This idea comes from Chaise Longue, an aviation start-up.
As passengers complain about cramped legroom during flights, one aviation company seems to have come up with a controversial solution.
Airlines continue to squeeze us into planes like sardines, adding more seats to boost profits while reducing space for passengers. There’s nothing worse than being tightly packed in a plane with strangers, especially when there’s a crying baby or a toddler kicking the back of your chair, which might make you reconsider your entire trip.
But a solution could be on the way, as Airbus might have come up with a revolutionary plan to introduce double-decker seats.
Chaise Longue, a start-up based in Madrid, Spain, has announced that they are collaborating with Airbus to test the double-decker seating concept.
To optimize space and give us more room for our legs, the idea is to position each row of seats on two levels. For example, the first row would be at a normal level, while the row behind it would be raised on a platform.
However, the idea has already sparked some complaints from passengers, who have pointed out a design flaw. On the top level, passengers can recline without disturbing those behind them, while the bottom level has less space to lean back.
To address this, passengers on the bottom level seem to get more legroom to stretch out, but some critics say that those on the lower level will be awkwardly positioned, with their heads at the same height as the seatbacks of the person in front.
Because of this, some are calling it the “fart zone,” which might be worse than dealing with cramped seats and a screaming, kicking child.
On Twitter, people joked about the situation, saying it was a “ridiculous idea” and that passengers on the lower deck would be in the “line of fire” from the person in front.
“Not gonna fly with someone’s butt in front of my nose,” one user commented. “Sorry.”
“They’re going to charge you a premium to avoid the a**-in-the-face row, aren’t they?” another added.
“One fart away from the No Fly list,” a third user joked.
Despite the criticism, Alejandro Núñez Vicente, CEO and founder of Chaise Longue, has expressed excitement about the multi-level seating concept. He said the company is exploring “early stage concepts” with Airbus.
In a LinkedIn post, he wrote: “After 4 exciting years pursuing my dream of improving the passenger experience and giving passengers what they truly deserve, today I am very excited to make [this] announcement.
“It’s the dawn of a new era for commercial aviation, so I hope that you are as excited as we are with this announcement and that soon, you can be crossing the skies in a more comfortable, spacious, and two-level seat.”
When asked about the concerns regarding odors, Vicente responded: “With some common sense and maturity you should be able to find your answer.”
“Gas in general doesn’t go through solid objects like seat cushions, seat covers, and plastic shells,” he added.
The CEO also shared that he is working on a vision to change airplane seating altogether, stating to CNN that he wants to move away from traditional seating to a two-tiered seating arrangement.
Source: unilad.com
