Long Haul Sleeping At Last
Posted on 27 January 2010 by Stenberg-Tendys W.L. in Travel
On its long haul air services, Air New Zealand will offer the world’s first economy-class bed-seat from the end of the year. The only snag is, it is a share only bed-seat.
Combining a row of three seats along the window sides of the aircraft, these will be configured into a bed wide enough for two people, lying on their sides.
Chief executive Rob Fyfe says, “When the airline takes delivery of the first of eight Boeing 777-300ER jets in November, long-haul travel will be ‘redefined’.”
Being able to sleep on the long haul flights will make an enormous difference to economy class passengers. The Skycouch is designed for couples, or families prepared to spend about $1400 extra.
A 1.75-metre bed is created by raising the leg rest to fill the gap between the front of the seat bottom and the back of the seat in front, with a thin mattress placed on top.
Only about a quarter of 246 economy seats will convert to Skycouches.
To purchase a Skycouch, passengers will pay the standard economy fare for two seats and receive the middle seat for around half-price. Assuming a base fare of $2800 per person for a return flight to London in June, plus fees and taxes, the total cost for two people would be about $7600. By comparison, a single premium economy seat, which does not recline to a bed, costs nearly $6000 return and a business-class lie-flat seat nearly $10,000.
Travel agents expect the move to be popular with economy-class passengers looking to “fill the gap” to premium economy.
“It’s definitely revolutionary in terms of economy-class flying,” Flight Centre spokeswoman Marie Pilkington said. She expected some would still prefer the extra privacy and better food of premium economy, while the price would put others off. “At the end of the day, price is always a tipping point for most fliers.”
Air New Zealand says they have improved premium economy and business-class seats also.
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[...] On its long haul air services, Air New Zealand will offer, by the end of the year, the world’s first economy-class bed-seat. The only snag it is it share only situation. Read how Air New Zealand is giving some of its economy passengers the chance to lie down on long hau… [...]