Air New Zealand reveals price of new economy class sleep pods
Normally, reclining airline seats are a luxury only available to first and business class passengers.
But that will change on some Air New Zealand flights when the airline launches Skynest, an in-flight bed concept for economy class passengers, which will be available from September 2024.
The airline first announced the Skynest concept last year, in which six sleeping cabins in a bunk configuration will be available on select aircraft.
Air New Zealand shared more details this week at TRENZ – New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event – on how bookings, pricing and other aspects will work.
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“We are delighted to announce that our innovative Economy Skynest will launch on ultra-long-haul flights, starting with the Auckland – New York and Auckland – Chicago routes,” said Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s Head of Sales and Customer Service.
“North America is the perfect market for Skynest, as it has a premium segment that values comfort and sleep during long-haul travel.
“With our long-haul routes to destinations such as New York and Chicago, Skynest offers our passengers a unique and innovative way to rest and refuel, making their journey with us even more enjoyable. With the launch of Skynest on these routes, we bring to life our commitment to offer choice, along with the best possible experience for our passengers, and to continue to innovate and lead the way in the aviation industry.”
“As a proudly New Zealand company, we are delighted to announce that Skynest will be designed and installed right here in Aotearoa.
While the overall overhaul of the 787 will take place at Boeing facilities, and our top engineers and designers will develop SkyNest in New Zealand, using the latest in cutting-edge technology and design.”
The Skynest will be a sleeping area configured with six sleeping modules in a bunk configuration for long-haul economy passengers.
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Each capsule will include a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, earplugs, a separate reading light, USB socket for personal devices, ventilation socket and lighting designed for relaxation.
Each passenger will be entitled to one session, and families traveling on the same ticket may book one session for each passenger, subject to availability.
The Skynest will be located between Premium Economy and Economy, and each pod will come with a separate seatbelt to ensure passengers can fasten them and stay in the pod should the seat belt sign come on during turbulence. The bedding will be changed between each session, and a 30-minute transition time will be allowed for this. The lights will gently come on at the end of each session, and crew will politely wake any passengers who sleep through this.
“We are still working out the exact details of the booking process and pricing. At this time we are looking at between NZ$400 and NZ$600 (between US$254 and US$382) for a 4-hour period,” commented Geraghty.
“Skynest is going to be a game changer, adding more flexibility to the economy class travel experience.”
“Our 83-year history is marked by a commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. SkyNest is the latest example, and we’re proud to be leading the way with this world-first cabin feature”, Geraghty concluded.
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