Why no major Y seat developments?

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Flying Fox

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So as much as I love flying non-Y (the truth is that domestically I generally fly Y) and I love looking at all the developments of Y+, J and F; I got to thinking as to why there have not been any major Y developments?

If I exclude NZ's Skycouch which they charge extra for, I can't think of any airline that has really improved Y seating.

Why hasn't any airline taken up seats such as -

'Stagger seat': The new middle seat that's bigger and better than window or aisle seats

OR

1431496731577.jpg


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I understand that Y is about packing as many people in the steel can as possible to make money for the airlines, I would have thought that some of these options would allow for that as well as proved a better product and product differentiation.

These are my musings; feel free to discuss :)
 
Dont know
However Y is the budget end and many (most?) passengers in that market are very price conscious. Any improvements or enhancements will not really have a "pull" factor for most because BFOD (best fare of day) is the aim of the game.

i have tried numerous times to suggest to a colleague that NZ777 have less seat width in Y than the QF competition. The refrain is "its still cheaper". Once something is cheaper, other considerations are more or less irrelevant.

The stagger seat makes sense on many levels.
 
I keep wondering would the middle stagger seats be a trip hazard in case of an evac to the right.

Of course, armrests will be used as a foot rest by the row behind and kids will be paying peek a boo between the seats but I think this looks good - why doesnt someone try this?
 
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Wastes space at the angles every time you hit a galley or toilet
Doesn't work for families with little kids as well as seats together where they can share space
Suspect makes it more difficult to get out of the window seat
Makes it more difficult for crew to deliver meals (if any left in Y) or check seatbelts etc.
Likely slower to clean on a turnaround
 
My tip for the next "innovation" in Y seating will be a 3-4 configured A320...... :-(

Tongue in cheek ... I think. Hope.
 
My tip for the next "innovation" in Y seating will be a 3-4 configured A320...... :-(

Tongue in cheek ... I think. Hope.

You're safe until they change the regulation that says no seat can be more than 2 away from an aisle
 
They tried the shell seats and people thought they were awful. I guess each person is different and all our experiences are different that it doesn't matter what they try they won't be able to please everyone.

e.g. The VA A330's get great reviews on AFF on say BNE-PER flights. I did this flight recently and was uncomfortable the entire flight. I don't have the same issue on QF A332s or A333s but I find them less comfortable than a QF 747 or A380.

Try 1-5-1 on the A320s with reduced seat and aisle width as the next development. ; )
 
They do get developed, thinner and more uncomfortable....
New has selected this new design for their all WHY A32S NEO and the press release states that the middleseat has more room to return some love to it.
Air New Zealand unveils new seat for Airbus A320neo/A321neo fleet
Air New Zealand says its new Airbus A320neos and A321neos due for delivery from 2018 will feature wider seats than on the airline’s current narrowbody fleet.
The Star Alliance member and Virgin Australia alliance partner says window and aisle seats have been designed one centimetre wider than those on A320s that are flown internationally, while the middle seat is three centimetres wider.
....
Australian Aviation
 
Wastes space at the angles every time you hit a galley or toilet

I would have thought a cupboard/storage space could be used to square up these areas esp on B737/A320 where utility areas are generally at the front & rear.

New has selected this new design for their all WHY A32S NEO and the press release states that the middleseat has more room to return some love to it.

Australian Aviation

Good on NZ for trying something different once again.

I would have thought that with so many Y seats flying around, there would be incentive to do something special for customers (if not get more in the same space) and generate more revenue.
 
I guess the closest thing to "enhancement" in the economy space has been where the recline involves the seat cushion moving forward, rather than the backrest encroaching on the person behind. At least the "recline" decision becomes a personal trade-off rather than inflicting it on one's fellow passenger.
 
The only innovation here is to how to fit more pax in cheaply. If you ever get to try the Scoot Y seat, it's basically a park bench with seat belts attached.
 
it's a race to making flying so miserable people just wont do it.

thinner cushioned seats, less width, 28" seat pitch.

if i can't play the miles game i'd prob give up international travel.
 
The only innovation here is to how to fit more pax in cheaply. If you ever get to try the Scoot Y seat, it's basically a park bench with seat belts attached.

Having flown PER-SIN a number of times on both Scoot and QF, I'd take Scoot every day.
 
Don't suppose they'd ever think of an extra toilet to fill that valuable "wasted" space?

The only innovation here is to how to fit more pax in cheaply. If you ever get to try the Scoot Y seat, it's basically a park bench with seat belts attached.

That sounds like a quite fitting analogy to describe the Y seats on quite a number of airlines on both the B737 & the A350.
 
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