Featured Image Credit: Chaise Longue
Topics: Technology, Viral, Travel, Pilot, US News
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As passengers complain about cramped leg room while travelling, one aviation company has apparently caught wind, so to speak, and has come up with a new controversial solution.
Airlines are continuing to cram us into their jets like sardines, putting in more seats to boost their profits at the expense of our legs.
There's nothing worse than feeling squished up in a metal container around a bunch of strangers to kickstart your vacation - just add a screaming baby or a toddler kicking the back of your chair and you might be reconsidering the entire trip.
But a solution may be on the way as Airbus planes could have conjured up a revolutionary plan to build double-decker seats.
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Chaise Lounge, a start-up based in Madrid, Spain, has revealed it is working with the European aerospace company to put the double-decker seating plan to the test.
To optimize the space and save some crucial inches for our legs, the concept sees each row of seats positioned at one of two levels.
For example, the first row on the normal level while the one behind is elevated on a raised platform.
However, the idea has already hit a nerve with some passengers who have pointed out it has a somewhat unfavourable design flaw.
For a start, those on the top level get to enjoy reclining without offending anyone behind them while the bottom level has been starved of the luxury of sitting back.
To mitigate this, passengers on the bottom level do appear to have more leg room to stretch out, but others say those positioned at the bottom are awkwardly head-height with the derrière of the passenger in front.
As such, critics are calling it the 'fart zone', which is arguably worse than the cramped-up and screaming, kicking toddler scenario.
Joking about the situation on Twitter, users said it was an 'a**hat idea' with lower deck passengers being in the 'line of fire' of the person in front.
"Not gonna fly with someone's butt in front of my nose," read another. "Sorry."
"They're going to charge you a premium to avoid the a**-in-the-face row aren't they?" a second said.
"One fart away from the No Fly list," a third jibed.
Despite the criticism, the multi-level concept is being celebrated by Alejandro Núñez Vicente, CEO and founder of Chaise Longue, who said the company is exploring 'early stage concepts' with Airbus.
In a LinkedIn post, he wrote: "After 4 exciting years pursuing my dream of improving the passenger experience and giving passengers what they truly deserve, today I am very excited to make [this] announcement.
"It's the dawn of a new era for commercial aviation, so I hope that you are as excited as we are with this announcement and that soon, you can be crossing the skies in a more comfortable, spacious and two-level seat."
When asked about the gas concern, Mr Vicente remarked: "With some common sense and maturity you should be able to find your answer."
"Gas in general doesn't go through solid objects like seat cushions, seat covers and plastic shells," he added.
The CEO said he's also on a mission to abolish normal airplane seating to CNN with a vision of two-tiered seating.