Imagine a future where business class isn't about spacious suites, but a squeeze fit for sardines. Boeing has filed a patent for a seating arrangement that could see up to 12 passengers crammed into a single row. This isn't just a crazy idea; it's a patent application filed in 2017, with a dozen variations outlined. The concept is simple: narrow beds in a staggered or dovetailed layout, including reverse seating. This would allow for as many as six business class beds per row in a single-aisle aircraft like the Boeing 737, or even nine, ten, or twelve passengers in a row in a conventional twin-aisle plane. But is this a dream or a nightmare for passengers? While the layout would allow for flatbed seats and access to the aisle, it would require careful steps and yoga-like contortions to get in and out. This concept could be a breakthrough for premium economy, with a new category of 'premium economy plus' where it's all about that lie-flat bed. However, airlines would need to rethink their pricing strategies to justify such close quarters. So, would this concept ever fly? Maybe it's best we hope that day never comes...
