Within the aviation industry, business class seating frequently garners significant attention and evaluation. Airlines aim to provide the optimum experience for their high-paying customers, yet at times, innovations fall short. A case in point is Royal Jordanian’s staggered business class seating on their Embraer E190/195-E2 jets.
Royal Jordanian has been refreshing its fleet with these advanced regional jets, utilizing them for longer trips, like flights to Europe that can extend up to five hours. Traditionally, the airline’s Embraer planes incorporated a 1-2 seating arrangement in business class, which offered a more conventional and comfy experience. Nevertheless, the new 2-2 staggered setup has raised concerns.
The staggered layout is designed to provide increased privacy and marginally wider seats than standard economy. However, this comes with a notable downside: accessing the window seat necessitates stepping over the aisle passenger, resulting in an awkward and uncomfortable situation. The shell design of the seats means reclining requires sliding forward, further diminishing the space between travelers.
For those situated in the window seat, the experience can be especially uncomfortable, as the closeness to the aisle passenger fosters a feeling of being exposed. This is worsened by the absence of privacy screens, making the seating arrangement seem more intrusive than cozy.
As Royal Jordanian persists in modernizing its fleet, the choice to adopt this seating configuration is perplexing, particularly considering the longer routes these planes now operate. The airline appears to be aligning its offering with European carriers’ intra-Europe business class, which isn’t ideal for extended flights.
For travelers contemplating this product, choosing an aisle seat in row three may provide a slightly enhanced experience, as it circumvents direct eye contact with other passengers. However, with one aisle seat frequently designated for air marshals, options are restricted.
In summary, while Royal Jordanian’s endeavor to innovate with its business class seating is admirable, the implementation falls short of expectations. The staggered arrangement may provide marginally more privacy, but the overall experience is less comfortable and more clumsy than traditional setups. Passengers seeking a more enjoyable journey might wish to investigate alternative choices or thoughtfully select their seats when flying with Royal Jordanian.