Why Airplane Seats Are Almost Always Blue

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.

• An interesting fact: In the 1970s and 1980s some airlines tried to use red upholstery. However, later on they had to change it to blue, as it turned out the color red increased the level of aggression among the passengers.

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.

• An interesting fact: The cloth that is put on the back of the seat, is called antimacassar. These cloths were widely used to cover the furniture in the Victorian Era. The name of this accessory stems from the macassar oil that men used for hair styling. This oil is extremelly rich and leaves greasy stains on furniture. So people put small pieces of fabric on top of the armchairs, where people would rest their heads, to prevent any damage to expensive furniture.

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:

• There are special websites where you can see real row positioning in airplanes belonging to different airlines. They will help you determine if you will actually enjoy the view from the window or if you will have to constantly bend over to see the landscapes.
• If you don’t want to listen to engine noise, then choose seats closer to the nose of the airplane. In this case, you may have listen to stewardesses talking, but they are unlikely to be louder than the sound of the engine. If you didn’t manage to “catch” these seats, sit closer to the aisle as it’s quieter there than near the window.
• By the way, the seats in the beginning of the aircraft have one more advantage — the meal is served starting from you, so you’ll have a wider range of dishes. The “tail” passengers rarely have a choice between fish and chicken.
• If you’re tall, be sure to sit next to the emergency exit — there is more space between the seat rows and you won’t have to fly with your knees near your ears.
• But keep in mind that the seats in the row near the emergency exit don’t recline so they don’t to interfere with an emergency evacuation. For this reason they may not be the best choice for some passengers.

How often do you travel by plane? Share with us in the comments!