Núñez Vicente’s frustration with a lack of legroom was the original impetus for the design, and by not having a seat on the same level in front of me, it does allow me to stretch out my legs, and there’s a foot rest for added comfort. SEE ALSO: 2 pilots allegedly fall asleep on flight from NYC to Rome as plane traveled 38K feet above ground He argues that while a traveler couldn’t stand upright in that space, many already can’t stand upright in regular economy rows - although, presumably, these taller travelers will be even more squished by this design. Núñez Vicente reckons there would be about 1.5 meters separating the seated passenger from the top of the plane. In the vast, echoing halls of the Hamburg Messe conference center, it’s hard to imagine what it would actually be like to be that close to the cabin ceiling. Instead, he’s designed space in between the top and bottom levels for travelers to stow cabin luggage. ![]() Núñez Vicente’s design does away with the overhead cabin. The prototype seats don’t move, but they’re each set up in a different positions to indicate how they could recline. It’s a little precarious, but once I’m up there, the seat feels roomy and comfortable, and there’s plenty of room for stretching out my legs. Núñez Vicente’s designed the prototype with two ladder-like steps for travelers to use to access the top level. Testing out the conceptįirst up, the top level. AIX is one of the world’s biggest aviation shows, and he’s premiering the first full-scale prototype of his design.ĬNN Travel stopped by to get a taste of what it might be like to fly on a double-decker airplane seat. Núñez Vicente is set to receive even more feedback this week. ![]() “My purpose here is to change the economy class seats for the better of humanity, or for all the people that cannot afford to pay for more expensive tickets,” he says. His design is for the everyday traveler, so Núñez Vicente says he’s keen to hear what would-be fliers have to say, positive or negative. MORE: What to know about summer 2022 travel, how to find cheap flights with rising costs “I grow more from listening to the critics and listening to the bad comments, than from listening to the good comments and the flowers that they throw me,” says Núñez Vicente, speaking to CNN Travel in Hamburg, Germany, where he’s showcasing his design at the 2022 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). He’s been granted some hefty investment that’s allowed the project to develop.īut while some marvel at Núñez Vicente’s innovation, others recoil, concerned about claustrophobia and convinced sitting underneath someone else would be worse, not better, than the current airplane economy set-up. ![]() He’s in talks with big-name airlines and seat manufacturing companies. He’s paused his master’s degree to pursue the project full time. ![]() Since then, Núñez Vicente’s been making waves in the world of aviation. A nomination in the 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards - a top prize in the aviation industry - swiftly followed, and the design became the focus of a flurry of online attention following a CNN Travel article. Flying economy for any extended period of time is an experience usually endured rather than enjoyed, but one airplane seat designer reckons his design could revolutionize budget travel.Īlejandro Núñez Vicente’s Chaise Longue Airplane Seat concept started small scale last year, as a college project for the then 21-year-old.
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