Next Frontiers: Pushing the Boundaries of Business Class
Discover the future of business class travel Prepare for unprecedented comfort with invisible enhancements, while enjoying an array of personalized amenities and a multitude of choices that cater to your unique preferences The evolution of business class is here
Privacy has become the key innovation in business class over the past five years. Passengers consistently express their desire for it, and airlines are responding by collaborating with designers and seatmakers to introduce a new type of business class seat: the doored mini-suite.
If you haven't experienced it, the concept is straightforward. A small door, sometimes two, can be slid forward or backward to create a separate space for your seat in a sleeping pod, ensuring privacy from the rest of the cabin. While the crew can still observe you when they walk past, you no longer have direct eye contact with other passengers, allowing you to focus on work or simply relax in solitude.
Only a handful of airlines have chosen not to install doors, and even those that initially opposed the idea have changed their stance. Virgin Atlantic serves as a prime example: when they introduced their doorless Airbus A350 cabin in 2019, it was a statement that the airline saw doors as incompatible with their vision of a "social airline." However, when we fast forward to 2022, the latest Airbus A330neo cabin from Virgin Atlantic does indeed feature doors.
That being said, there is a crucial aspect to consider: doors are both heavy and intricate. This poses challenges in terms of manufacturing and also affects the efficiency of the crew serving passengers meals and drinks. Furthermore, doors must meet stringent crash safety certifications and take up a significant amount of cabin space, which is particularly valuable when every inch counts.
When CNN Travel inquired about ways in which airlines could embrace innovation, Matt Round, the chief creative officer at Tangerine, an aviation design firm, promptly suggested, "Eliminate doors! Doors compromise personal space. By eliminating them, designers would have a broader arena to unleash their creativity, offering more room for passengers and less space dedicated to hardware."
Virgin Atlantic's A330neo Upper Class cabins feature mini-suites with doors. Some designers predict that innovation in business class may soon move beyond doored suites.
Courtesy Virgin Atlantic
So whats next for business class?
Chris Brady, founder and chief executive officer of seatmaker Unum, concurs.
Overall, it appears that we are in need of a shift towards simplicity, moving away from complicated and restrictive features. This will enable us to reduce weight and reach sustainability goals.
Reducing the weight of a complex door mechanism while conforming to extensive safety regulations is quite challenging. Airplane safety regulations dictate that each business class mini-suite must have two means of escape in case the door becomes inoperable after an incident. Typically, one of these options involves a rather intricate mechanism that allows the exiting passenger to either remove the interior door panel or completely detach the door. The other option is usually the easier alternative of climbing over the seat in front or behind.
Brady acknowledges that there is a need to address the door problem in the aviation industry, stating that the development of Doors 2.0 is necessary. He recognizes the complexities involved in certifying intricate door mechanisms and suggests exploring alternative privacy solutions to replace the existing heavy doors.
KLM's latest business class seat, crafted by renowned Japanese manufacturer Jamco, features a retractable privacy screen made from a durable yet flexible material. Picture a horizontally-oriented rolling window blind that can be effortlessly pulled forward and securely fastened with a magnetic component.
KLM's new business class seats are 10% to 15% lighter than other similar business class seats, the airline says. The seats have adjustable lower-back support and a back-massage feature.
KLM
Airlines now have the option to choose seats with or without doors, and seatmakers are offering this choice. Exciting developments are on the horizon for business class passengers, as well as for those in premium economy and economy classes.
According to Daniel Baron, the managing director of LIFT Aero Design in Tokyo, the new generation of business class spaces offers significantly higher levels of comfort and control compared to previous generations. Airlines have pushed the limits in terms of seat design and space utilization. The next phase of enhancements will focus on providing a more sensory experience. This includes features such as personalized mood lighting and scents within the cocoon zone, headrests with integrated audio, and innovative textures on materials.
This cocooning concept is a major trend beyond the cabin, and designers are placing great importance on incorporating it into business class seats and suites. The design of the upcoming seats heavily focuses on comforting natural materials, soft surfaces, and textures that surpass the conventional durable seat fabric and beige plastic structures.
The integration of audio is significant, as it includes the feature of connecting your personal wireless headsets to the seat control using Bluetooth within the initial stages of this technological toolkit.
According to Chris Brady from Unums, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in the integration of passengers' personal electronic devices. This could lead to the implementation of more user-friendly controls and improved interfaces for seat control. The ultimate objective could resemble the functionalities seen in Apple CarPlay or Android Auto but adapted for air travel.
Find out more about the emerging category of long-haul, low-cost airlines in this informative summary.
Invisible improvements will make your future seat more comfortable
The future holds further innovations in enhancing the overall experience provided by airplane seats, catering to both your mental and physical well-being. By incorporating side lamps and LED feature lighting strips, seats are now equipped with abundant ambient light, allowing airlines to subtly regulate the lighting in your seating area to seamlessly facilitate your adjustment to different stages of the flight.
The options for lighting have evolved beyond the traditional lighter in the morning and darker at bedtime. Now, it is possible to adjust the warmth of the light, similar to how phones or tablets seamlessly transition from blue light during the day to a warmer beige light in the evening. This feature can assist with adapting to a new time zone and minimizing jetlag while traveling on a plane.
Regarding the seat itself, according to Unums Brady, there is likely to be an increase in sophistication in seat mechanisms, prioritizing the comfort experience rather than simply focusing on additional features. For instance, allowing for micro-adjustments to alleviate fatigue.
Zero-gravity seats, offering an astronaut-like cradling experience, are rapidly expanding from first-class suites to business class seats. These seats revolutionize comfort, providing a significant upgrade from typical armchairs with leg rests to La-Z-Boy style recliners, allowing passengers to recline and alleviate all pressure from their bodies.
"Lift's Daniel Baron also hints at the introduction of temperature control in business class seats, similar to what luxury cars currently offer. In a time where every discerning traveler expects lie-flat options, airlines anticipate that incorporating these sensory enhancements will foster stronger brand loyalty."
The temperature control, providing heat or coolness to the foot area and seat cushioning, is perfect for those who feel cold during the flight or for individuals working near drafty doors, as they may prefer a slightly higher thermostat setting than others. AirlineRatings.com names it the world's best airline for 2023.
More choices and unique offerings
In the realm of passenger experience, Matt Round from Tangerine further emphasizes the efforts made by airlines to enhance personalization and customization during your time on board. However, he acknowledges the inherent limitations due to the expansion of premium cabins and the impracticality of achieving a very personalized first-class service with the current crew-to-passenger ratio.
According to him, airlines have been prioritizing enhancing options and distinctive features for passengers, such as meals, entertainment, and other amenities.
This trend is expected to intensify with the expansion of business class seating alternatives. Lufthansa is aiming to provide passengers with a selection of seven distinct seat types in business class once it introduces its upcoming Allegris seats. The seats offering greater privacy or suite doors will come at a higher cost.
However, individuals frequently prefer to make decisions based on their present emotions and immediate surroundings, rather than selecting factors such as in-flight meals well ahead of time. Resolving this issue is inherently challenging, as it pertains to the complexities of human social psychology rather than the technical aspects of seat manufacturing.
As seats become more complex, and as our wants and needs as passengers change, airlines will have to focus more and more on passenger psychology in addition to the technology.
