Now Beds in Economy Class in Flights

PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 27, 2010 – Air New Zealand is to offer flat beds in economy on its new fleet of Boeing 777-300 ER, which is being rolled out this November.

The so-called “Skycouch” is made up of three standard seats that can be changed into a single, horizontal space by removing arm rests and covering over the footwell, although the seats do not fully recline.

Dubbed “Cuddle Class”, it is being pitched at couples and families with young children. Passengers would need to buy the three seats together, and pay the full price for two economy seats and half price for the third.

http://www.travelchacha.com/flights.htm

The airline says the new seating will transform international air travel, creating a flexible space ideal for couples, and for those travelling with children.

“For the past three years we have been designing a new long haul experience that will reignite the passion of today’s travellers,” said Rob Fyfe, Air New Zealand’s chief executive officer. “For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone.”

Fyfe also announced an overhaul of the airline’s premium economy cabin, which he claims will offer improved dining and comfort.

22 Skycouch seats will be fitted on the new aircraft, making up the first 11 rows of the economy class cabin. They will be launched on Air New Zealand’s services between Auckland and Los Angeles, and will become available on the carrier’s Los Angeles-London services from April 2011.

http://www.travelchacha.com/new-zealand-travel-guide/

Seems Air New Zealand heard the sleep calls from economy class consumers and is making a change. Air New Zealand will be reconfiguring their Boeing 777 cabins to make room for lie flat seats in economy seating. These lie-flat beds make that endless flight to Australia seem a little more relaxing.

The catch: You need to buy three seats to make use of the new economy class luxury.  These seat changes will make a huge difference for flyers with economy-class airline tickets. Most flights to Australia offer lie-flat seats in first and business class cabins.

The “Skycouch” is three economy seats that unfold to create a space where people can stretch out and relax, and possibly sleep.  While it’s necessarily to buy three seats together in order to make this happen, the airline said the price of a third seat will be about half the price of the second seat (a deal when you consider the stranger who might by the seat instead).

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How does it work? Simple engineering (and a little creativity). The leg rests on each seat rise up to fill the space between rows of seats, and a thin mattress and full size pillows are provided for comfort. Air New Zealand says about a quarter of all longhaul economy seats will convert to Skycouches, taking up the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the airline’s new Boeing 777-300 planes.

Maybe this new initiative is a sign of things to come in the airline industry…

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