Introduction of ‘double stack’ seating?

Airbus has requested a design patent on the idea of stacking a second layer of seats above the seats in the middle row. There are little stairs and everything. The overarching idea involves both squeezing more people onto the plane and providing passengers with the option of reclining completely. Put differently, you’d get a little more leg-room, but you’d have to sacrifice face-room.

The patent application is here if you want to see the pictures

http://pdfaiw.uspto.gov/.aiw?PageNum=0&docid=20150274298&IDKey=0410F6F462F7&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fappft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.html%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPG01%2526S1%3D20150274298%2526OS%3D20150274298%2526RS%3D20150274298

It reminded me of a slave ship !

Evacuation techniques would have to be revised , I’d have thought.

Done correctly, it could have potential to increase our comfort, sadly I fear your right Charles……Another opportunity to cram even more people into an already crammed space.

It seems conditions will soon resemble those of the slave trade. Pack as many in to make as much profit as possible.

Lets hope the airlines aren’t tempted to do what the captain of a Liverpool slave ship did in 1781, when he threw more than 130 African slaves overboard and tried to claim insurance for them!!!

Proximity to certain types of ‘breeze’ at face height when sitting in the lower seats could be a concern….

I am all for some of the new designs with the pod concepts etc. Same number of people, even greater in some cases, all with greater comfort – I think they are wonderful design ideas worth exploring.