[dropcap size=small]F[/dropcap]or almost as long as commercial airlines have existed, premium passengers sit up front, while the steerage is relegated to the back. But if Formation Design has its way, the turn-left/turn-right class divide at the door may soon become a quaint part of aviation history.

This is all thanks to the Atlanta-based product development firm’s cleverly devised layout that increases density by mixing business and economy passengers in the same cabin. Seat layouts have so far been conceptualised in two dimensions: airlines aim to pack as many seats as possible to maximise limited floor space like a Tetris puzzle, but the industry has very nearly reached the greatest efficiency possible based on this approach.

Formation Design’s solution: go 3-D.

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Taking advantage of the fact that a lot of vertical space goes unused, it has created a concept where economy seats abut business class suites when upright. When the former is deployed as a bed, it will slide downwards, with the passengers’ legs tucking under the latter.

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The idea, which made finalist in this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards – the equivalent of the Oscars in aviation – isn’t as audacious as it sounds. Depending on the configuration chosen by the airline, this win-win method increases number of seats per square metre by around 30 per cent, while enhancing comfort.

Assuming that airlines pass on the cost savings, this could result in unprecedented value: flatbeds at premium economy prices and enclosed suites at business class prices.

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There are, of course, kinks that need to be ironed out in this socialist state of affairs, like how to separate the food and beverage service between the two classes, and how to accord priority disembarkation to VIP passengers.

The biggest hurdle, though, is persuading the rich to accept the lack of privacy in the new world order. Would they, for instance, feel awkward washing down their beluga with Krug in front of the hoi polloi tucking into their “chicken-or-beef”? Then again, maybe that’s what private jets are for.

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