Forget Reclining Seats, Because Soarigami Will Start an Armrest Debate

Gabe Zaldivar
by Gabe Zaldivar
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Mon December 15, 2014

Image via Twitter

There is a new device that is hoping to solve personal space issues aboard planes by snapping in a contraption that separates the armrest in between seats.

We simply don't see any issue with this idea whatsoever.

Obvious sarcasm aside, ABC News' Genevieve Shaw Brown has the skinny on an airline innovation that will make its debut sometime in 2015. It's called the Soarigami, and it aims to bring peace with a cleverly demarcated line separating armrests.

Although we saw Pawnee and Eagleton clearly separated in Parks and Recreation, and we know how that helped rising tensions.

Metro Vancouver tweets out an illustration of the new device:

ABC News explains further:

"Expected to be available in early 2015 and cost about $30, the plastic divider 'attaches onto any existing armrest to extend the space and allow two people to share the space comfortably,' said co-founder Grace Lee Chang.'"

Chang continued explaining that the clamps that resemble landing gear affix this newfangled contraption to any seat armrest.

Those interested can find out more at the Soarigami website, which promises to have the item available for "pre-buy" in the early portion of the new year.

Of course, as Brown reminds, there is the item of the Knee Defender and the kerfuffle that followed to discuss. To be fair, this is clearly not the same thing.

The Soarigami would be clearly visible to your seatmate and aims to be mutually beneficial to whoever is sitting next to you.

What it doesn't do, however, is magically make that tiny, cramped seat your American behind is sitting in any larger.

This is a nice idea, but we see obvious issues, like the frustration that comes when the person on the aisle or window seat decides to shot call how the armrest will function for the duration of the flight.

The second this thing become a slight hindrance to the person being subjected to its use is the very moment we have a Soarigami debate, and that will be roughly the amount of time it takes to taxi at any airport.

Let's just admit that what we really need is less people packed onto planes in general. Until then, we should all just board the plane and ignore one another like civilized people.


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