In recent decades, not much has changed in the economy class cabin. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve this cabin would be to simply stagger the seats. The armrest war would be no more, personal space would increase, and airlines wouldn’t need to sacrifice capacity to do it. But will any airline be bold enough to be first to try this configuration?
Staggered seating could be the biggest change in economy
When it comes to passenger experience, not many have their finger on the pulse of new developments quite like Dr. Joe Leader, CEO of the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). I asked Dr. Leader, out of all the innovations we’re seeing in the passenger cabin right now, which one would he most like to push through onto the plane right now? He told me,
“The one that I would push through would be slightly staggered seating. It simply requires a middle seat to be two inches forward or back, and it stops the competition for the armrests.”
Two years ago, Molon Labe received FAA approval for its S1 ‘Space Seat’, a concept that did exactly what Dr. Leader is talking about. The S1 not only offsets the passengers horizontally but also in the vertical space. This means shoulders, elbows, arms, and thighs are no longer directly adjacent, giving passengers a real sense of space and more real estate without bumping into neighbors.
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Rebel Aero presented a similar idea with its ‘Joy’ seat design concept. The Joy slightly staggers the middle seat so that passengers’ arms naturally fall in different positions. It also builds in a flip-up booster seat, allowing passengers to stretch their legs or to make travel safer for youngsters.
Some seat designers have taken this a step further, with Thompson Aero Seating suggesting a more dramatic stagger of each group of three. Its Cozy Suite, revealed a decade ago, means no passenger is directly adjacent to their neighbor, and also builds in a side-on headrest for more comfort and privacy onboard.
The beauty of these designs, in all cases, is that it’s a win-win for the airline. Not only do they get happier, more comfortable passengers, but they don’t have to sacrifice capacity to do so. The adjustments for the Molon Labe and Joy seats are so minimal there would be no impact on density, while Thompson Aero believes airlines could actually accommodate more passengers with their layout.
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Several reasons to change
Although these seat concepts have been around for some time, and some, like Molon Labe, are certified and ready to install, not one airline has been bold enough to step out of the comfort zone of the economy cabin. Dr. Leader, for one, hopes that this will change in the near future. He said,
“I hope that after the pandemic we will see airlines be bold and say you know what, we want to take a chance on that. And by the way, we’d also like additional wings that can go further forward so that there’s visible privacy for passengers.”
The fight to avoid the middle seat is not just about not wanting to rub shoulders with strangers on both sides. It’s also about having some level of privacy, which is more easily achieved in the window or aisle seat. It’s something that could be easily achieved with a newly designed headrest, per the Cozy Suite, or a simpler divider.
Dr. Leader believes that adding privacy to the economy cabin is key to upping the game for regular fliers. He noted,
“A semblance of privacy in economy class would go tremendously long way towards making the economy class seating solution better. And I hope that airlines are willing to take a risk and adopt those new innovations.”
No customers, yet
To date, no airline has opted for staggered seating, even though it would make life much more comfortable for the economy class flyer. While adding the seats would boost comfort, it will also come at a sizeable cost to airlines, who will have to readjust the entire cabin to accommodate the new economy layout. For large carriers, seat refits can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per aircraft per cabin, quickly adding up to millions.
With ultra-long-haul flights on the rise, in economy class as well, innovation might well be needed for travelers to remain healthy and comfortable. Staggering middle seats is perhaps the easiest option available, especially for airlines like Qantas that are still mulling their fleet plans. On a 19-hour flight, the last you want is a battle for the armrest.
Whoever moves first could have the chance to attract many more passengers. However, as with many things in the industry, airlines will not jump until pushed by competitors to make passenger life more comfortable.
What do you think about an economy cabin that features staggered seats? Let us know in the comments.