Why you shouldn't worry about gassy passengers on the stacked plane seats

HAMBURG, Germany - They’re back!

The double-stacked concept for economy airplane seats are on display at the Aircraft Cabin Interiors Expo again this year and Alejandro Núñez Vicente, the designer of the Chaise Lounge Economy Seat said they’re closer than ever to getting an airline partner with many global carriers expressing interest.

Before this article goes any further on the seats specifications, timeline and other cool information, we have to answer the question on everyone’s mind.

Cruising Altitude: Why extra time, travel insurance are good ideas for your summer trips

What happens if the person above you passes gas?

Núñez Vicente insisted this won’t be an issue.

“The idea is that there will be some kind of restraint here,” he said, pointing to the partition behind the upper level of seats. If a passenger passed gas "it wouldn’t go straight through," unless it were especially forceful.

He said he understood why people have wondered about this issue since his seating concept was introduced at the Expo last year, but that he’s certain it won’t be the seats’ silent but deadly flaw.

Are the double-decker airplane seats accessible?

With that burning question out of the way, here’s what else passengers should know about Núñez Vicente’s design.

First, he said, the lower row is meant to be even more accessible than the standard single-level economy seats today.

“It’s much easier for flight attendants to help  (disabled passengers) into their seats by having this folding seating option,” Núñez Vicente said. As shown in the picture, the bottom cushion on every lower-level seat in his concept folds up to enable easier access. “The idea is that the seat folds up in every single row of the aircraft to make it much more accessible.”

He acknowledged that with three steps to get up, the upper row is less accessible, overall, but that the boost in accessibility downstairs helps balance that out.

While the steps to get to the upper seat were easy enough to navigate on the ground, it may be more difficult to do while the plane is in flight, especially if there are any unexpected bumps.

Turbulence is getting worse: Here's why you shouldn't worry (too much)

How do the double-decker airplane seats fit?

According to Núñez Vicente, the Chaise Lounge seats are only designed to be installed on widebody planes currently. They’re accommodated by removing the center overhead bins, meaning there’s less in-cabin storage space, but Núñez Vicente said that’s a trade passengers may be willing to make for more legroom. The seats along the sides of the plane and those overhead bins would remain in the standard configuration.

He said farther down the line they might design a similar product for single-aisle planes like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, but for now these seats are meant for longer-haul flying.

What are the double-decker airplane seats like?

There are subtle differences between the upper and lower seats.

Downstairs, the seats have more legroom with a footrest that extends well under the upper seats. There’s plenty of storage, but the upper-level partition does feel a little close at eye level.

Núñez Vicente said that proximity is partly a result of these seats still being mockups and not in the production stage. He said the design will continue to shift as customers come on board.

Even still, especially on overnight flights, the extra room and deeper recline compared to standard economy could be a good option for sleeping.

The upper level has more restricted legroom and storage space, but feels more open overall.

Are the double-decker airplane seats sustainable?

Núñez Vicente said his company’s short-term goal is to make the double-decker seats similar in weight to two rows of standard economy class seats plus the overhead bin, but suspects better materials and design tweaks will make even lighter weights possible in production. That could mean the double stack ultimately turns out to be more fuel efficient.

Behind the scenes: This company makes jet fuel out of just air and water

When will the double-decker airplane seats start flying?

Núñez Vicente’s company hasn’t gotten any airline buyers yet, but he said carriers continue to express interest and there might be more to announce after the Expo is over.

Once an airline partner signs on, he said, it will still take some time before they are actually in the skies.

“With the attraction that we’re having and with the response from the public and the sector, I think it will be close to two years, two years and a half,” he said.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Double decker plane seats coud be coming. How comfortable are they?