A heated seat for an aircraft includes a heating element disposed on a cushioning material and overlayed by an upholstery. The heating element includes a flexible base and a plurality of thin and flexible heating coils that conform to the seat shape such that no cushioning material is applied between the heating element and the upholstery. By providing direct contact between the heating element and the upholstery, smaller heating elements requiring less electrical power may be used to sufficiently heat the seat compared with traditional heating elements.