Aeroplane Seat Belts

[dk4]

With advances in seat design, and designers' armed with better technology to understand likely passenger head, neck and body impacts during abnormal events, there seem to be two schools of though emerging on better seat belt safety design.

Specifically; the seat belt airbag, or the three point over the shoulder seat belt.

In Australia, for example, we have seen both types deployed on A330s in business class, with Qantas fitting three point over the shoulder belts to their fleet, and Virgin opting for the airbag style on their former fleet.

Which do you prefer and why?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good question.

The type of seat belt is often tied to the type of seat. Reverse herringbone tend to have airbags. Forward facing staggered seats tend to have shoulder harnesses. (There are some exceptions, of course).

Airbags can be chunky when trying to sleep, but the seats they come with are generally better for someone tall, like me. Shoulder harnesses are also a problem because of my height. But at least it's only for critical stages of flight (do not understand why some vloggers have their three-point belts attached during flight!)

best of both worlds is a full-forward facing seat, no staggering. Standard seatbelt with no airbag or harness. But most airlines don't like them because they are very inefficient in thems of using space.

(As an aside, shoulder harnesses always worry me in terms of supporting my neck during an emergency... but a friend who's an expert in car seatbelts assures me it's safe!!)

 

[jb747]

When I was flying I wore the five point harness, and kept it done up the entire time....

 

[Hvr]

I really dislike the airbag seat belts having used them on CX planes.

The 3 point belts used on QF J are quite good.

 

[Happy Trails]

I selected 'Other' for rear-facing seats.
(Wouldn't have suited JB747).

 

[serfty]

The Air Bag on Qantas 789 Premium Economy seat belts means many PAX cannot sit the tray table flat while wearing the seat belt.

Photo from a member:

 

[dajop]

During Covid times, I’d really like a seatbelt that allows me to be comfortably strapped in and prevent movement during turbulence when lying across 3-4 economy seats

 

[Daver6]

The Air Bag on Qantas 767 Premium Economy seat belts means many PAX cannot sit the tray table flat while wearing the seat belt.

Photo from a member:

View attachment 237164

What a good looking bloke that is too

And I think you mean 787, not 767.

 

[oz_mark]

While I'd hesitate to call it an 'advanced' design - I would prefer the three point harness over the air bag.

 

[jb747]

And I think you mean 787, not 767.

He’s talking about a real aircraft, not a make believe one....

 

[Quickstatus]

The over the shoulder one only because of the seat it comes with.

 

[Quickstatus]

of the seat it comes with

Should it be past or present tense?

“comes with” Vs “came with” ?