These Viral ‘Double-Decker’ Plane Seats Could Change How We Fly

If you’ve ever imagined traveling in a viral “double-decker” airplane, that may become a reality. Chaise Longue showed its newest version at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, in April.

Designer Alejandro Núñez Vicente first came up with the idea while he was in college in 2020. He brought the first full-size prototype to the Aircraft Interiors Expo two years later.

The design changed quite a bit since then. The newest version targets premium economy, with extra room on the lower level and more separation between the two rows.

There is still a lot to figure out. No airline has ordered the seats yet, and the prototype shown in Hamburg was made with materials that can’t actually fly.

The Lower Seats Have More Room

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The lower level has gotten plenty of attention since the first prototype came out. A lot of that had to do with how close the upper seats looked to the passengers sitting underneath.

Núñez Vicente told CNN Travel that he paid attention to those complaints. The newest version has more seat pitch on the lower level and a larger panel behind the upper seats. There is more room to move around too. CNN tried the new prototype in Hamburg and found enough space between the lower rows for someone to stand up and stretch.

Chaise Longue is also looking at the seat a little differently now. In a LinkedIn post before the show, Núñez Vicente called it a two-level premium economy seat. Núñez Vicente told CNN that airline feedback pushed the design toward more comfort, rather than simply trying to fit more people into the cabin.

Your Bag Would Go Under The Seat

The Chaise Longue design lacks overhead bins. Instead, carry-on bags would be stored underneath the seats. Chaise Longue says moving the luggage down below frees up more space around the seats. The company says passengers would get more legroom, different ways to sit, and a larger recline without reducing the normal seat pitch.

You reach the upper row by a couple of steps. Passengers on the lower level can stretch their legs underneath the seat in front of them.

It doesn’t necessarily mean an entire plane would have two levels. Núñez Vicente has talked about putting the seats through the middle of a wide-body cabin while keeping regular rows along the sides.

Airlines Have Been Checking Them Out

The new prototype had plenty of visitors in Hamburg. Núñez Vicente said more than 16 airlines stopped by during the Aircraft Interiors Expo.

More than 400 people visited the booth altogether. Núñez Vicente said some airline representatives even asked whether the seats could already be added to wide-body planes in their fleets. Airbus has looked at the idea too. In 2025, Chaise Longue announced that it was exploring early two-level seating concepts with Airbus.

CNN later confirmed those talks with an Airbus representative. The company described them as “early-stage concepts,” and no announcement has been made that the seats are going into production.

The version people tried in Hamburg isn’t ready for that yet either. Núñez Vicente said it was built for demonstrations and uses materials that are not approved to fly. His next goal is a pre-production prototype made more like a real aircraft seat. He told CNN he would like to have that version ready for the 2027 Aircraft Interiors Expo.