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It’s wrong on several levels.
The rush to streamline the airplane interior hasn’t been smooth sailing. A Spanish designer’s idea for a viral double-decker airplane seat concept has received mixed reviews from the public with critics analogizing it to sitting in a “coffin.”
Devised by post-graduate designer Alejandro Nuñez Vicente in 2020 when he was still in college, the proletariat-sounding Chaise Longue concept was devised as a way to give coach flyers business-class-esque legroom without business-class prices or space requirements.
The result? A two-tiered layout that removes the overhead bin so it can stack two rows atop each other, thereby allowing the bottom-level passenger more legroom as there is a seat directly in front of them.
The latest “comfort class” prototype, unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, includes improved privacy barriers between seat, more separation between levels, and a revamped front row to accommodate flyers with reduced mobility, Simple Flying reported.
They’ve also made improvements to the upper deck, which is accessible by stairs. It now has approximately six feet of pitch and 12 inches of recline — 50% more than premium economy cabins offer.
Meanwhile, the total pitch down below clocks in at nearly six feet similarly ample recline and a sliding footrest mechanism, allowing Chaise Longue customers oodles of space in which to stretch out their legs.
“The unique features that make our Comfort Class something much better than the standard Premium Economy seats, and much more!” declared Vincente in an announcement on LinkedIn ahead of the expo.
However, prospective passengers had mixed feelings. Reacting to photos of the mock-up shown at San Diego International Airport, Latishia Lelea said that the extra leg room was appealing as a “tall” flyer, but didn’t like the thought of somebody sitting right above her.
“I don’t think I would care for it,” she said.
Another passenger declared, “It’s just a little too like a coffin.”
“If it were an emergency, trying to get out, I don’t know how fast I could get out of that, and I’m older,” critiqued a third. However, as Chaise pointed out, the steps have been “optimized and extended to a tread of 25cm to aid with ingress and egress, as well as emergency evacuation procedures.”
Nonetheless, these follow prior a flurry of complaints about the two-tiered concept, which has been ripped as claustrophobic and awkward.
“The person on top farts it’s over for the people on bottom,” declared one critic on X while denouncing the layout.
Some even complained about the lack of a luggage locker, but Vicente previously claimed that this is offset by the roomier footwells, which provide all the storage a passenger could need.
However, not everyone lambasted this novel design. “Anytime you have any kind of perk, it’s not for the people who pay the lowest fares, but if it’s got to be incorporated into economy class, I’m all for it,” said one San Diego traveler.
Despite the seemingly tepid reception from travelers, Chaise Longue noted that the novel concept has “secured interest from many major global airlines,” including Airbus.
No one has yet committed due to time commitment and expense involved in retrofitting an aircraft — not to mention the lengthy safety approval process — so we likely won’t see these bi-level sky chairs on planes anytime soon.
Vincente said he hopes to roll out a more budget-friendly iteration in the future.
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