There's a New Proposed Airplane Seat Design That's Way Worse Than the Middle Seat

Flying is difficult enough. Between waiting in endless security lines, navigating delays, and squeezing yourself into irrationally small seats, it's enough to make you want to scream. And that's not even considering the stress behind planning a trip and getting to and from your final destination. But one airplane seat proposal has found a way to make the flying experience even more, let's say, cumbersome.

The design isn't exactly new, having been published last summer in an exclusive with CNN. But the concept, created by 23-year-old Alejandro Núñez Vicente, has picked up attention in recent weeks after an updated iteration appeared at the Aircrafts Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. Called the Chaise Longue Airplane Seat, the prototype sparked a whole new dialogue around the pros and cons of double-decker seating on planes. And while reimagined designs for airplane seating aren't anything new (plenty of ideas have been floated around, like the double-decker lie-flat beds and this futuristic cabin design), this particular double-decker concept raises some specific concerns.

Imagine you're sitting in your seat, partway through your journey, and it's mealtime. The plate is put on your tray, and you dig in, only to realize that a foot from your face is your fellow passenger's behind. It's not the most appetizing way to start your meal or a pleasant experience for the rest of the flight, for that matter.

In an interview with USAToday, Núñez Vicente tried to appease concerns about this design 'flaw.' "The idea is that there will be some kind of restraint here," Núñez Vicente said. He then explained what would happen if a fellow passenger seated above you (we're sorry for this) passed gas. As Núñez Vicente explained, "It wouldn't go straight through unless it were especially forceful."

However, it seems unlikely that any unpleasant smells would dissipate completely.

The proximity to your fellow passenger's behind isn't the only issue. If you look closely at the prototype, you'll notice that the bottom seats are the only ones with extra legroom, as the headrest of the bottom passenger restricts the upper-level passenger from stretching out.

It's not all bad though, as the design does give passengers more space than current commercial airlines. Also, since there's no one sitting directly behind you, reclining your seat won't cause an issue.

So, while this design comes with some positives, it doesn't seem ready to roll out just yet. Reimagining airplane seat designs is commendable (I mean, most plane seats are comically uncomfortable), but this one needs a bit more work.