Ergonomics Expert Designs the Perfect Airplane Seat | WSJ Pro Perfected

Economy airplane seats aren’t exactly ergonomic chairs. They push many passengers into uncomfortable positions that can be bad for their health. But size isn’t the only factor when it comes to comfort: providing better lumbar support, more leg room and several other changes could be key.

WSJ spoke to an ergonomics expert about how to improve airplane seats to support frequent fliers better, adjusting the seat pan, seat pitch, headrests, and more.

0:00 What could the perfect airplane seat look like?
0:20 Lumbar support
1:03 Headrest
1:30 Seat pan
2:25 Footrests
3:05 Leg room
3:53 Materials

#Travel #Flight #WSJ

[taylorlibby]

Remember during the pandemic how loudly the airlines were screaming for help amd bailouts from us? And how quickly they forgot about that when travel rebounded and they started acting like their old rapacious selves again? This won't happen. What will happen is that business class/first class seats will continue to get plusher and economy seats will continue to get narrower with thinner cushions. Only a matter of time before they actually have people standing up to cram in even more passengers. No more bailouts.

[mdaaaa]

There should be a federal standard... the main issue is lack of leg room, specifically in long flight.

[spencerl-yfbg]

This isn't going to happen. Uncomfortable economy seats increase the demand for premium economy and business class seats, which have a significantly higher profit margin.

[riversneed]

Besides the obvious issue of legroom, almost every one of the solutions she has mentioned would increase the weight of the seats. Every ounce counts and increases the fuel cost on the flight. Additionally, even if legislation forced airlines to meet leg room standards, that will likely be reflected in price of airfare.

[talonpacheco]

A 737 Max 8 can have 162-178 seats in a 2 class configuration, increasing the number to the high end (asuming all other costs are fixed) reduced the per seat cost by 9.9%.
Adding seat pan extensions increases the requirement for seat pitch due to the emergency exit requirements.
Adding foams and padding to various places in the seat adds weight and increases maintainace requirements (we've all sat in an old foam that was fine when it came out, but sucks now).
Seat width is the most inflexible since increases will require the removal of an entire column of seating, or a new plane.
~60% of fare revenue comes from bussiness travellers, which only take up 16 of those seats while only taking up ~20% of the floor area. So the higher class seats are sort of subsidizing the lower classes, and the poor quality of ecomomy seats is the reason that they are pushed there.

But anyways it isn't the airlines being greedy that pushed it there, we voted it here with our wallets. In europe the largest airline by passengers carried is RyanAir, the most budget of buget airlines, where the founder said he would add a standing class that is significantly cheaper. Not because of greeed, but because people would buy it.

Looking 8 years ago in the US, the largest carrier is SouthWest, an airline that doesn't have the bussiness class subsidy, but with shittier and cheaper fares. The reason that American and Delta have surged in popularity in the years since is because they made their seats cheaper, and a portion of that comes from cramming more people on the planes.

While I would love to have more legroom in economy class, I would also like to pay the reduced price. The good news is the airlines have given us a choice on which one we prefer: cheap flights -> get economy, comfortable flights -> get a higher class. You do also have the option to bring a pillow/coat to use as lumber support, a neck pillow for neck support, and slide your bag our a bit for a legrest (but only if you want to lose out on legroom).

[Syphorce]

Video becomes irrelevant after 2:22 Seat Pan. Then she starts describing first class and not economy seats.

[TheShowerofSlime]

Until we speak with out wallets - airlines are this close to loading us with cargo

[potatomatop]

There's no perfect airplane seat unless it can save your life from a plane crash.

[PaulHo]

She's cool, and we love the insight. I want to see the person who designed and executed the current awful seats interviewed though!

[kuntalgo]

No we are not okay! I am 6 ft and the issues you highlighted are so relatable.

[drmode]

How about more leg/arm rest room. I don’t care about seats as long as they have cushions for back

[Dewibop]

No, please do not put a metal bar down there. That would totally block myself and other 6 foot+ tall people from being able to put our feet in a comfortable spot. We’d look like adults on a kids bike. Knees up by my chest would not be comfy. Otherwise I mostly agree.

[benalbanach]

Currently. It seems to me that the main airline interest is to fill seats….and there it ends. A recent trip on a 737 was a horror show. I, m a slim guy and it was bad enough but for those with some girth it’s torture. As an addition the two slim washrooms at the rear of the aircraft are way beyond skinny. ( and they are all there is in economy ), A flight attendant told me a passenger on a recent flight got stuck in one and that should be no surprise. Changed days !

[protounivers]

An industrial designer here. Lots and lots of missing information in this video! First of all, males and females have COMPLETELY different sitting postures and DEPENDENT ON AGE AND WEIGHT! Male and female spine curvature YZ-Axis is different as well (male are hunched over without inflection point, females are curved with 2-inflection points on the XZ-Axis (under 50) and weight-dependent as well! Also, males over 50 loose between 20-50mm of their neck length (especially American & EMEA population--it is a lifestyle-related medical condition contrary to Eastern-Asian and African males...) and thus the position and mobility of their head is far more stiffer then younger males and thus airline seat headrests are not made for male passengers. No mention about the difference between how males and females spread their legs while sitting either: huge difference in how the pelvis is shaped in a males and a females! Most of the seats on airplanes aren’t made for people over 50; they are made mostly for the very young adult population and for females (unintentionally!), not for males who always suffer more severe back pain after the flight, sitting in these airline seats that are designed without considering all this information…

[toms]

How strange I never thought of how to improve those freaking seats. But it's true that some of them haven't changed for a loooong time. They have absolutely no proper support to any body part lol @2:44 all planes I've ever been in have had that in Europe and between Europe/US (actually no - I was mixing train seats and airplane seats).

[___beyondhorizon]

I'm short, so my legs are usually hanging unless I put my backpack on the ground 😪

[flyicestormpluto]

The immportantt question is WhEre did they gett the airplanees seat in the studio in teh firssst placee🤣

[j.trulyrandom]

There is no lack of solutions. Airlines are unlikely to adopt any mostly due to costs.

[classic]

I had my first flight in over 20 years only a few months ago and the difference in comfort in economy class was eye opening. We were packed in their like sardines, no leg room, I could never get comfortable, it was awful. No wonder airlines are having increase problems with angry passengers.

[kaminenianirudh]

Wow, such insightful video. Any good video about change should definitely ignore the economics of that change.