Have any airlines tried different economy layouts in different parts of the plane?

[Mattg]

There are many different types of economy seating layouts on wide-body aircraft, e.g. A330s are typically 2-4-2; 787s are typically 3-3-3; 777s can be 3-3-3 or 3-4-3, etc.

If you're flying in a group of 2 or 4, the A330 layout with 2-4-2 is perfect. But not if you're a group of 3. Likewise, a 3-3-3 layout is great for groups of 3, but not so much for couples, etc.

I wonder if any airline has tried mixing up their cabin layouts in economy to offer more choices to their customers? E.g. on an A330 in economy, there could be 25 rows of 2-4-2 and then 10 rows of 2-3-3. (Each version has the same number of seats in a row.) Or something like that.

I'm sure airlines would appreciate the ability to charge more for the different types of seats (I'm looking at Lufthansa with its 900 different types of Allegris seats), but I don't think anyone's tried this yet?

 

[Beer_budget]

I suspect the additional complexity of multiple aisle configurations in one class might not meet the required standard for emergency evacuation procedures.

 

[moa999]

Qantas is kind of doing this with Economy Plus, albeit via extra leg room not width.

 

[Mattg]

I suspect the additional complexity of multiple aisle configurations in one class might not meet the required standard for emergency evacuation procedures.

Already on most widebody planes the configuration changes where business/premium economy ends and economy starts, so a configuration change in itself is not necessarily an issue.

 

[RooFlyer]

You don't need different seat types of seats or seat configurations to charge more (Qantas is expert) - but Lufthansa has a new idea - differential charging for seats at the back!! But elites get first dibs.

Lufthansa adds paid back-row seats for economy

Lufthansa Group will charge for back-row economy seats starting July 2026, pricing them below standard options. Business class first-row seats are now available for purchase, not just elite members. The move expands seat tiers but draws criticism for marketing low-value seating as an upgrade.

www.insideflyer.com

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The options for wide bodies are generally 8, 9 or 10 seats per row.
There is only one layout which achieves each result.
So 8 has to be 2-4-2, 9 has to be 3-3-3, and 10 has to be 3-4-3.
If you tried a 2-5-2 to achieve 9 seats per row, you'd have a very unpopular centre seat.
A 10 seat per row layout of 2-6-2 would be even worse.

Since you can't really change layouts using the same number of seats per row, the driving factor becomes density.
To use the example of a B777, a 3-4-3 layout has one more seat per row than a 3-3-3 layout.
The seats have to be narrower to accommodate this within a given cabin width.
If an airline has decided to maximise yield with a denser cabin configuration, why would they compromise that?
Conversely, why would they give different passengers in the same class cabin, completely different seats?

 

[oz_mark]

It's interesting that on paper, a 2-5-2 layout has much going for it. Couples seats, family and group options. But it was a hated layout by passengers

 

[clifford]

It's interesting that on paper, a 2-5-2 layout has much going for it. Couples seats, family and group options. But it was a hated layout by passengers

I liked it on the old UA 777's. Never sat in the middle though.

 

[Mattg]

It's interesting that on paper, a 2-5-2 layout has much going for it. Couples seats, family and group options. But it was a hated layout by passengers

Why not add a few rows of 2-5-2 or 3-5-2 at the back/front and let people choose those seats if they want them, while giving a 3-3-3 or 3-4-3 option to everyone else?

So 8 has to be 2-4-2

I don't see any reason 8 couldn't be 2-3-3 if an airline decided they wanted that?

 

[RooFlyer]

Why not add a few rows of 2-5-2 or 3-5-2 at the back/front and let people choose those seats if they want them, while giving a 3-3-3 or 3-4-3 option to everyone else?

I wonder if that would trigger the need for a re-certification?

 

[elanshin]

I wonder if that would trigger the need for a re-certification?

Probably. The seat design for 2/3/4/5 would all be slightly different.

There are many different types of economy seating layouts on wide-body aircraft, e.g. A330s are typically 2-4-2; 787s are typically 3-3-3; 777s can be 3-3-3 or 3-4-3, etc.

If you're flying in a group of 2 or 4, the A330 layout with 2-4-2 is perfect. But not if you're a group of 3. Likewise, a 3-3-3 layout is great for groups of 3, but not so much for couples, etc.

I wonder if any airline has tried mixing up their cabin layouts in economy to offer more choices to their customers? E.g. on an A330 in economy, there could be 25 rows of 2-4-2 and then 10 rows of 2-3-3. (Each version has the same number of seats in a row.) Or something like that.

I'm sure airlines would appreciate the ability to charge more for the different types of seats (I'm looking at Lufthansa with its 900 different types of Allegris seats), but I don't think anyone's tried this yet?

In a theoretical world, I'm sure there's some optimal way to play around with the seats. In a practical world I cant see any airlines taking this approach to complicate things more than they need to.

Equipment swaps would also be a nightmare as well and generally speaking people figure out ways to travel in groups if they travel regularly and if its a one off trip, you just make do with whatever options. With a couple of trips to Malaysia now under my belt with the new in-laws i have a pretty solid idea of the preference for seating configurations.

 

[oz_mark]

I don't see any reason 8 couldn't be 2-3-3 if an airline decided they wanted that?

I vaguely recall a 3-2-3 layout. May have been early A300. May have even been floated for the 787 at one point.

 

[Forg]

Only downside of 3-2-3 I can think of (and it’s a significant one) is overhead bin size/shape?

Hey, there’s always the slightly narrower row or few up the back of the bus, the 2-4-2 rows at the back of a 747 were great if you knew someone who could get a 2 for you!