Fully lie-flat seats. Direct aisle access. Suites with privacy doors. Entire plane “apartments.” It's no exaggeration to say that business and first class have come a long way.
Sure, fully flat-bed cabins were revolutionary when British Airways introduced them in 2000. Now, they're often the bare minimum expectation for forward-seat flyers.
And airlines continue to push the envelope, from sliding doors like those found in JetBlue's Mint Cabin (and a growing number of other airlines) to fully enclosed staterooms, like the stunning new first class seats on Japan Airlines' new Airbus A350-1000s.
But think 15 or 20 years into the future: What trendy new seat will be the ultimate redemption for your frequent flyer miles?
A recent trip to Europe provided some clues.
A new type of business class seat
Late last month, in a huge exhibition hall in Hamburg, Germany, I watched two companies unveil what they see as the business-class suite of the future.
Housed in a dimly lit room amid the white noise of real jet engines, the futuristic pod, named “Maya,” was sure to feature all the basic amenities expected of today's premium accommodations, including privacy doors, state-of-the-art lie-flat seats, and ample storage space.
But this pod offers much more.
It comes with a 45-inch curved screen that the company claims will deliver a better movie-watching experience than a cinema, and the entire entertainment system will sync with your smartphone.
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Sensors adjust the seat based on your body temperature and pressure, just like the feature you've heard about in all those luxury mattress commercials.
Similar to what's fitted on Japan Airlines' new Airbus A350s, headrest speakers allow you to listen to movies and music without headphones (though the Maya also has Bluetooth).
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The ultra-wide screen allows you to multitask while watching a 5K movie at the same time inputting information about your sleep time, meals and drinks and the system will adjust meal timings to suit your preferences.
Does this sound like a seat you'd like to grab for your next big redemption? Don't start transferring points just yet.
Ideas in progress
For now, Maya is just a prototype, a concept born out of a collaboration between Panasonic and Collins Aerospace.
But the big question is where these major airlines think business class is headed over the next few years.
“This is really focused on millennials, Gen Z — people who drive Teslas,” said Christophe Blanc, vice president and general manager of Collins' seating business.
Will Maya be on commercial aircraft in a few years' time? That's up to the airlines, who can easily say “no thanks” or make improvements.
But seeing the ingenuity that went into building this pod was the main reason I visited Germany: to experience the futuristic aircraft cabins on offer at the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo. It's an aviation enthusiast's version of a Willy Wonka factory, replete with airplane seats, in-flight screens, bells and whistles and far more imaginative than the infamous failed Wonka attraction that opened in Scotland this winter.
And some of it may even be on a plane you fly someday.
Self-refilling water bottle station
About 20 steps after leaving Maya’s business class pod, I came across another concept that will surely be appreciated by travelers who love Stanley or Yeti water bottles.
You know those airport water stations that have filtered water so you can refill your reusable bottles? What if you could do that on an airplane?
Please check the following settings:
Don't ask the flight attendant for a glass of water: Engineers at aerospace manufacturer Safran have shown off a prototype that promises a better-tasting (and likely cleaner) hydration solution than the drinking water served on commercial airliners today.
Two-storey seating
A little further on, we came across the latest in a controversial airplane cabin concept that you may have heard of before.
Have you read about the idea of double decker seating, like bunk beds?
This concept, unveiled last year, whole The cabin — floor to ceiling.
Now, the inventor is back with his vision for a premium cabin.
Chaise Longue is now showcasing its new “Elevate” class, which features “First Class” amenities up top and fully-flat “Business” seats below.
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There's plenty of storage space, plus space for a screen and lounging.
Whether this will be installed on actual aircraft will depend on interest from airlines as well as major manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.
Are there any potential buyers? I wanted to ask the company's founder, but he had to cut the conversation short because a representative from one of the aforementioned aircraft manufacturers was waiting to take a look.
A nation of seats, screens and innovation
Wander through the expo and you'll find everything from robot-like contraptions, seat covers displayed like paint samples at Home Depot, and screens that will soon be installed on the seatbacks of Air Canada planes.
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And the seats. There were plenty of them, with everything from economy class, premium economy class, and business class available.
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Want to know what it's like inside the Airbus A321XLR, the narrow-body aircraft that can fly from parts of the US to Europe?
The overall aesthetic is as follows:
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Of course, airlines can and will customize the cabin to fit their own brand and preferences. American Airlines, for example, has unveiled plans to do just that on a soon-to-be-delivered jet that will feature the airline's new flagship Business Suite. The plane, which American unveiled in Hamburg, will take over transcontinental routes currently served by the airline's luxurious four-cabin A321Ts.
Worried about how comfortable Southwest Airlines' new seats will be? Early mockups have sparked controversy.
Sitting in the seat at the launch event in Hamburg was even more comfortable than it looked in the 3D renderings, and it's due to be featured on new jetliners from 2025.
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The CEO of the seat manufacturer said in an interview that he was very impressed with the lumbar support in the seats, which was a big focus.
“It's not just a flat backrest, it conforms to the S-curve of your spine,” Recaro CEO Mark Hiller said. “Southwest has really put a lot of effort into the soft layer, and I think the response is going to be very positive.”
Some of the concepts spotted in Hamburg might sound a little odd, at least at first. Texas-based Star Aircraft's idea for a seat cushion is surprisingly comfortable to sit on, even after walking tens of thousands of steps over three days.
Someday you will Sitting As for the spongy material, it turns out it's actually a medical-grade foam similar to what's used in Crocs.
“We hope that airlines will adopt this system soon,” a company representative said.
But as I walked around, I found a lot of innovation that was far from outlandish.
Airbus unveils new A330neo cabin
For example, Airbus has unveiled a new cabin design for its future Airbus A330neo wide-body jet.
The company's “Airspace” cabin mockup, like the one that will be installed on the airline's upcoming A321XLR, shown above, features subdued lighting and spacious overhead bins, contributing to what the Toulouse, France-based aircraft manufacturer calls a “unique ambience” that airlines can use as a starting point for customizing their cabins.
Ingo Wüggetzer, Airbus' vice president of carbon marketing, noted that the airline has received orders for 42 A330neos through 2023, of which it has delivered 32.
The new design will be lighter, which he said is key to fuel efficiency.
“In the future, it will be even more comfortable and a more premium experience,” Uggetzer added.
Among the new features are larger, shadeless windows with dimmable tints similar to those installed on other aircraft, including Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner.
A place to stretch your legs while flying a Boeing
Speaking of the Dreamliner, Boeing presented its own vision for in-flight innovation on its wide-body jets — and it was all about economy class.
Designed for the 787, this in-flight space is called the “Perch” and is a cushioned wall where passengers can lean against and walk around during the flight, with a large screen and space for snacks and drinks.
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Boeing is proposing it, but will airlines accept it? While removing seats from a cabin is often not feasible, most people would be happy to have a place to stretch their legs during long flights, especially as flights longer than 14 hours become increasingly common.
Looking to the future
But don't get me wrong: Right now, there's a lot of buzz in the industry about how to create the newest, most desirable business and first class seats, especially as airlines see demand for premium seating remain strong.
“There's a lot of investment going into premium products,” Recaro CEO Hiller said, noting airlines' focus on business-class doors and premium economy-class seat wings, or flaps, like the seat the company showed off.
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“This is a privacy issue,” Hiller added.
Conclusion
After walking about 45,000 steps over three days, here's my take on what the future of flying will be like? We can expect personalized spaces that can be controlled and customized from your phone. Airlines will likely focus on private suites and push the envelope with standout, ultra-luxurious front-row cabins.
Screens aren't going away; quite the opposite: they're getting thinner, wider and more powerful.
We'll also see more elaborate mood lighting, like this dynamic lighting feature Boeing showed off for its Dreamliner and upcoming 777X aircraft. This particular setup is meant to mimic the Northern Lights.
Lighter materials will hopefully help planes fly more efficiently and burn less fuel — key to sustainability — and we should see more Wi-Fi that's faster, more reliable, and increasingly cheaper to use (though the latter may not be a reality for American Airlines).
It also offers new and innovative ways for all passengers to travel, regardless of their level of mobility ability.
