Two years ago The Onion ran a piece about Basic Economy “Airlines Installing Uncomfortable Bumps In Seatbacks Because It Pleases Them”

They had the scoop on a new less comfortable coach product.

According to sources throughout the commercial aviation sector, the nation’s airlines will begin installing awkwardly placed bumps in every airplane seatback this week because it reportedly brings great pleasure to them.

…[United’s CEO said] “Let me make clear that these seats will be incredibly uncomfortable, and there is nothing more gratifying than making the experience of simply sitting during one’s flight an excruciating ordeal.”

This wasn’t just a story about new uncomfortable coach seats. This was a story about a new coach product that you could buy your way out of by spending a little more each way, just like Basic Economy fares,

for an additional fee, customers would be allowed to purchase seats with only a single, pointed protrusion in the lower back.

I’ve got to give The Onion credit for the best investigative reporting.