to fly, but because I am disgusted by the deteriorated customer service. They are just not going to charge me some outrageous amount and then treat me like red headed step child. The train is much more relaxing. Ships are relaxing and fun.

I recently took a flight back from Arizona where an enormously large woman occupied the middle seat on a packed Continental flight to Newark. This woman not only got on board late and then had flight attendants rummaging for space for her more than one carry on, but she immediately sat down and not only took both arm rests but poured over to both occupied sandwiched seats (mine and the passenger in window). Fat people like this SHOULD have to pay extra. Double is a bit extreme but extra, for sure!

How about the weight of those food and drink carts? Can airlines find a lighter-weight cart that also has 360-degree wheels to enable the cart to swing around to let people go past them to the loos?

I had that same problem Ellen Hilburn had but there was an upside. The guy in the window seat, I was on the aisle, said something to the "large" guy in the middle and an argument ensued which resulted in large guy being sent up front. The woman who replaced him sat down and pulled out this incredible product called a Head-Bac. It was some new type of travel pillow and had straps which allowed her to not use the arm rests which left room for me. Maybe you should get one of those Head-Bac and you won't need to worry about elbow room. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Andrea, that's really cool. A Head-Bac, huh? I am going to check it out. Thanks fot the suggestion!

Talking about Head-Bac, I am a businessman and I have been using one for the past 2 weeks on at least 5 flights criss crossing this wonderful country of ours and this is normally torture for me but don't get me wrong it still is, especially with the delays. However this Head-Bac is good. I am really able to sleep with this thing. I tried all the travel pillows but this is different. I even have 4 other members of our using them now.

I agree that cutting in-flight videos would be a detriment to cutting weight. As opposed to the one or two videos played for all customers, you could potentially have hundreds with computers or books. Maybe they should have tips on how flyers can contribute.

SteamboatEcobroker