(CNN) — Hamburg (CNN) — Flying economy for any length of time is usually an experience to be endured rather than enjoyed, but one airplane seat designer believes his design might change the way people travel on a budget.
Last year, Alejandro Nez Vicente's Chaise Longue Airplane Seat idea began as a student project for the then-21-year-old. Following a CNN Travel piece, the design received a nomination for the 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards, a top accolade in the aviation industry, and the design received a flurry of online attention.
Since then, Nez Vicente has made waves in the aviation world. He's put his master's degree on hold in order to devote his full attention to the project. He's in discussions with major airlines and seat manufacturers. He's been given a sizable investment, which has allowed the project to progress.Others, however, flinch from Nez Vicente's concept, fearful of claustrophobia and persuaded that sitting beneath someone else would be worse, not better, than the existing airplane economy setup.
"I develop more from listening to the critics and listening to the negative comments than from listening to the positive comments and flowers that people throw at me," says Nez Vicente, who is exhibiting his design at the 2022 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany (AIX).
Because his design is aimed at the ordinary traveler, Nez Vicente says he's interested in hearing what potential passengers have to say, whether positive or negative."My goal here is to change economy class seats for the betterment of humanity, or for all those who cannot afford to buy more expensive tickets," he explains.
This week, Nez Vicente is expected to receive even more input. He'll debut the first full-scale prototype of his concept at AIX, one of the world's largest aviation exhibits.
CNN Travel paid a visit to experience what it's like to fly in a double decker plane seat.The uppermost level is first. The prototype was developed by Nez Vicente with two ladder-like stairs for travelers to access the upper level. It's a little shaky, but once I'm up there, the seat is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room to spread my legs. Although the prototype chairs do not move, they are each set up in a different position to show how they could recline.
The overhead cabin is eliminated in Nez Vicente's design. Instead, he's created space for travelers to stow cabin luggage between the top and bottom levels.
It's difficult to understand what it's like to be that close to the cabin ceiling in the massive, echoing hallways of the Hamburg Messe conference center. According to Nez Vicente, the sitting passenger would be separated from the plane's top by around 1.5 meters. While a traveler wouldn't be able to stand erect in that space, he claims that many people can't stand upright in ordinary economy rows — however, presumably, taller passengers will be crushed much more by this design.
The bottom row of seats is next on the list. The original reason for the design was Nez Vicente's frustration with a lack of legroom, and by not having a seat on the same level in front of me, it allows me to stretch out my legs, plus there's a foot support for added comfort.
Even still, it seems claustrophobic because the other level of chairs are directly above me and in my line of vision. However, if you don't mind cramped quarters and plan to sleep the entire flight, it could be a viable option.The Chaise Longue seat was designed for the Flying-V airplane, a revolutionary aviation concept now in development at Nez Vicente's alma mater, Delft University of Technology.
He now believes that the concept may be used in a Boeing 747, Airbus A330, or any other
medium to big wide-body aircraft.
Nez Vicente is optimistic about his design's chances of becoming a reality, but he also recognizes that unique airplane seat concepts don't always make it from concept to reality. It's a long process, and the industry's strict rules and regulations can get in the way.
Plus, despite many reinvented notions presented by designers, the airplane economy seat hasn't truly evolved in decades.
"One of the most common expressions I hear is, 'If it ain't broke, why fix it?'" acknowledges Nez Vicente. "So why are we going to provide passengers a better alternative if they are still flying in the worst economy class seats? It is profitable. At the end of the day, it is the airline's purpose, not to make your flight better."
Nonetheless, the seat designer is already planning the next step in his process, which will involve engineering the structure to be lighter than it is now.
To do so, he intends to form a partnership with an airline or a seat manufacturer.
"We're currently demonstrating our capabilities to the market. And we're going to let the market tell us what we should do next "he declares
Although Nez Vicente is now working with industry specialists with years of expertise, the project began in his parents' bedroom, and his family remains an integral part of the process.
He's at AIX with his parents, who drove the Chaise Longue prototype across Europe in a van and assisted him in installing the seat.
"Of course, no one could have predicted that this would grow to the size that it has. But they all knew I'd be able to accomplish anything "Nez Vicente agrees.
"If you'd asked me previously, I'd have told you it was probably simply a university project. If you asked me now, after all of the hard [work], after all of the effort of many, many individuals, I'd say that this is becoming more of a reality. It is, in our opinion, the economy class's future."
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