Statistical Modelling of Comfort Preferences and Uncertainty in Subjective Evaluations of Aircraft Seat Comfort

Aircraft seat is rated as the most unsatisfying aspect of flying; understanding the main factors impacting on passenger’s evaluations can provide a concrete opportunity for airlines to improve seat comfort and thus enhance passenger satisfaction and loyalty. Although there is a great deal of interest, the research on effective assessment strategies for subjective comfort is still underdeveloped. In this study a model-based approach for the analysis of subjective comfort data is suggested. The model adopted can be interpreted as a parametric version of the psychological process generating comfort ratings. The proposed approach is exploited through a case study concerning comfort assessment of aircraft seats designed for regional flights.