Originally Posted by Snowdevil

I can't find the info, but going back around ten years, Air Transport World featured company offering a "variable geometry seat" that enabled carriers to alternate between a coach and Business/First Class product.

The row of three standard coach seats was constructed much like existing seats, with armrests separating each seat.

The armrests of the center seat were collapsible, and could be folded downwards while the center paneling of the middle seat's "back" was folded forward and down - creating two wide, First Class seats from that same row of three coach ones!

There was even an option for a floating railing system (attached to the overhead compartments) that could enable the carrier to create "bulkheads" separating the main cabin from the variable "First Class."

I think this would have been a much better solution, as it affords the flexibility to tailor the number of premium seats offered by market and flight.