A New Business Class Concept That Looks Better on Paper
Royal Jordanian’s newest Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets were supposed to signal a fresh chapter for the airline’s regional and medium-haul premium cabin. Instead of the traditional 1-2 business class layout used on its older Embraers, the carrier has installed a 2-2 staggered configuration. At first glance, this promises familiar benefits: slightly wider seats than economy, more legroom, and a veneer of privacy created by offset rows. The idea is that window and aisle seats do not line up exactly, with the window seat positioned halfway between two aisles. For the airline, this preserves high-density seating while marketing a distinct business class product. But when these aircraft are deployed on flights of around five hours between Amman and European cities, the limitations of the design quickly emerge, turning what should be a comfortable regional business class into a frustrating compromise.
The Staggered Royal Jordanian Seating Layout: Design Flaws Exposed
The core issue with the new Royal Jordanian seating is how the staggered design actually works in practice. Because the window seats sit forward of the aisle seats, reaching them requires stepping past the person in the aisle. Even with the seat fully upright, the opening is narrow, making entry awkward, especially during the flight. The shell-style seat then slides forward to recline, eliminating what little space existed between passengers. While this might appear clever from a space-planning perspective, it creates an uncomfortable, boxed-in feeling. Crucially, the window passenger ends up seated inches in front of the aisle passenger, with no proper privacy partition. Rather than feeling cocooned, you feel like you’re on display — an especially uncomfortable arrangement when the aisle seat is occupied by an air marshal or deadheading pilot, a common occurrence on these routes.
Personal Experience: Awkward, Exposed and Hardly Premium
In real-world use, the seat quickly reveals why it has been singled out as a contender for the worst purpose-built business class seat. Physically, it feels tight: the shell encroaches on shoulder space and movement, and the stagger leaves you constantly aware of the person behind you. The most jarring aspect, however, is psychological. In the window seat, you are positioned directly in front of the aisle passenger, with your every move within their line of sight. This isn’t intentional snooping, just a consequence of the geometry. The lack of privacy dividers makes the experience markedly more awkward than a classic side-by-side recliner, where at least you sit next to, not in front of, your neighbor. For solo travelers seeking a quiet, private environment to work or rest, this arrangement actively undermines the core promise of business class.
Airline Comfort Issues on Longer Flights
The shortcomings of Royal Jordanian’s staggered cabin are magnified by the routes these Embraers now fly. Instead of short regional hops, they are scheduled on missions to Europe approaching five hours. That is a long time to spend in a seat that feels narrow, exposes you to your neighbor’s gaze, and forces clumsy access to the window. Unlike long-haul lie-flat products, this is a recliner that prioritizes density over genuine rest. When compared with other carriers operating similar-length flights, the gap becomes clear. Some airlines at least deliver wider, more conventional recliners with shared armrests and simple access. Others, like Turkish Airlines or Singapore Airlines on comparable “medium-haul” routes, install modern lie-flat seats with direct aisle access and proper privacy, even if the footwells can feel tight and the experience is not flawless.
How Royal Jordanian Compares to Other Business Class Offerings
In the broader landscape of business class review metrics, Royal Jordanian’s staggered Embraer product sits near the bottom among purpose-built premium cabins. It is arguably a marginal upgrade over intra-Europe business class – where a blocked middle seat in economy is still standard – thanks to greater legroom and modestly increased width. Yet when measured against contemporary regional and medium-haul products from leading airlines, the design falls short. Other carriers using similar aircraft or flight lengths often provide either traditional, more spacious recliners or fully flat seats with better privacy and more intuitive layouts. Even where rival products have their own airline comfort issues, such as tight footwells or limited storage, they tend not to replicate the same feeling of being watched or trapped. For travelers who value comfort and usability over novelty, Royal Jordanian’s new staggered design is a configuration best avoided, particularly when flying alone.