Originally Posted by
Herod
Standing passengers? Not yet they don't, and I don't see even the authorities standing (sorry) for it. Apart from anything else, what about the vertical G forces that a seat has to withstand? The other problem is that the aircraft in its present form can only carry 189 because of the emergency exits. More pax would require re-certification, something I don't think Boeing would be happy to do. Standing pax = bad publicity. MO'L might consider bad publicity is better than no publicity, but I suspect Boeing will think differently.
Actually as far as MO'L is concerned outrageous idea means free advertising as every journalist on the planet will fall over themselves trying to report it. As you note the 737-800 is certified for a maximum of 189 seats. Neither B nor A would invest the money needed to gain certification for more passengers. But it does mean this urban myth gets repeated and repeated and repeated ...