Is This a Solution to Uncomfortable Airplane Seating? Air travelers in first and business class are accustomed to a certain amount of choice when it comes to seating, but that kind of control may be available to economy passengers in the future. A concept for a new adjustable economy airline seat was recently announced by Seymourpowell, a London-based design company. Called Morph, the seat was developed to adapt to the changing needs of passengers by providing a more customized fit and offering choice over the amount they pay by charging more for wider seats and less for narrower ones. The idea provides an alternative to the standard economy seat, the company said, which is typically designed for average-size passengers but frequently fits relatively few properly. "The economy cabin, in general, is a pretty disappointing experience for most passengers," Jeremy White, head of transport for Seymourpowell, said in an email. We wanted to challenge the pre-existing norm and offer a fresh perspective on this area of the cabin. Mr. White said the idea was also a reaction against airlines adding an extra seat to rows in economy class, making each seat narrower. The adjustable seat works by replacing traditional foam pads with flexible fabric stretched across the width of three seats, around a frame and over formers, the moveable element behind the fabric that changes its shape. The fabric is clamped down by armrests and upper dividers. By moving formers, the fabric is morphed to increase or decrease the width of seats, as well as the height and depth of the seat surface. For example, when families travel together, adults could widen their seats and make their children's seats narrower. The concept also takes into account needs other than size. A business traveler who needs to work on the flight or a mother nursing a child might seek more privacy and be willing to spend more for additional space. The company said the adjustable seats will be good for the airline industry, too. Airlines could arrange the economy cabin by people's willingness to pay for space, but without a reduction in capacity. "Morph offers passengers choice and therefore a chance to affect their own experience," Mr. White said. For the airlines it provides flexibility in how they operate the space, blurring the boundaries between classes on a seat by seat basis.