Designer Of New Double-Decker Plane Seats Stands Firm In Defense Of His Creation

Alejandro Núñez Vicente, at the age of 21, initiated the Chaise Longue Airplane Seat concept as a college project, commencing on a small scale last year.

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The innovative design quickly gained recognition and received a nomination in the prestigious 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards, a highly regarded accolade within the aviation industry.

Following an article on CNN Travel, the concept garnered significant online attention, further propelling the spotlight onto the design and its creator.

This week, Núñez Vicente is presenting his design at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany. He firmly believes that his double-level seating concept represents the future of economy flying.

Airlines have a history of exploring unconventional and imaginative methods to maximize passenger capacity on flights.

Francesca Street/CNN

In a previous instance, Ryanair stirred up controversy when they expressed openness to the concept of introducing standing space on flights. The idea entailed passengers being seated and strapped in during takeoff and landing but standing during the cruising phase of the flight.

Taking a different approach, the new concept focuses on maximizing seating capacity by introducing double-decker seating in aircraft, deviating from the idea of having passengers stand.

Unlike the spacious Airbus A380, the new concept takes a different approach, resembling a space-saving bed commonly found in compact apartments rather than a two-floor airliner.

The design incorporates a higher row of seats accessible via a couple of steps, resembling a bunk bed, while the lower seat is positioned behind and partially underneath, with leg space underneath. The overall arrangement creates a snug seating configuration.

Alejandro Nuñez Vicente/Instagram

Initial reactions to the design were met with less enthusiasm, as concerns were raised regarding safety and practicality. Criticisms ranged from genuine safety concerns to more everyday issues, such as the comfort of taller individuals in such a setup.

People took to Reddit share their thoughts on the seats.

One wrote: "Imagine some crazy turbulence and your legs get snapped, or you have to get off the plane in a hurry. Seems incredibly dangerous"

Another was more blunt, posting: "You could also fit more people into a jet by blending them into a fine slurry before boarding."

Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Nonetheless, the creator of the design Alejandro Núñez has come to its defence after a new design was revealed.

He said: “People can talk and they always hate innovation in some ways.”

"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.”

In an interview with CNN Travel, Núñez Vicente expressed his intention behind designing the seating concept, aiming to improve economy-class seats for the benefit of humanity and make air travel more accessible for those who cannot afford pricier tickets.

During a test conducted by CNN Travel, the design prototype was evaluated. It featured two ladder-like steps that travelers used to access the top level, which was described as "a little precarious."

Once on the top level, CNN Travel reported that the seating area was spacious and comfortable, providing ample room for passengers to stretch out their legs.

According to the review, the seats on the top level were fixed but had the ability to recline.

Núñez Vicente's design eliminated the need for overhead cabins, and instead, he created storage space between the top and bottom levels for travelers to store their cabin luggage.

The bottom row of seating, however, was described as "pretty claustrophobic."

"But if you don't mind tight spaces, and you're planning simply to sleep all flight, it could be an effective solution," they added.

"One of the phrases I get a lot, is 'If it's not broken, why change it?'" Núñez Vicente told CNN Travel. "So if passengers still fly in the worst economy class seats, why are we going to give them a better option? It makes money.

"That's the goal of the airline at the end of the day, not to make your flight better."