Here's the future of business class: the double-decker seat
Yesterday I was at AIX, the leading trade show dedicated to the world of aviation furniture and components that takes place in Hamburg. [...]
Yesterday I went to the AIX, the leading trade show dedicated to the world of aviation furniture and components that takes place in Hamburg. Here the world's major manufacturers of components, furniture, technology and more gather to showcase the latest developments and designs that will be coming aboard aircraft in the coming decades.
In this article:
During the 2023 edition, a company's idea to design a two-level economy seat had made a lot of noise. These images had become a real meme, and the seat had even earned the nickname "fart Seat."
Prominent among the new ideas presented this year was certainly the evolution of the company's own concept, but this time designed for premium cabins.
How is a double-decker chair on an airplane possible
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The idea is simple, in premium cabins. many carriers no longer install hat racks in the central part of the passenger compartment to make the environment lighter and because modern hatboxes are larger and therefore there is a need for less storage space on board for business passengers.
Chaise Longue thought to take advantage of this free space and developing its Elevate Class in height.
How the double-decker chair is designed
In an ideal setup, the business class cabin would be configured with the classic seats on the outside near the windows, while the main body would house this structure.
Obviously this is a concept, but it is rumored that a very important company has asked to talk about possible use. The plan is to outfit the central part of the plane with this Elevate Class without sacrificing total seats available to the company.
The block includes two business class seats, completely insulated from the corridor and with a wall/curtain closing from sky to ground.
A solution that is not present to date in any company in the world at the business class level and that indeed very few even offer first class.
The two passengers sitting on the ground floor would have at their disposal lots of space and maximum privacy, with an armchair that obviously converts into a bed.
The innovative idea is to place partially above these two guests a second chair, which along the lines of Lufthansa's new first class could accommodate a single passenger or a couple.
Climbing 3 steps leads to a fully equipped chair. Megascreen, plenty of legroom and personal items, qureless charging for devices, and plenty of privacy since you remain out of sight of other passengers, but indeed from above you can safely look into other people's homes.
Because this idea is nice
Definitely I see much more potential in this idea than last year's idea.
The configuration of businesses with total closure allows you to change without going to the bathroom and without worrying about other guests. The environment is not so much more claustrophobic than it is today with QSuites or other cabins that have doors.
The high floor is nice and certainly could allow companies to Sell this chair as a premium business. Unlike Lufthansa's F in case it is occupied by two passengers both have direct access to the aisle and can disembark on their own side without stepping over anyone.
What I'm not sure about this chair
Definitely privacy of the other passengers traveling in the outer rows, those who sit at the top can in fact watch everything that happens on the ground floor.
The other doubt is during the service, I don't see it comfortable for crews to have to take steps to serve dishes to the upper floor with the risk of falling from turbulence or slipping off the step.
Then there remains the question of security and certification, but in this case the company's CEO, Alejandro Nunez Vicente, with whom I exchanged a friendly chat told me that it is in line with all current regulations.
