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Simple Geometry = More Seats In an Airline

Posted by timothy on from the argument-to-moderation dept.

New submitter innerpeace writes: New airline seat arrangement looks to increase passenger capacity. A patent application by Zodiac Seats France calls for a design that puts every other passenger in a row facing backward. That means that in a row of three fliers, the seat by the window and the seat by the aisle face toward the front of the plane while the middle seat faces toward the back. The design idea could fit up to 80 more passengers in a plane, depending on the current seat layout. Whatever downsides it has, if such a design is adopted, I hope it leads to a stronger adoption of a convention that those with window seats board first.

6 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. So will stacking us vertically by gurps_npc · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It isn't about getting more seats in a plane, it's about doing so without making people uncomfortable.

    This looks like it would work fine if everyone knew each other - but would suck if you had an annoying seat mate. Who wants to be forced to look at them - or have them look at you?

    This design violates current social norms for personal space. As such I dislike it.

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    1. Re:So will stacking us vertically by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But do you dislike it enough to pony up for business/first class tickets? No? Then suffer, cattle.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:So will stacking us vertically by perotbot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      the cattling of economy class, the security theater, the inconvenience of the current airport experience has gotten me to the point that if a destination is less than 10 hrs by car, I'll drive rather than fly. Between the delays of getting to the airports 90 to 120 minutes prior to the flight, the inevitable delays, it just makes more sense to drive it rather than fly for me

      --
      ~corporate tool, but employed~
    3. Re:So will stacking us vertically by lokedhs · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Or, you could travel with an airline which don't suck. Ever wondered why the best US airline on the top 100 airlines list is Delta at number 45?

      Try flying proper airlines and you'll see the difference.

  2. Three thoughts... by Pollux · · Score: 3, Insightful

    #1) This will make it that much more inconvenient for passengers closest to the window to get out when they need to use the bathroom.

    #2) Forward-facing seats make more sense during takeoff, as the acceleration from the plane pushes passengers into their seats, but the seats keep them secure. Passengers facing the rear will find it a bit more uncomfortable holding themselves in the seat when basic physics is pushing them out of it. (Yes, I know airline attendants have rear-facing seats. A cousin of mine served as steward on an airline for some years and always complained about them.)

    #3) Are airplanes engineered to handle the additional weight of 80 more passengers and their luggage?

  3. Re:I'm all for it by ericloewe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You clearly have no idea about airplane structural engineering, or you wouldn't even consider what you just suggested. The only realistic solution would require a massive weight increase and the added failure scenarios, which need to be carefully examined and worked around.
    Furthermore, refueling an airplane does not take less than two minutes. That's the time you need just to plug in the fuel line.

    Not to mention the absurd ground complexity. Airports would need several cabins per flight per aircraft model, plus room to store them, plus machinery to handle them...

    Never, ever going to work.