Skymall promises (lies) pillow for first class comfort in economy
Flying internationally most of the time, where things are much better, I've been rather cavalier about the cutbacks on leg room and amenities on most airlines, subscribing mostly to a philosophy of Randian super-capitalism when it comes to Delta and American Air. "If people want to pay more than $50 a flight, they can pay for more leg room," I've said. Imagine my shock, then, suddenly flying domestically and finding myself plunged into a Bioshock like world of mutated libertarianism in the throes of going absolutely bazonkers, where passengers postures are hideously contorted through hours forced into chiropractically impossible chairs and are packed so tight even getting up to use the bathroom is a horrific ordeal. You know, there's going to come a point when comparing domestic flights in the economy section to Nazi cattle cars isn't just going to be an offensively flip analogy: another couple years of price saving and passengers are going to be instructed as part of the landing announcement to dump their sewage and throw out the dead.
But I digress. The point is "room and comfort on domestic flights." There isn't any, except for fat cats. This inflatable back support pillow aims to give the average economy passenger some, and it certainly looks comfortable enough in that picture. In the real world, though, the lack of space between economy seats would cause that pillow, when inflated, to push you forward at a 45 degree angle and rest your forehead against the seat in front of you. As soon as the passenger in front of you thoughtlessly reclined his seat, your skull would be crushed.
It's $30, which might be worth the try, but let's face it: the only solution for comfort in economy is to fly first class.
1st Class Sleeper [Skymall via Oh Gizmo!]
the latest
latest episodes
Which is precisely why we need the return of airships!
If you can afford (time-wise) to be somewhere the next day rather than in 4 hours, you could ride in a floating hotel (like a cruise ship) instead of being crammed into an aluminum tube with wings.
'Cause what I really need in a coach seat is what appears to be about 4 inches LESS legroom. (because anything that takes up space between the seatback and your but effectively decreases legroom)
I've rarely seen an economy seat that reclines that far, as well.
But I agree with anonymous #2: as it is, at 6'2, my knees are usually touching the seat in front of me before they so lovingly recline into me and shatter my kneecaps. This pillow would do me very little good at all.
re: Nazi cattle cars: Not offensive exactly, but makes you sound like an uber-wuss. Really, four hours in a somewhat uncomfortable chair isn't quite kristallnacht.
I fly Southwest most of the time, mostly because humans answer their phones and I happen to live in a hub city. So first-class usually isn't an option.