Dating The Friendly Skies

from the mile-high-club dept

It must be Valentine's Day looming around the corner, but everyone seems to be getting into the dating game. Last week it was Tivo, matchmaking like-minded viewers through its understanding of their viewing habits -- now, a new dating service arranges dates for singles travelling on flights around the country, planting lonely travellers into adjoining seats in the hope that love blossoms mid-air. If this service proves successful, everything could eventually turn into an internet-aided dating adventure. Soon to come: SubwayDating.com, LaundromatDating.com, GroceryShoppingDating.com, and SittingAloneAtHomeWithMyCatDating.com.
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  • identicon
    Mike, 13 Feb 2006 @ 5:12am

    Just had to be said...

    But isn't SittingAloneAtHomeWithMyCatDating.com also known as match.com/eharmony.com/(any one of hundreds of dating sites already out there)...?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      ehrichweiss, 13 Feb 2006 @ 12:51pm

      Re: Just had to be said...

      oh gawd...you ever see what the rates are for eharp-on-me.com? You know that with places like Y! Personals, etc. only one person, the originating sender, has to have a subscription for the communication to start since replying to a message is free but eharmony requires BOTH people to have a subscription...and their subs, last I checked, are $50/month...so they make $100 the first time you talk to "your soulmate". If they turn out not to be the person for you then they make a lot more than that...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rodney, 13 Feb 2006 @ 5:13am

    Hmmmm... Not a Bad Idea...

    Well, I can only speak from my point of reference here, but I like the idea. I can think of many times when I flew alone and scanned the waiting passengers for interesting *possible* dates and romance. Why not let someone hook me up if they can not only match my flight times, but general interests and have a *feel* for the type of women that I enjoy. If things go well, it doesn't matter where or how you meet that special person...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Professor HighBrow, 13 Feb 2006 @ 11:30am

      Re: Hmmmm... Not a Bad Idea...

      It's an interesting idea... but oh too subtle!

      How about an entire new section of the plane, the Singles section. Just costs a little more than coach, but less than 1st class. Have nice bar, some tunes, a dance floor... wait, they made a movie with this idea...
      There could be all kinds of profit for the airlines too, with people buying drinks and getting hammered during flight (in more than one way!)
      This would work out fabulously; We'd have 1st class for the business people, Coach with all the families and crying babies and that little brat that keeps kicking the back of my seat, and then the Mile High section (equipped with an unusual number of bathrooms with coin-operated condom dispensers.)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        JBenson, 13 Feb 2006 @ 11:55am

        Re: Hmmmm... Not a Bad Idea...

        If the prices of items in the airport have any bearing on the prices on the plane, it'd be a credit-card operated condom dispenser. But I digress. It's a neat concept, but I think the spontaneity is lost when it's pre-arranged.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tim, 13 Feb 2006 @ 5:24am

    No Subject Given

    Let's just hope the airlines don't have too much influence here. I can see the email now: Hi Dave, Congratulations, we have found the perfect match for you on your flight. Unfortunately, the young lady in question is flying first class. Please click here to upgrade..... Your friendly airline!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Tyson, 13 Feb 2006 @ 7:04am

      Re: No Subject Given

      lol Good point Tim, I could see the airlines doing that. Something along the lines of "for just $20 more, we can sit you beside that someone special..."

      Although, when I travel, I do tend to look around the plane for "hopefuls", and it would be nice to know if the woman sitting 2 rows up is actually single and looking.

      Interesting concept. A for effort...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 13 Feb 2006 @ 1:06pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      Tim, the concept you're alluding to mirrors my thoughts after reading the article

      I'm continuing your line of thought: Give the lady a first-class upgrade, and prompt the males to pay for an upgraded ticket and the opportunity to meet said 'lady'.

      Prediction ~ Eventually these lady slots will be filled by male flight attendants in drag; they will be earning 'overtime'...

      This is an interesting concept! I'm soooo glad I'm married!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Tim Myles, 14 Feb 2006 @ 4:06am

        Re: No Subject Given

        ....God this could get ugly. You can guarantee it wouldn't be long before they start an auction - "and this is Angela, she's 27, from Boston, like's horse-riding, Tom Hanks movies and swinging. She's sat in seat 22F, I'm starting the bidding for 22E at $300...." ;-)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dorpus, 13 Feb 2006 @ 5:28am

    California Air Hump

    I have an image of hundreds of Californians jumping out of airplanes, humping away in mid-air....

    Are they going to make a gay version of this too? Will there be rainbow-striped airplanes shaking on the tarmac, with men's palms visible in the windows?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Gabriel Tane (profile), 13 Feb 2006 @ 5:59am

      Re: California Air Hump

      Maybe not jumping out of the airplane, but I can see a pilot in the cockpit asking the copilot "where is this turbulance coming from? we shouldn't be rocking this bad."

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Moogle, 13 Feb 2006 @ 6:09am

        Re: California Air Hump

        That gives me a TERRIBLE idea for a commercial. How do we find out what advertising agency they're using? You, sir, have a letter to write. :)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Leslie, 13 Feb 2006 @ 7:09am

    I Don't Think So!!!

    I'm single AND I fly alot... but NO WAY I'm gonna date as well!!! I pity the poor guy that has to deal with me after I have to deal with airline travel! For instance, on a recent flight, I broke two nails trying to get by bag out of a rental car trunk that was as tall as me!!! Then the tram at JFK wasn't working so I had to take a different one, go two stops beyond where I was going and then take a different tram back to my terminal. Then, the flight was delayed. Then I arrive at MSP and it's 12 degrees and I'm not wearing a coat!!!! OK, I'm new to this and I'll get better but please... I have enough to worry about without having to date while I'm doing it!!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      TriZz, 13 Feb 2006 @ 7:31am

      Re: I Don't Think So!!!

      ...and just think, all of that could have been forgotten with some sweet loving at 30,000 ft!!

      However, this has sooooooo many problems. Connecting flights. If the person isn't going to your hometown - then what's the point of a love connection (beyond the obvious membership to the mile-high club)?

      What if the person is a RAGING b**ch (like we can assume Leslie MIGHT have been during her flight) - Then you're stuck there for up to 8 hours (flying within the US) just thinking about how much this SUCKS!

      ...I mean, if my fellow row attendee is not interesting - I can turn on my iPod and hang out with some of my best friends, but with this service - you're almost obligated to TRY and enjoy their convo the entire flight.

      I don't know...it's a nice idea, but they'd have to iron out some details.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Leslie, 13 Feb 2006 @ 6:51pm

        Re: I Don't Think So!!!

        LOL Trizz... I'm glad you used the phrase "Might have been" cuz I would never want to be a b@#ch to my fellow passengers... might get shot!!!!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tyshaun, 13 Feb 2006 @ 7:27am

    I don't know...

    My only thought would be this. Let's say you're on a 4 or 5 hours flight and about 10 minutes in realize you and the person are incompatible. How awkward would that be for th rest of the flight? I mean, it's not like you can cut the date off early with the old "cough/headache trick", you're at 10,000 feet.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Scott, 13 Feb 2006 @ 10:48am

      Re: I don't know...

      Simple - The participants simply wouldn't be informed that they had been "matched." Man gets on plane, notices that he gets to sit next to a gorgeous woman (doesn't know whether she's single, but he can find out later). Maybe they hit it off, maybe they don't, but it would be just like getting the lucky ticket in an ordinary circumstance. (The matchmaking service could notify the couple AFTER the flight, just so they both know that they weren't placed together by mere coincidence.)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Wolfger, 13 Feb 2006 @ 12:36pm

    Amazing...

    Why is it people here seem to equate dating with sex? Do you really believe some woman you just met is going to have sex with you in the airplane bathroom just because a dating service finds that you have similar interests? I think this overwhelming response by horny guys is the main reason this service will never take off.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 13 Feb 2006 @ 12:53pm

    RE: Amazing --- (or TIVO has a plan here)

    I think this overwhelming response by horny guys is the main reason this service will never take off.

    OR TIVO sees this to their advantage and never intended to go anywhere with the matching service - all they care about is all the lonely horny guys out there reading about the service, think that like you said, "Dating = sex", realize that they need a TIVO box to get in the matching service, thereby spiking sales of TIVO boxes by several hundred thousand - reaching the REAL end goal and
    making the company profit.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jason Frew, 1 Oct 2006 @ 2:55pm

    Dating in the Friendly Skies

    I think I'd rather hit on the stewerdesses---the way God intended!

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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