Airlines may start packing passengers in like sardines.

The airlines have come up with a new answer to an old question: How many passengers can be squeezed into economy class?

A lot more, it turns out, especially if an idea still in the early stage should catch on: standing-room-only "seats."

Airbus has been quietly pitching the standing-room-only option to Asian carriers, though none have agreed to it yet. Passengers in the standing section would be propped against a padded backboard, held in place with a harness, according to experts who have seen a proposal.

You know I am not a huge fan of flying as it is. In Alaska, no flight lasts less then four hours minumum. I have to say that if they start strapping me to the walls, for four or more hours at a time, I am probably going to find a lot of reasons to cancel those vacation plans. I cannot imagine how crabby I will be after being strapped up like Hannibal Lector for an entire flight.