Have you ever paid attention to the color of the airline seats? They’re almost always blue and there are very few exceptions to this rule. Some people assume that this color was chosen as it reminds us of the sky. But the explanation isn’t that simple!
We, at Bright Side, are ready to reveal this secret to our subscribers. And at the end of the article you’ll find a useful bonus: we’ll tell you how to choose the best airplane seat!
So why are they blue?
The first blue seats came into use several decades ago, and now all airlines choose upholstery of this color. According to British scientists, most people associate the color blue with reliability and safety, that’s very important even for the passengers who don’t suffer from aerophobia. Also, according to research, 90% of people subconsciously make a decision about the attractiveness of a company depending on the brand colors.
There is a practical reason why airlines choose blue seats — dirt, stains, and scrapes are less visible on this color, and, therefore, these seats can be in use for a longer period of time in comparison with ones covered with a lighter colored upholstry. However, since fewer people can afford to fly first class, airlines use bright upholstery there more often as the fabric wears out slower.
Fabric or leather?
As for the materials, the seats can be upholstered with either artificial leather or fabric. As a rule in aircrafts used for long-distance flights like transatlantic ones, the seats are upholstered with fabric because it allows for the skin to breathe, so the passengers will not sweat or experience any discomfort.
But artificial leather works perfectly for short flights. It’s extremely wearproof, so even spilled drinks will not leave stains on it.
Why don’t plane windows match the seats?
Have you ever sat near the window but actually saw nothing through the window itself? Did it happen because it was on the same level as the back of the seat or even right behind it?
It turns out that this happens because airlines try to squeeze as many seats into one plane as possible. Aviation companies provide airlines with recommenations on how to install seat rows correctly, but no one usually follows these rules.
Tracks on the floor of the aircraft allow rows of seats to be organized at the airline’s discretion and companies use this opportunity to increase their bottom line.
Bonus: how to choose the best seat
As we already know, row positioning in aircrafts mostly depends on the imagination and maybe the greediness of the airlines. So it’s not an easy task to choose a comfortable seat. Luckily, there are few tips that can help you:
How often do you travel by plane? Share with us in the comments!
Preview photo credit dbvirago/depositphotos, smaglov/depositphotos
