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What does someone who spends several long hours on a long-haul plane look for? Of course you will reach your dream destination, but above all you will also achieve untouchable comfort. A holy grail that is difficult to achieve as more and more airlines try to maximize the efficiency of their aircraft while reducing costs as much as possible. Bad news for those used to long flights, a very handy little habit when trying to get comfortable on a plane may soon no longer be possible.
Here are the behaviors considered most annoying on a plane:
No more seat tilt
In fact, it will soon no longer be possible to recline the seat. Generally, there is a small button on the armrest of the seat that allows you to tilt the backrest to assume a slightly reclining position. We gain space in front, but we lose space for our neighbor or neighbor behind, who is forced to do the same in order not to have his nose on the front window, which sometimes leads to arguments between passengers. However, this reality may soon end. Since, according to CNN, more and more aircraft are no longer equipped with this device.
For what ?
Firstly, because this simple little button creates costs for the airlines. In terms of maintenance, this type of mechanism is likely to wear out. The time or tact of an unrefined passenger comes into question. The second reason given is the weight costs. In an airplane, the little mechanisms just add up. It is estimated that a seat today weighs between seven and ten kilograms per passenger, and any weight savings results in a reduction in the fuel required for transportation.
The third, far less glorious reason is the cost of disruption between dissatisfied passengers. Every time there is a dispute between passengers due to seat tilt etiquette, flight attendants have to intervene and waste valuable time. According to CNN, certain tensions have even led to flights being rerouted for security reasons.
How do we do that?
How can we compensate for the loss of space and comfort without this precious tilt? “At the end of the 2000s, a new generation of very sophisticated ultra-light seats came onto the market, partly because they did not have a reclining function. “A marketing genius came up with the idea of calling it ‘Pre-Recline,’ meaning the backrest is at an angle somewhere between full upright and a slight recline.”explains CNN. While these seats were originally reserved for low-cost airlines, other major corporations have started to introduce this new system, such as the British company Jet2.
Ryanair now bans this type of suitcase:
The principle ? Offer seats that are shaped so that their shape saves space for the rear passenger’s knees. A valuable gain in centimeters that allows airlines significant savings. However, for the time being they are reserved for short flights of just a few hours. Every year, manufacturers innovate to offer ever more efficient seats. “The airline can choose a preset backrest angle of 15 or 18 degrees when configuring the seat”explains Mark Hiller, general manager of the German brand Recaro. “This makes it possible to improve comfort by increasing the angle of the backrest or making special arrangements depending on the number of passengers. The main advantage is the increase in living space as the tilt does not encroach on the passenger’s living space. In addition, the low total cost of ownership – fewer moving parts on the seat – improves the quality of life for passengers.”
As for the reclined seats that are still present on most long-haul aircraft, the only solution remains to find a happy medium in the angle of the seats and demonstrate decency. To avoid misunderstandings, check before reclining your seat. We go slow and gentle. When the food comes, we straighten our backs and simply think of our neighbor the way we want the person in front to think of us.
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