The Different Types of Airplane Seats You Should Know About

Jun 28 2022

The class, design, style, and size of airplane seats can affect passengers’ flying experience and the success and reputation of an airline. Regardless of flight length, choosing a seating arrangement that works in terms of comfort and convenience is vital.

Knowing the difference between the various seat types can enable passengers to pay for what they want. The seat type also corresponds to the ticket price, meaning that you should have an overall understanding of the fundamentals.

The following guide covers the different types of airplane seats based on class, design, style, and size.

6 Types of Airplane Seats Based on Design

1) Standing

Standing seats refers to airplane seats where passengers sit perched higher than regular seats. These saddle-type sitting arrangements enable travelers to “squat-stand,” like when riding a horse or a bike.

2) Slimline

Slimline seats were basically introduced by airlines to reduce space. Instead of installing the traditionally bulky seats, some big airlines now go for slimline designs with minimal distance from front to back. This way, planes can accommodate 5 or 6 more travelers. However, slimline seats are associated with passenger discomfort.

There are three main categories: bare bones slimline economy, full featured slimline economy, and economy plus.

3) Double Decker

Double-decker plane seats enable passengers to either sit or lay down. The concept came from double-decker buses, which augmented the capacity of people that can be transported at a go. The inconvenience of climbing up and down the seat stairs is minimized by the ability to lie down as you travel.

4) Cocoons

The basic definition of a cocoon plane seat is a seat with wings. These sitting arrangements allow passengers to pull down a divider from the back of the seat to avoid eye contact with the person sitting next to them. Cocoon seats became increasingly important during the pandemic era since retrofitting the design onto old seats was possible.

5) Chaise Longue

Chaise lounge seats are specifically designed for the economy section. Designers typically remove the overhead luggage section to fashion a double-decker seat arrangement. This design helps create more leg room for travelers and allows an adjustable backrest, more recline angles, and an optional neck rest.

6) Crew Seats

The seats for the inflight crew are called jump seats, and can be located in cockpits or passenger cabins. In cockpits, jump seats are provided for individuals who are not operating the aircraft, such as trainee pilots, a pilot in transit, government officials, or airline staff.

The passenger cabin jump seats are used by the cabin crew, especially during takeoff and landing, as well as long flights. Often, these seats have foldable seating cushions, four-point retractable seat belts, and safety equipment storage compartments. The passenger cabin jump seats usually fold out of the way when not in use to keep aisles, workspaces, and emergency exits clear. These jump seats are normally located near emergency exits so that flight attendants can quickly open the exit door for an emergency evacuation.

4 Types of Airplane Seats Based on Class

There are four seat categories based on travel class: economy, premium economy, business class, and first class. Each class has different seating arrangements. Here is what you can expect in each class.

1) Economy Class Seats

Economy class seats are the basic airplane accommodation arrangements. They are also referred to as travel class or coach class seats.

Amenities: The amenities are also basic, with most airlines offering nothing more than the seat. Some companies like Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue offer in-flight entertainment systems and free snacks and beverages.
Seat layout: Economy seating arrangements focus on increasing passenger numbers rather than comfortability. The basic arrangement features 4 seats in the center row and 3 in the window rows. As stated earlier, slimline seating arrangements were introduced by airlines to reduce space. The economy class has the narrowest seats measuring anywhere between 16 and 19 inches wide. There is also less distance between the person sitting in front and behind. The typical distance is between 30 and 34 inches. Therefore, you find the legroom very small, which causes discomfort.
Seat size: These seats are the narrowest compared to those in other travel classes. For domestic flights, the seat width is between 17 and 18.25 inches.
Seat pitch: The pitch is between 30 and 34 inches.
Seat width: The width is between 16 and 19 inches.

2) Premium Economy Class Seats

For their part, premium economy seats are better than economy class seats. There is a relatively wider distance between seat rows and more leg room than in the regular economy class. You pay more for sitting in premium economy than economy class, although this is usually 65% less than what you would pay to sit in business class.

Amenities: With premium economy class, you get special amenities that depend on the airline. For example, some companies offer amenity kits, a pillow, a blanket, different meal offerings than economy class, priority boarding, earplugs, toothbrushes, socks, and sleep masks. Other companies remove baggage fees for travelers while the airline miles accrual rates are better than with economy class.
Seat layout: The premium economy class section is found between the business and economy class sections. There are two seats in the window rows and three in the middle rows, and there is generally better spacing between seats.
Seat size: The seats are wider and have more legroom (usually 5 to 7 inches more) than those in economy class.
Seat pitch: Here, seats can reach 38 inches of pitch.
Seat width: The seats are 4 inches wider than in economy class.

3) Business Class Seats

Business class seats (executive class seats) are best suited for business travelers. These seats are high quality, have direct aisle access, and are accompanied by friendly attendant services. There are also no seatmates here.

Amenities: The main amenities are full-course meals, noise-canceling headphones, exquisite drinks, large TV screens next to each seat, and complimentary kits containing travel essentials. Others are lush travel pillows, footstools, hammocks, seat covers, standard blankets, light duvets, priority check-in and luggage check-in, more luggage allowance, reasonably priced wi-fi, and attentive service.
Seat layout: The business class layout is a bit more complex than the economy and premium economy classes. Business class has four main seat types: recliner, angled lie-flat, fully flat, and cabin seats. Recliner seats can bend back approximately 160 degrees, have superior leg room, and you will most likely come across them when taking short flights. Angled lie-flat seats can recline to around 170 degrees, allowing you to sleep flat. However, they are a bit uncomfortable because the seat does not recline parallel to the floor. In this regard, fully flat seats are better because you can sleep parallel to the floor once the seat is reclined. Finally, cabin seats are focused on utmost privacy. Cabin layouts have single seats on the window rows, two seats in the middle rows, and privacy panels on either side of each seat. Cabin seats are best for long-haul business-class flights.
Seat size: Technically bigger in size, width, and pitch than the premium economy and economy seats.
Seat pitch: The pitch can be up to 87 inches.
Seat width: The width falls between 30 and 34 inches.

4) First-Class Seats

First-class seats are the most luxurious and more comfortable than the rest. More often than not, these seats can be found at the front of the plane. First-class seats are also 1 to 2 inches wider compared to business class seats and have more legroom. The main advantage here is that the number of attendants is limited, hence more privacy.

Amenities: The amenities in first class are better than in business class. Most airlines offer free wi-fi, newspapers, large television sets, bed pads, free drinks, amenity kits, loungewear, onboard showers, free food, complimentary kits containing travel essentials, lush travel pillows, footstools, hammocks, seat covers, standard blankets, light duvets, priority check-in and luggage check-in, special luggage allowance, attentive service, and private suites.
Seat layout: Typical first-class cabins have only 6 to 8 seats that can stretch out. This section has the smallest attendant-to-passenger ratio.
Seat size: The seats are bigger, more private, more exclusive, and more comfortable than any other class.
Seat pitch: 10 to 30 inches larger leg room than in business class. They can be anywhere between 34 and 94 inches in pitch.
Seat width: Typically, 18 to 35 inches in width.

Types of Airplane Seats Based on Layout

Seat styles can either be single, double, or triple.

Single Seats

These seats have been transformed from their original double-seat styles. Single seats for domestic flights have a typical width of 21.3 inches, a height of 46 inches, a depth of 25.6 inches, and a weight of 57.3 lbs.

Double Seats

Double seats are two conjoined single seats with sitting space for two passengers. The product dimensions for domestic flights are 40.3 inches in width, 27.6 inches in depth, 46.5 inches in height, and 88.3 lbs in weight.

Triple Seats

Lastly, triple seats can accommodate three passengers and comprise three conjoined single seats. The product dimensions for domestic flights are 60.6 inches in width, 23.6 inches in depth, 46 inches in height, and 119 lbs in weight.

This style of seating prompts passengers to choose a seat location. Passengers can either choose window, row, or middle seats, as explained below.

Window Seats – Window seats are located right next to the airplane windows. These seats are less exposed to other passengers, offering more privacy. You can also easily look outside the window or sleep comfortably.

Row Seats – These are found adjacent to airplane aisles just next to the middle seats. With row seats, you can easily exit your seat. It is vital to add that airplanes have exit row seats next to emergency exits. Exit row seats are often priced differently than regular row seats.

Middle Seats – Middle seats are found in between the window and row seats. If you choose a middle seat, you will be sandwiched between the passenger on the left and the one on the right.

Types of Airplane Seats Based on Airline & Size of the Plane

It is vital to note that airplane seats will also vary depending on the airline and the size of the plane. Commercial airplane seats will be different from private jet seats.

When you book a commercial airline ticket, a seat is automatically allocated to you. It is important to note that the seating arrangement depends on how much you spend. Window seats and those with more leg room are typically the most expensive.

However, with private jets, you choose what you want. All private jet seats are located by the windows and there is superior leg room and comfort even compared to first class and business class seats of commercial planes. Generally, there is more freedom to sit where you want.

The Different Types of Airplane Seats on International Flights

Although each airline company has its unique types of seats, there are some standard catalogs across international flights. These can be subdivided into four main types: economy class, premium economy class, business class, and first-class seats. Their characteristics have been summarized below:

Economy class seats: These are the basic types. On most international flights, economy seats are configured in three-seat systems to save space. Some planes, such as the Boeing 747-400 and Airbus 380, have four seats in the center rows, and other flights can have 2-3-2 or 2-5-2 layouts. The main seat measurements are 17 -18 inches wide and 31- 32 inches in pitch.
Premium economy class seats: These seats are wider, have a greater pitch, and come with larger television screens than economy class. Some airlines offer dedicated attendants, better flier points, at-seat telephones, and hot towel service.
Business class: Seats measure around 21 inches wide and 57 inches in pitch. These seats offer more workspaces and better amenities than the premium economy class. Examples include chauffeured pickup, free food and drinks, and onboard bars.
First-class seats: These are found at the front of planes and are highly luxurious. Legroom is basically 10 to 30 inches more than in business class. These seats offer the best onboard experience that you can think of, although they can be up to five times more expensive than business class seats.

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