OK, here is something radical, no I am not aircrew so please do not flame me my comments are not meant to be objectionable. If you want to reduce costs, then surely all up mass is the answer. Most modern transport is furnished to a relatively high standard, with lagging, overhead lockers etc. If you want true LOCO, then should some airlines be taking the ALDI and LIDL idea and stripping out all unnecessary fittings. I have flown in the back of a VC10K and you can see the airframe rivets and all. As, long as the passengers don't freeze and they are safe in the event of a forced landing, should "cattle class" be akin to flying in a DC3? This may well be a bit of a culture shock for some SLF, but they would get use to it and even the travelling public would accept less "furnishings" if they thought they were getting a good deal.
WIDGER