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"Coffin hotel" airplane seats

Be able to sleep on long flights
  (+25)(+25)(+25)
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For very long flights, utilize the *volume*, not floor area of an airplane, by dividing up the space into coffin-shaped cubicles, similar to those Japanese hotels. Make the cubicle just big enough to not be claustrophobic.

If the structure is a foam or honeycomb-core sandwich, it can be made very light. If the cubicles are aligned side-side, rather than fore-aft, they would be safer than seatbelts in a crash. Passengers can be given LCD screens showing a choice of outside views, to help break the monotony and to combat motion sickness.

And one would actually sleep in total comfort on the flight.

nr6, Jul 19 2003

why sleep? Mile_20high_20nightclub
[kinemojo, Jul 18 2006]

Expanding on this Half Baked idea... I_20dream_20of_20location_20replacement
With some safety, transport, and cargo ideas mixed in. [James Newton, Jul 26 2010]

[link]






       I've always thought that hammocks would be nice on a plane..
neilp, Jul 19 2003
  

       needs a much better name though.. you can't call it a coffin hotel plane, that's just not going to bring in the punters
neilp, Jul 19 2003
  

       As seen in Fifth Element, of course, complete with sleep button.
DrCurry, Jul 19 2003
  

       Does it turn into a coffin when the plane crashes?
DeathNinja, Jul 19 2003
  

       I've also often thought something like this should be doable. I'm not sure you want to totally enclose them, though. Part of the reason claustrophobia is mitigated with conventional seating is that you're able to psychologically share the space that "belongs" to those seated around you. I'm not sure there's enough room in the plane to avoid claustrophobia and still have the same passenger payload if you close each passenger in only their alloted space. But it could still be done with a view toward maintaining shared visible space, though with some loss of privacy compared to the coffin space approach.   

       I believe the perceived lack of privacy would not be a big issue, though. I once flew first class on Air France from Paris to Hong Kong, with a seat that converted into a fully flat bed, with down pillows and a down duvet, and airline-issued pajamas, even. Despite the fact that I was essentially engaging in a slumber party with strangers, let me assure you it was a far superior experience to spending 12 hours in a seat.
beauxeault, Jul 19 2003
  

       Aeroplanes - noisy, cramped, boring
Capsule Hotels - tiny, fibreglass, uncomfortable
Put them together and what have you got? A transport idea that will be acceptable to chubby, deaf, agoraphobic midgets only.
my face your, Jul 19 2003
  

       I would be so happy to be lying down rather then sitting on an airplane. I wish they would do this.
jmvw, Jul 18 2006
  

       nice idea. If the "coffins" are loaded and offloaded like containers on a container ship, will this reduce the time needed to load/unload the plane?
vmaldia, Jul 23 2006
  

       The night before my travel, I report to the airport and check in to my cubicle in the Japanese style hotel. I watch a movie, check the internet and then go to sleep. During the night, I and my fellow passengers are picked up by forklift, loaded in to a cargo plane (with air, etc...) and transported to our destination, where we are off-loaded into the hotel at that airport. We wake, rested and refreshed, ready to do our business in our destination city.
James Newton, Jul 24 2006
  

       I can imagine this working well. Convert only 1/2 of the airplane for this, as it won't be perfect for everyone. Also take some of the space saved and convert it to a little lounge area, in case someone wants to get up or feels claustrophobic.   

       One issue: trying to get sleep while someone above is joining the mile-high club.
Worldgineer, Jul 24 2006
  

       Or just gut the interior completely and give everyone a Zorb.
wagster, Jul 24 2006
  

       I would like bench style upholstered seating like really old cars used to have, with a change in color of fabric perhaps, to designate the boundaries of each seat, but still allowing you to get comfortable if your aisle is not full. not sure how to reinvent the arm rests.
AH, Jul 24 2006
  

       let's do this for trains
sukiyaki, Aug 23 2008
  

       'Sleeper section' with tickets 25% off; people can get out to stretch and use the john; mandatory pillow, blanket, ** AND ** mint-- I'm sold!   

       I sleep on flights and my back is always sore after.
Bcrosby, Aug 23 2008
  

       Reminds me of the compartmentalisation on that spaceplane in the Fifth Element, just without the mandatory cryosleep.   

       [+] Like it, would certainly want to try it, although it wouldn't be ideal for everyone.
kuupuuluu, Aug 24 2008
  

       I like this precisely because of the epithet "coffin". I think you should actually make them like coffins as a memento mori, because it might put people off and they'd cut down on heavier-than-air travel, and if there actually was a crash it would be easier to deal with the bodies. The next of kin could get a free coffin from the airline that way.
nineteenthly, Aug 24 2008
  

       Thinking about this, I have a hard time figuring out a layout that allows denser packing then current seating arrangements. The problem is accessibility and the fact you need an aisle adjacent to every space, as opposed to seating where an aisle can be for every two or three spaces.   

       If travelers are laying perpendicular to the direction of travel, this gets easier, but makes getting in and out of the space much harder. It also limits how high you can go, before the curve of the airplane doesn't allow for someone to stretch out and have room to get in and out.
MechE, Jul 17 2010
  

       Stack the small people at the top ...
8th of 7, Jul 17 2010
  

       //curve of the airplane//   

       two words: drum magazine   

       five word explanation: Like on a "tommy gun"
FlyingToaster, Jul 18 2010
  
      
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