Continental gets "Sky" interior

Continental Airlines is the first U.S. airline to get a 737-800 with Boeing’s new “Sky” interior.

According to a Continental press release:

This all-new interior features newly sculpted sidewalls, energy-efficient LED lighting and larger overhead bins that retract into the ceiling, permitting stowage of additional roll-aboard bags. Other features include improved ventilation and cabin-noise reduction for customers and new, touch-screen flight attendant panels and controls.

Bigger overhead bins?  Can we hope to see that on all future airliners? Only time will tell

(Frank II)

Comments

[Alan B]

Interesting. See:

http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/10/bca_bsi_10_27_10.html

It appears that each bin holds three rollaboards, plus a briefcase, all going in sideways, so the likely true width is about 48 inches. One might be able to fit in a slightly wider rollaboard, say, 15 to 16 inches, as some manufacturers are making, though those in turn are slightly shorter. What is not specified is the maximum depth of the bags, but I'd guess it could be up to 10 inches.

Seat pitch, however, likely remains 31 inches, no more than 32, dare we dream for 34, so two bins would span three rows, space to fit six bags for nine passengers, i.e., if EVERYONE has a rollaboard, the bin war is not over!

[Frank II]

Alan B....where did you get your measurements?

I saw one mock-up photo of a loaded bin that was absurd. It showed the bin covering about 3 1/2 rows. If that was the case, that would be a little over 100 inches. Therefore, each case in the mock-up would be about 30" inches wide. I believe they are supposed to go in sideways, like the do now. With the new plane, the bins will be able to take more.

If it's like the photo, then the new bins hold even less.

[Paula S]

The mood lighting isn't new, we had that on our Air Canada flights this Summer. I must say though, it was rather nice.
Even if the overhead bins are larger, the airline would have to stipulate the same bag measurements as before and not allow any bags longer or wider, otherwise the same situation will continue.

[Alan B]

"I saw one mock-up photo of a loaded bin that was absurd. It showed the bin covering about 3 1/2 rows."

I made my estimate based upon the typical width of a rollaboard being about 14 inches. The ILLUSION that the bin covers 2-1/2 rows is a PERSPECTIVE phenomenon, which results from the use of a wide angle lens. As a photographer, one often uses that to emphasize objects in the near foreground, versus those farther away. I hold to my estimate that the bin width is about 48 inches.

[Alan B]

OK, I looked at the Boeing illustrations again, one of which shows FOUR bags completely filling the bin, placed in transversely. Maybe the bins have an interior dimension of up to 53 inches, overall spacing center to center perhaps 56 inches, so space for three bags for every four seats. but two bag spaces for every three seats more likely in economy class, which on most planes has become 31-inch pitchville hell.