If you are really annoyed by people who recline their seats all the way back on airplanes, well, Monarch Airlines might be worth checking out for your next flight.
The UK-based airliner today announced that it will begin using new seats that do not recline and also include a “tablet holder,” for those that want to watch content on their personal devices.
“The innovative tablet holder also enables our customers to create their own personal in-flight entertainment system,” Tim Williamson, Monarch Director of Customer Experience and Marketing, said in a statement.
Monarch follows other airliners who have said goodbye to reclining seats — a change that saves fuel — and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see others do the same. An Expedia survey this past December revealed that 35 percent of Americans have experienced “major discomfort” on an airplane thanks to the person in front of them reclining their seat, and 42 percent of respondents would like to see reclining seats banned or at least restricted. Yet even with those complaints, a full 80 percent of respondents to the Expedia survey say they have reclined their seats.
The “tablet holder,” meanwhile, is pretty innovative and should be nice for those that use their own devices in the air — and now, during takeoff and landing. It also speaks to how technology is rapidly making its way into airplane cabins, from flight attendants using their own tablets to free access to live TV for passengers.
