Reader, frequent commenter, and man of many strongly-held opinions, From the Mind of J, has had it with the disparity between arms and armrests on commercial airlines. He’s had it with sharing armrests, if by “sharing” we mean “giving up your portion of the armrests due to an especially aggressive seatmate.”
Help may be on the way… slowly. Airlines and seat manufacturers have been floating alternative designs that offer more armrest privacy, either with alternating rear-facing seats, or with staggered rows.
But those designs are radical reconfigurations of the existing airline architecture, instead of simpler add-ons to the existing space.
So J has come up with his own design that amends what we’re already used to, by adding on a double-decker armrest. As an added “bonus,” his design comes complete with a profanity-laden description.
Here’s the basic concept:
I’m reminded of the brilliant “Open Letter to the Infrequent Traveler” and its depictions of armrest wars, from the all-too-rarely-updated consultant-centric blog, “Getting Drunk in First Class.”
The challenge to J’s solution is arm height: You don’t want your arms resting too high, or too low, or else it’s just not comfortable. But at least you’d be in your own space.
Would this work? Would this be something you’d want to see in action? Vote!
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July 16th, 2008 at 1:47 am
I don’t think this will work due to the angles required to be comfortable, as well as the height issue.
The person who has the upper armrest needs support for a reasonable length. Thus the lower arm needs to slip underneath the upper armrest. But to be comfortable, the person using the lower armrest needs to have their elbow on their armrest (arms splayed out either reduces their comfort by digging elbow into own side or their seatmate’s comfort by extending wrist and hand into the space for the next seat).
Similar logic applies for the upper armrest. To be comfortable arm lies along the armrest. But at the depth (from front of seat say) where the elbow should sit, it cannot because that space is already taken by the elbow of the passenger using the lower armrest. The upper armrest needs to start further forward, and/or offset laterally, than the lower armrest. Which then means the angles are not right for comfort, or requiring more space between the seats.
If had more space between the seats then simply have a wider armrest that can cope with 2 arms.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:51 am
Thanks for the plug, Mark.
Global, we’d all like more space, but that presumes the bottom-line-obsessed airlines would deign to sacrifice the number of seats onboard.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Why not – it’s worth a try!
mp/m
July 16th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Interesting idea! A couple of questions though:
- How does this design work for different sizes of people? I can’t see it being comfortable for a child, or for someone who is obese.
- Can these arm rests retract or flip upwards to make it easier for people to get in and out of their seats? I know they do this all the time on buses and trains. I’m wondering if they could be dangerous in the event of an emergency evacuation.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hot, with a caveat. Have 360* turntable mount on the bottom of the thing, with two locking positions. That was you can negotiate with your neighbor over who gets the high side and who get the low.
Extra slick add on: Have it retract into the seat arm, like a bulkhead row tray table.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Could you propose this to Cinemas as well please? I love the big screen but sharing an armrest having paid so much money is a pain.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Could you propose this to Cinemas as well please? I love the big screen but sharing an armrest having paid so much money is a pain. Does look a little like you are flying Con air class though.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
http://tripatlas.com/blog/56175/128
July 16th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Quantas has tackled this problem with nice, super-high “armrests” that most people couldn’t possibly rest their arms on, leading to the civilized situation where all the passengers keep their arms and (on more massive passengers) side-flab in their own dang seats. This is a critical mental-health move for 20+ hour flights…
July 19th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I like it even if the armrests aren’t functional, just as a barrier from the person next to me spilling over into my seat.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am
OK. Let me help me understand this. Airlines are under such financial pressure that they are charging for curbside check-in, charging for checked bags, increasing the fees for changing a ticket or speaking to a real human reservationist, adding fuel surcharges, removing entertainment systems, sometimes eliminating even the most modest of snacks, etc., but now there is talk of custom-designed seats so that passengers don’t have to tussle over armrest space!!!! Why not just politely ask your seatmate(s) for a few inches of armrest for your own elbow(s)? Most inflight companions are apologetic and compliant to such a request.
Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com
July 21st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Why should you have to ask your seatmate to move their arm? One person’s armspace should not interfere with that of another.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
[...] – Three people, six arms, four armrests: Can they coexist? – Looking backward: Airlines considering alternating forward and rear-facing seats – Lufthansa [...]