Most likely by 2024 passengers traveling through Air New Zealand will be able to book four-hour sessions in flat sleeping pods during ultra-long-haul routes. Air New Zealand will be allowing economy passengers to lie down and take a nap in communal, bunk bed-style sleeping pods during their flights.
Image source: Reuters
The airline says it will be the world’s first economy class bunk beds, when its new cabins are installed by 2024. Premium and regular economy passengers will still be sold traditional seats and will have the option of bunk-style beds. The passengers can book four-hour sessions in lie-flat sleeping pods – which the airline has named “Skynest” by paying an additional cost.
The Pods will have a mattress and sheets that will be changed by the cabin crew after each booking. They will be stacked on top of each other to make use of the height of the cabin. Each pod will also be provided with a privacy curtain, USB charging, and “ventilation outlets”. An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said that while the cost of booking a four-hour session in one of the beds has not yet been decided upon, it will only be available to regular and premium economy passengers.
The spokeswoman for Air New Zealand said the sleeping pods would be limited to one person at a time. The airline is also coming up with a booking system for the pods. Air New Zealand’s chief executive Greg Foran said the bunk-style beds will be “a real game-changer for the economy travel experience”.
Because of New Zealand’s unique position of becoming a leader on long -haul travel experiences, Air New Zealand has focused on the comfort of its passengers as they understand the importance of well-rested customers after long traveling hours. Leanne Geraghty, the airline’s chief customer, and sales officer spoke about the need for comfortable travel saying research shows that the first night away from home is the toughest. That is why they provide sleepy teas and balms along with healthier food choices and breathable fabrics.
The pods will be built in the plane’s middle section between the economy and economy stretch cabins. The bedding will be cleaned up for each passenger by the crew during a 30-minute changeover period. Passengers will be able to add a Skynest sleep session to their booking just like passengers add extra baggage. The exact cost of adding the bed has to be administered but it will most likely be affordable for an average passenger.
Air New Zealand’s Dreamliners are aiming to be of service during its ultra-long-haul routes, including New York, Chicago, and Houston. It’s on those long journeys that an opportunity for a properly restful snooze will seem attractive to the passengers.The airline first came up with the idea of ‘Skynest’ in 2020, but concept designs for completely changing airplane seating were being planned.
The Skynest is more than just an imaginary concept and is set to be a reality. From its viral inflight safety videos to unique seating designs, Air New Zealand has a history of experimenting and not going along with aviation industry trends. Some of its experiments haven’t been successful in the past. Most of them are still around today, such as the Skycouch — a row of three economy seats that can be reserved and turned into a bed — which the airline launched in 2011 and which will also make it onto the new Dreamliners. The airline calls it “the world’s first sleep pods in the sky,” and while not as spacious as the bed you have at home, it allows six passengers to either sit or spread out on a full length bed, complete with pillows and blankets.
IMAGE SOURCE : https://gizmodo.com/air-new-zealand-economy-class-bunk-beds-cheap-flight-1849122705
