Jazmin Li
Airport seating has been the subject of much debate, with many questioning why airport chairs have armrests. The armrests are often seen as a hindrance, making it difficult to get comfortable and rest during long layovers or delays. However, the inclusion of armrests serves a specific purpose. Robert Sommer, who studied the design of airport seating, concluded that the arrangement of chairs in rigid lines, bolted to the floor, was deliberately designed to discourage social interaction and encourage travelers to visit commercial areas. The armrests provide a sense of personal space and boundaries, making it more comfortable for strangers to sit next to each other. While some airports focus on enhancing the appearance and comfort of their seating, others prioritize functionality and security, leading to variations in the comfort levels of airport chairs worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To increase the usage of the chairs |
| To mark personal space | |
| To minimise face-to-face contact | |
| To encourage comfort, happiness, and connectedness among travellers | |
| To accommodate new technologies | |
| To provide greater comfort and services to travellers with a membership | |
| Negative impact | Making it difficult to sleep during long layovers or delays |
| Uncomfortable seating |
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What You'll Learn
To encourage comfort, happiness and connectedness among travellers
Airport chairs with armrests are designed to encourage comfort, happiness, and connectedness among travellers. The presence of armrests on airport chairs increases their usage compared to bench seats without armrests. Armrests provide a sense of personal space, making travellers more comfortable sitting next to each other. The parallel orientation of the modular seat units also reduces face-to-face contact, making it less intimidating for strangers to sit together.
However, some travellers have expressed discomfort with the current airport seating arrangements, particularly during long layovers or delays. The straight-backed, ergonomic design of airport chairs can be uncomfortable for extended periods, and the armrests can make it challenging to rest or sleep. Additionally, as seat sizes in airplanes have decreased, the armrests have become a source of contention among passengers, with the middle seat passenger often considered to have the most entitlement to the armrests.
To enhance traveller comfort and happiness, some airports, like Dubai International Airport (DXB), offer a range of seating materials and colours to improve appearance and comfort. Membership-based lounges, such as Priority Pass, provide access to more comfortable and spacious seating in airports worldwide. These lounges aim to elevate the traveller experience by offering premium amenities and services.
Furthermore, airports are experimenting with new seating styles, such as the Ampere modular tandem seating system, which allows travellers to use multiple electronic devices while remaining seated. These innovations aim to accommodate modern technologies and improve the overall customer experience in airports. Ultimately, the design of airport seating, including the presence of armrests, plays a crucial role in shaping the comfort, happiness, and social interactions among travellers awaiting their flights.
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To increase seating usage
Airport seating has been a topic of discussion for many travellers, with some questioning the comfort and functionality of the chairs. The inclusion of armrests on airport chairs has sparked various opinions, ranging from their impact on comfort to their role in delineating personal space. However, one significant reason for their presence is to increase seating usage.
The presence of armrests on airport chairs serves a specific purpose: to encourage higher occupancy rates. Robert Sommer, who studied the design of airport seating, concluded that the inclusion of armrests increased the usage of the chairs compared to bench seats without armrests. The armrests provide a sense of personal space for travellers, making them more comfortable sitting adjacent to strangers. The design discourages social interaction and encourages travellers to focus on their own space, which can be particularly important for those seeking privacy or wanting to avoid unnecessary conversations.
Additionally, the arrangement of chairs in rigid lines, bolted to the floor, further contributes to the sociofugal nature of the seating area. This layout discourages travellers from sitting too close or facing each other directly, reducing potential social interactions. The parallel orientation of the modular seat units makes it seem less threatening for strangers to sit next to each other, as they can maintain their personal space boundaries.
While some travellers may find the armrests uncomfortable, particularly during long layovers or when trying to sleep, the primary intention behind their design is to maximise seating capacity and create a sense of order in airport waiting areas. By providing clear boundaries and a sense of personal space, the armrests encourage more people to utilise the seating, ensuring that travellers have a designated space to wait for their flights.
Furthermore, the inclusion of armrests can also be observed in airline seating arrangements, where they serve a similar purpose. On flights, the middle passenger is generally considered the most entitled to occupy both centre armrests, providing them with a slight advantage in an otherwise cramped and confined space. This unwritten rule of airplane etiquette helps establish boundaries and prevent conflicts over personal space, especially as seat sizes continue to slim down and cabin configurations become denser.
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To encourage travellers to visit shops and cafes
Airport seating has been a topic of discussion and criticism for travellers, with many questioning the design choices behind the ubiquitous armrests. One of the reasons for the presence of armrests in airport seating is to encourage travellers to visit shops and cafes. This may seem counterintuitive, as comfortable seating might seem like it would encourage people to stay put. However, Robert Sommer, who studied the design of airport seating, concluded that the arrangement of chairs in rigid lines bolted to the floor was deliberately sociofugal, discouraging social interaction and encouraging travellers to explore commercial locations within the airport.
The addition of armrests to chairs in airport waiting areas serves to delineate personal space for travellers. The presence of armrests makes it more comfortable for strangers to sit next to each other, providing a clear boundary. This can be especially important in crowded airports, where personal space may otherwise be limited. The design of the chairs, with their parallel orientation, also minimises face-to-face contact, which can feel less threatening for individuals who value their personal space.
The inclusion of armrests on airport chairs has been a strategic choice by airport designers to influence traveller behaviour. By prioritising commercial interests, airports aim to increase revenue for their retail partners. This approach may be seen as a trade-off between the comfort of travellers and the financial goals of the airport and its associated businesses.
While the sociofugal design of airport seating may encourage travellers to move towards shops and cafes, it also has the potential to negatively impact the overall comfort and satisfaction of travellers. Some travellers may find the rigid lines of bolted-down chairs uncomfortable, particularly during long layovers or delays. The presence of armrests can also lead to disputes between travellers over personal space, especially in the already-cramped conditions of airplane seating.
Despite the potential drawbacks, the inclusion of armrests in airport seating remains a common feature, indicating that the priority for airports is still to encourage traveller movement and commercial engagement rather than providing the most comfortable waiting areas.
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To prevent people from sleeping
Airport seating has been designed to be deliberately uncomfortable, with straight-backed ergonomic chairs bolted to the floor, to discourage passengers from lingering for too long. The inclusion of armrests on airport chairs serves multiple purposes, one of which is to prevent people from sleeping.
The armrests act as a physical barrier, making it difficult for passengers to spread out and get comfortable, especially when trying to sleep during long layovers or delays. This design feature is often criticized by travellers who find it challenging to rest in airports due to the presence of armrests.
The arrangement of chairs in rigid lines, combined with the armrests, discourages social interaction and encourages passengers to move towards commercial areas, such as shops and cafes. This strategic design ensures that travellers remain active and engaged in airport facilities, potentially boosting revenue for the airport and its partners.
While some airports focus on enhancing the appearance and comfort of their seating areas, others prioritize functionality and crowd management. The inclusion of armrests in airport chairs is part of a broader design strategy that influences passenger behaviour and experiences within the airport environment.
In summary, the armrests on airport chairs serve a strategic purpose in preventing passengers from sleeping comfortably and encouraging them to explore the airport's commercial offerings. This design choice reflects the balance between passenger comfort and the operational goals of the airport as a business.
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To establish personal space boundaries
Airport chairs with armrests are designed to establish personal space boundaries for passengers. The presence of armrests makes it easier for strangers to sit next to each other, as they provide a physical barrier that prevents unwanted body contact. This can make the experience of sitting next to a stranger seem less threatening.
The design of airport seating has been studied by researchers such as Robert Sommer, who concluded that the arrangement of chairs in rigid lines, bolted to the floor, discourages social interaction and encourages travellers to visit commercial locations like shops and cafes. The addition of armrests increases the usage of chairs compared to bench seats without armrests.
The comfort of airport seating is an important factor in the overall experience of travellers. Airports have made efforts to increase seating in lobbies and waiting areas to accommodate passengers, especially with longer wait times due to increased security measures. However, some airports have been criticised for prioritising ambitious architectural designs over the comfort of passengers, resulting in uncomfortable seating.
The right to armrest usage has become a common dilemma, especially on planes, where seat sizes have decreased and cabin configurations have become denser. Passengers often debate who is entitled to use the middle armrest, and some believe that the middle passenger should have priority. This has led to conflicts and creative strategies to claim armrest space.
Overall, the presence of armrests on airport chairs serves to establish personal space boundaries, enhance comfort, and influence social interactions between travellers.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport chairs have armrests because they increase the usage of the chairs as compared to bench seats without armrests. Armrests make it more comfortable for strangers to sit next to each other as they mark personal space boundaries.
Airport chairs are often deliberately designed to be uncomfortable to encourage passengers to move to commercial locations such as shops and cafes. However, some airports have started to focus on enhancing the appearance and comfort of their seating.
Yes, airport lounges provide greater comfort and services to travelers with a membership. These lounges offer more comfortable and spacious seating than the standard airport environment.
Window and aisle seats offer more personal space and freedom of movement compared to the middle seat. Additionally, passengers in the middle seat often feel entitled to use both center armrests, which can be a source of conflict.
Airport design can significantly influence the comfort and satisfaction of travelers. Factors such as seating comfort, adequate heating, and scent in the waiting area can positively impact a passenger's experience and their likelihood of choosing a particular airline again.
