Many of us know how stressful and uncomfortable flying can be.
Do you travel a lot?
It seems like airports adjust how they do things all the time which means you’ve gotta prepare for changes before you even arrive at the airport. You also have to deal with questions like, are you really getting the best deal on your flight? Did you pack everything you need? (I know I’m gonna forget something important…) So many questions! And then when you’re on the plane, it’s very likely you’ll be dealing with less-than-ideal personal space and legroom. Those seats are pretty close together as-is, but what if there were more seats ABOVE you? Yes, that may become a thing.
According to CNN, a 23-year-old airplane seat designer Alejandro Núñez Vicente has introduced double-decker airplane seating. Last year his concept went viral and garnered many different reactions from passengers — “some outraged, some bemused, some intrigued, some all of the above.”
©1OFF Media
Now Núñez Vicente is back at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany, to showcase his new design of this concept, officially called the Chaise Longue. In response to the negative reactions, he said there’s no such thing as bad publicity and that “most of the times when they show you something new, everyone hates it at first, they’re scared of change. But the more you show it, and the more you develop it, and the more they see it, the more they get used to it.”
©1OFF Media
His concept started as a college project in 2021, but has now “catapulted the concept into the public consciousness” after being nominated for a 2021 Crystal Cabin Award. Today, “Núñez Vicente has sponsors, partnership deals and is in regular conversation with ‘the biggest players in the industry.’”
Personally, I’d rather not sit for hours with a chair right in front of my face. But it does look like there’s more legroom with this design than we typically see on an airplane, so maybe he’s onto something there. What do you think? Would you fly on a plane with seats of this design?
Airplane
So does this mean we could see this design on commercial flights in the future? It’s possible! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB — we’ll keep you updated on all the latest travel news you need to know about.
One airline is weighing passengers before their flights — here’s why.
Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks
Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World
Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport
Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe
How do you feel about this design? Tell us in the comments below!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
My claustrophobia kicked in just looking at that picture.
There is no way I’d sit on the bottom row, where spills and smells would be ‘in my face’ from above. I might be willing to sit in the top row, but even that feels hypocritical. There would have to be a lot in it (cost, nonstop, amenities) for me to consider it and even then, again, top row only.
I think I could deal with the chair in my face, but what happens when they push the seat back (to lie down)? It looks like you’d be in a box. A sure recipe for claustrophobia! Nope.
I’d be open to this until someone has gas! 😂🤣 Then we might have a problem! L!
Not to go into any kind of detail, but imagine the following: You’re sitting on the lower seat, a passenger is sitting in the higher seat right in front of you. This passenger is experiencing a ‘gastric-intestinal’ issue. Need I say more?
I think at this point I better get free bags, a free meal and half price. These look like coffins. Formula 1 drivers have more space. I’d start driving. And I live in Ohio.
If I had a choice, I would not fly on a plane with these seats.
If I didn’t have a choice, I would choose the upper seats, although they seem to have less legroom. The lower seats would trigger claustrophobia.
Questions we should ask:
Does this design eliminate carryon bins above the seats?
Do the passengers sitting in the lower seats want someone else’s backside aimed at their face for hours?
Will airlines staff medical and security professionals on each plane to treat panic attacks and break up fights?
If you’re on the top deck it looks fabulous. The bottom looks horrible. I’m too scared of tight spaces for that seat.
I will not fly in an airline where I am forced to have someone elses butt in my face! If this becomes reality, I will never fly again!
Looks so much better than flying with the person on front of you with their seat so far down they are in your lap! They really need to limit how much to recline.
how do the people in the upper seats get out of the airplane if there is an emergency? Are they assuming that the electrical will work to lower the seats and what happens to the overhead space. It is also interesting that there is no tilt on the seat back and there does not appear to be a screen for the lower seat to watch anything. No more baby on the lap with these either above or below so that’s more money spend on those seats. Interesting but I think they can do better.
No, No, double NO, do not like it.
Horrible idea! Upstairs passenger has no underseat storage space and less leg room. Lower deck passenger is inches away from smashing her nose into the seat of the upper deck seat back. This is truly “sardines in a can”. I can imagine the dramatically slowed loading process as passengers try to squeeze into these claustrophobia-generating spaces. A recipe for failure.
Actually, my first thought when I saw this was what if the upper seats came loose during turbulence and ended up on the seat below?
So, the person in the bottom row cannot stand without leaning at a 45 degree angle. AND their face is in the butt of the person above. Yikes. Airlines keep bringing this up. Anyone remember the standing seats they showed a few years back? Ridiculous!
I’ve got a few questions and concerns about this setup.
1. Safety- how does a person get up and down from the top to use the bathroom mid-flight? I question the safety of getting up to the top, period.
2. How does a person with mobility issues use these seats, either top or bottom. The top seats limit people who are able to get up there and the bottom are challenging enough to get in and out of as it is. I can’t imagine trying to lean over trying to get to the lower window seat, and with a child that needs help in and out, this doesn’t seem very realistic.
3. Room- the lower people look like they may have a bit more leg room, but that looks to be only because there isn’t a personal bag under the seat in front. I honestly don’t see that much more room for anyone on this plane. Also, it looks like she’s sitting on an angel to extend her legs, if so, this would be horrible for those with back issues.
4. Bags- where is the space under seat for personal bags, and overhead for carryon bags? Are we expected to go bagels?
5. Larger or taller people- how exactly are these seats able to fit anyone that doesn’t fit a certain height or size requirement?
6. I’d like to know how this is saving space and accommodating more people on flights? I feel like there’s a lot of info that is lacking from this article. I know I read this before and still have the same questions and I really hope to goodness I never see the day when I have to sit on a plane like this. I think my days of travel will be over at this point.
7. This looks so uncomfortable from every perspective. Will there be built-in toilets or is no one allowed to leave their seat on these flights 😳
8. Cleanliness- it’s near impossible to clean seats/trays between flights as it is, I don’t forsee either top or bottom seating as ever getting cleaned due to the inconvenience of seat positions.
About the ONLY y positive I might be able to see here would be that no one would be kicking the back of my seat- but the possibility of someone releasing gas in my face or having vomit falling between seats wouldn’t even make this worth it.
I’d like to know what will happen when someone falls getting down from the top row? And is there going to be a weight limit for people up top? And how often are the seats going to be checked for safety, I can’t imagine getting squished if they fell below.
Also, how safe is this seating in the event of a crash? Or will there be 0% of this occurring ever?? I don’t forsee how either row would be safe with this type of seating. And, where are floatation devices, air masks, and how will exit doors work with people all over?
And, how is the bottom row going to get any ventilation down there?
Honestly, this is a recipe for disaster in so many ways and there needs to be some serious safety issues addressed with this.
And where will guide dogs go? And people who can’t climb up there, but are claustrophobic. And is this going to be a 2-tier seating essentially forcing people to pay extra for a seat that need one or the other for health issues. And what if you’re fine for the top when you book a flight, but end up with a broken leg or some other ailment with short notice before a trip. Does this mean you won’t be able to fly because you can no longer get up too? Wayyyyy too many scenarios for this.
EXACTLY! Unsafe, inconvenient, uncomfortable, simply a terrible plan.
Wow, flying coach (steerage) will be transformed. Instead, it will be like riding the busiest NYC subway line during rush hour in August.
Absolute nightmare fuel