Solving the Seat Reclining Problem
Every now and then an article is written or a social media post is launched that complains about reclining seats on airplanes. What is the etiquette? Whose space is it? Blah, blah, blah.
People: this problem has already been solved.
And, of course, it has been solved by the Germans.
If you catch a train in Germany (I think an ICE train, but it has been a few years, so can't be sure) the seats recline by sliding your butt forwards, not sending your head rearwards.
So when you recline, you don't take anybody else's space but your own. Your seat is in a little pod-like cladding so the person behind you doesn't even know you've reclined. It doesn't affect anyone but you. And you get to decide if you want to slope your back or have room for your knees.
And, in all the discussion about reclining seats, I have never seen this suggested: just change the seats on the plane!
So what are the downfalls?
- Cost
- Weight
The cost one is obvious, but the solution is simple: just add it to the new planes. This would stimulate the economy because people will demand to fly on the new planes to get the better seats, and that will drive demand and conversation and the first airlines to have the 'good' seats will get increased marketshare and prestige and everybody wins.
The second problem is weight. Adding a pod-like backing to each chair would add more weight to the plane. But I am sure this isn't a hard problem to solve: reduce plastic in the rest of the seat, or reduce foam in the cushion, or something similar. Or add a surcharge to your air flight to cover any extra fuel required for the added weight.
The third problem might be a reduction in total number of seats available on the plane, as perhaps these new seats take up more room than a traditional 'shit' seat. Maybe. Perhaps that is why they are on trains and not planes. However this could be offset by making the seats smaller.
Nobody will notice; they'll be too busy reclining their seat back and forth to realise they're paying more for a smaller seat with no bum cushion.