Chaise Longue Two-Level Seating Concept: Game-Changer or Safety Nightmare? 💺

I have been following this concept for a while and it’s been recently announced that Airbus are exploring Chaise Lounge-style seating concepts as part of their continuous innovation in cabin layouts. Airbus has been particularly interested in space-saving premium seating solutions, and concepts similar to the Chaise Lounge seat have been proposed in various seating patents and design studies but from an engineering, safety, evacuation, and HIC (Head Injury Criterion) perspective, there are several challenges that must be addressed before it can become a reality in commercial aviation.

  1. Certification & Safety (CS25): Any aircraft seat must comply with EASA CS25 / FAA 14 CFR Part 25 regulations, which include:
  • Crashworthiness (16g & 9g tests) – Seats must withstand dynamic loads during an emergency landing. A Chaise Lounge seat’s unique reclined or staggered design would need structural reinforcement to pass these tests.
  • Head Injury Criterion (HIC) – The seat must ensure passenger head impact protection during turbulence or emergency landings. The extended seating posture in a Chaise Lounge seat will make HIC compliance challenging, as traditional designs rely on forward structures for headstrike protection.
  • Flammability & Burn Rate (CS 25.853): Materials must meet flammability, heat release, and toxicity standards. This is manageable but must be incorporated into any new design.
  1. Evacuation & Egress (CS25.803 & 807)
  2. Egress Challenges: Chaise Lounge seats may introduce obstacles to rapid evacuation, especially in a high-density cabin.
  3. Passenger Mobility: Passengers in a more reclined or enclosed position may struggle to exit the seat quickly in an emergency.

  4. Cabin Crew Accessibility: If passengers are staggered or layered, crew access to assist evacuations may be hindered.

  5. Seat Density & Configuration

  6. Space Optimization – While Chaise Lounge seats may improve comfort, they could reduce seat count, which is a major concern for airlines.

  7. Weight & Structural Considerations: More complex reclining mechanisms or tiered seating could add weight, affecting fuel efficiency and operating costs.

  8. Passenger Comfort & Use Case

  9. Target Market – This design would likely be for premium economy or business class, as economy class Chaise Lounge seating could lead to excessive reclined intrusion into personal space.

  • Recline Mechanisms – The seat must allow comfortable recline without obstructing adjacent passengers or violating 60-inch egress rule requirements.

While Airbus and other OEMs have explored these designs, real-world implementation will depend on airline demand, regulatory approval, and technical feasibility.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this concept be a reality in future?

Would you feel comfortable flying in such seats?

NOTE: Red seats are business class / Premium economy concept and blue seats are economy class concept