4 ms·

Tangental note: I recently had a flight that had some backwards seats. My seat was one. First class. I had read for many years that this was the best for pass

Tangental note: I recently had a flight that had some backwards seats. My seat was one. First class. I had read for many years that this was the best for passengers but consumers wouldn't accept it. I had always thought that was a bad assumption probably based on some tiny focus group that nobody ever questioned, and look at that, I didn't have a problem with it.

chrisseaton 6y ago
> this was the best for passengers It's only best for when you crash. When you're not crashing (most of the time) most people find it quite a bit less pleasant as it means you're facing down when the aircraft climbs and descends. I'd avoid it pretty strongly when booking seats.
- vmception 6y ago
  I didn't find it less pleasant, I was glad they ignored the focus groups. I don't get the impression anyone knows how they'd actually feel, given how less common that seating arrangement is. I really enjoyed the angle out of the window.
  - chrisseaton 6y ago
    > given how less common that seating arrangement is It used to be much more common. They seem to have done away with it - I guess based on customer response not just randomly. You can't now because it's mostly gone, but you used to be able to see when booking a seat that all the forward-facing ones were booked before anyone booked a single rearward-facing one. And for example - United Polaris. Replaced a 50/50 forwards-backwards configuration they'd had standard for decades with the overlapping forward-only style almost everyone seems to use now. I associate forward-backward with crusty old 747s and military transport and I think that's how much consumers see it as well - old-fashioned but practical if your passengers are cargo, and certainly not refined or modern.
    - zippergz 6y ago
      The main thing I don't love about backwards seats in both planes and trains is it feels much more intimate/invasive with the (presumable) stranger on the other side. Even if in reality they are further away than they'd be if they were facing forward in a normal configuration, having to stare at them for the whole ride is weird. I remember one time in high school I went on a trip with a bunch of classmates and the plane had those seats (just one set if I remember correctly, but I am old...). It was great fun when you knew everyone.

chrisseaton 6y ago

> this was the best for passengers It's only best for when you crash. When you're not crashing (most of the time) most people find it quite a bit less pleasant as it means you're facing down when the aircraft climbs and descends. I'd avoid it pretty strongly when booking seats.

vmception 6y ago
I didn't find it less pleasant, I was glad they ignored the focus groups. I don't get the impression anyone knows how they'd actually feel, given how less common that seating arrangement is. I really enjoyed the angle out of the window.
- chrisseaton 6y ago
  > given how less common that seating arrangement is It used to be much more common. They seem to have done away with it - I guess based on customer response not just randomly. You can't now because it's mostly gone, but you used to be able to see when booking a seat that all the forward-facing ones were booked before anyone booked a single rearward-facing one. And for example - United Polaris. Replaced a 50/50 forwards-backwards configuration they'd had standard for decades with the overlapping forward-only style almost everyone seems to use now. I associate forward-backward with crusty old 747s and military transport and I think that's how much consumers see it as well - old-fashioned but practical if your passengers are cargo, and certainly not refined or modern.
  - zippergz 6y ago
    The main thing I don't love about backwards seats in both planes and trains is it feels much more intimate/invasive with the (presumable) stranger on the other side. Even if in reality they are further away than they'd be if they were facing forward in a normal configuration, having to stare at them for the whole ride is weird. I remember one time in high school I went on a trip with a bunch of classmates and the plane had those seats (just one set if I remember correctly, but I am old...). It was great fun when you knew everyone.