(15 Mar 2015, 11:04 am)aureolin wrote eLeather seats aren't a luxury. They're more cost effective to operators, as they can be cleaned in seconds. For fabric seats, they should be shampooing them at least once a month, given the amount of use they get. I'd bet most haven't been shampooed since they've been in the fleet, as it'd take a good few hours to do a bus.
Spot on - but they're marketed as a luxury. Leather is often perceived to be more luxurious and comfortable, and the operators (quite rightly) use this to their benefit.