Airline Tests Mood-Based Seating: Smart or Silly?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/06/08 13:00:00

Related Topics: Airplane, seating, Mood, airbaltic, seatbuddy, Tickets, Family, New York, Odds, Smart, Media, Plane, Social Media, Ticket, Tests

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914 votes
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	Smart	614 votes	67%
	Silly	300 votes	33%

Any time you buy tickets for a plane flight, unless your family reserves an entire row, you're putting yourself at great risk. We're not talking about the plane going down -- the odds of that happening are absurdly low. But the odds of sitting next to someone you don't want to sit next to are much, much worse. That's why airBaltic is experimenting with a mood-based seating system, to give passengers a chance to narrow down their seating buddies.

According to The New York Daily News, "SeatBuddy" gives passengers four different "flight moods" to choose from: business talk, easy chat, work, and relax. A seating algorithm then takes those choices into account when assigning seats. The program also offers optional detailed matching by age, language, career, interests, etc. It's like a temporary social media profile, just for that flight. Does it sound like something you'd want to try?

+33

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BOOGIE-WOOGIE-MUSIC-MAN-ROC... 2012/06/08 15:15:19

Smart

+15
This is to satisfy their guilt. so, give me back my smoking section. dammit.
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More polls by SodaHead News

brittany 2012/06/09 20:52:40

Smart

you won't have to worry about sitting next to a weird person or someone who stinks.

reply
Vinny 2012/06/09 20:44:10

Silly

but as long as I'm sitting next to the person I'm going with that's all that matters to me!!

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kent 2012/06/09 20:33:12

Smart

But they need to include one more section...the "No Yappy Bastards" section. It seems like every time I fly, I get stuck in the "Very Yappy Bastards" section and all I want to do is sleep.

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clasact 2012/06/09 20:14:27

Smart

guess it smart but when I fly I just read or sleep so I dont really care who im next to

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Matt Gray 2012/06/09 20:01:58

Smart

+1
Sounds like a good idea. I don't like flying and when I do have to fly I prefer to mind my own business. Usually I'll have headphones on while either watching a movie on my laptop or listening to my iphone - it's a distraction. Also I need a window seat lol, my mood improves when I can see out the window and gaze onto the landscape.

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kotabear 2012/06/09 19:38:00

Smart

Nice!!! Talk about meeting a new friend on an airplane. Sounds like a pleasant experience.

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hello kitty 2012/06/09 19:18:32

Smart

badass idea.

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john n 2012/06/09 18:24:17

Silly

Screw prearranged socializing we have Soda Head and Face Book for that. If you can not afford to fly first class then you should not fly at all. Who the hell wants to fly and talk to poor people...

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Razorey... to john n 2012/06/10 04:51:38

+1
And people wonder why the rich are so out of touch.

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john n to Razorey... 2012/06/10 06:02:44

+1
They are untouchable and above the law and sadly this is really how many of the wealthy feel about the less privileged. The 'Let them eat cake' attitude is leading to the total corruption of America. The people are at fault for permitting this to happen by constantly consuming and accepting lower standard products without boycotting...

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JonahTFOT to john n 2012/06/10 06:28:09

He's talking about you, genius...

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john n to JonahTFOT 2012/06/10 06:54:37

Hello earth to JonahTFOT: E = MC1 = Really?

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Razorey... to john n 2012/06/10 18:50:16

+1
Thats all true, and sorry I thought you were being serious with your first post. This was a clever way of exposing the rich.

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john n to Razorey... 2012/06/10 19:44:14

+1
I am happy that you understood. Sometimes a little sarcasm can go a long way towards exposing things for how they really are... :)

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Cookie 2012/06/09 18:20:37

Silly

+1
I like meeting all types of people regardless of race,religion,or back ground, so yes I think it would be interesting to get to know people that I have nothing in common with.Besides,there's a snowball's chance in hell that I'd ever fly anyway.

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♌βļąƈʞƦơșƐ3033♌ 2012/06/09 17:52:20

Smart

wow, that's pretty neat!

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Bali 2012/06/09 17:37:09

Smart

+1
since there are very few that i do like maybe i can get an entire cabin to myself.

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Assassin~ Badass Buzz Guru 2012/06/09 17:31:22

Smart

Great idea!!

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Greenbay 2012/06/09 17:12:12

Smart

Away from all children

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meme14 2012/06/09 16:55:55

Smart

It's not a bad idea - but you have to worry about who is in front of you too..I sat behind someone who smelled like he s$%t his pants...for real. It was an agonizing flight

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Wulfdane 2012/06/09 16:52:15

Silly

+2
We must cater to the weak willed of our society who need constant pampering so they can feel like that special little snow flake.

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EricVanSingleton 2012/06/09 16:38:25 (edited)

Silly

I think it's an interesting idea, but how much more will it cost?

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Posha King 2012/06/09 16:08:20

Smart

It sound so interesting for those who fly trans-atlantic flights often. Who knows what other uses this type of algorithm might find...

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JonahTFOT to Posha King 2012/06/10 06:29:20

+1
Good lord, seating charts for classrooms... This is a dream come true :D

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Temlakos~POTL~PWCM~JLA~☆ 2012/06/09 15:44:43

Smart

It's smart, if they handle it right. It's almost like social direction for a flight instead of a cruise.

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Hannie 2012/06/09 15:41:44

Smart

Sounds neat.

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viola 2012/06/09 15:41:22

Smart

It is a bit silly, but i'd try it for sure :D

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Cliff 2012/06/09 15:15:40

Silly

+2
All the men want to sit next to the attractive lady and nobody wants to sit next to the big fat guy who brought along a few sub sandwiches for the trip.

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Red Rose 2012/06/09 14:00:20

Silly

Who would choose business chat? Business men do not want to talk.

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twocrows 2012/06/09 12:21:11

Smart

+1
what? I won't need to pretend to be asleep [amid enormous engine noise, general clamor and the chaos? yeah right.]
even an open book in my lap with my eyes glued to it doesn't stop the person in the next seat from asking about my grandchildren [nonexistent], destination and reason for travel.

is there a category for 'no one' when requesting who you want in the seat next to you?

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Ev Rom 2012/06/09 06:31:33

Silly

+2
Do they have STF flight mood?

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sally 2012/06/09 06:30:16

Smart

I don't want to sit next to an angry old fat guy or the PMS hormonally depressed little brat on the plane ride for four hours.

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Jiorgia 2012/06/09 06:13:59

Smart

really good idea.

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AngelaDuke 2012/06/09 05:40:08

Silly

Im going on vacation, not signing up for e harmony

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Jake Blanton 2012/06/09 05:26:27

Smart

+2
Unfortunately, I suspect that if I filled out their profile, they would having me flying cargo...

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VintageLys 2012/06/09 04:38:57

Smart

why not

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0cean3yes 2012/06/09 04:29:54

Smart

At first I thought this was pretty stupid but after thinking about it for a moment I realized that'd be really nice to not be paired up next to someone awkwardly. I'd like to see this happen. :]

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AprilSkelton 2012/06/09 03:16:42

Silly

I usually read a book. I could care less who sits next to me.

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Greg 2012/06/09 03:11:12

Smart

+2
Especially since they are testing it and will adjust their business model to what works best for them and their customers. This is the free market at work, here. If you don't want to give that kind of information, go with an airline and/or flight that doesn't do the profiling.

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JeanLouiseCollins 2012/06/09 01:52:04

Silly

I don't want more people getting into my private life so the questions seem invasive.So I guess I have already told you where I will sit..None talkers please!!

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