6 Airlines Offering Lie-Flat Economy Sleep Products For A Fraction Of Business Class

In November, Air New Zealand is set to launch Skynests on its Auckland to New York route. Economy class passengers will be able to book six bunk-style pods for a four-hour session. The cost, according to Yahoo, will be $495 per session. However, Skynest is far from the first time that economy class passengers can lie flat. Air New Zealand pioneered the idea with its Skycouch product, with passengers able to book an entire row and lie flat by flipping up the armrests.

Several other airlines have now emulated this idea. It creates a new level of comfort in economy class with a far lower cost than traditional business class or other lie-flat products. However, passengers do not usually have access to a higher level of service than their fellow economy class passengers.

Air New Zealand

The first to do it, with a product introduced in 2011

Air New Zealand was the first airline to launch such an economy-class product in 2011. Fifteen years later, it has generated significant revenue by selling licenses to other carriers for them to launch comparable products. It was a product that made sense for New Zealand's flag carrier.

The nation's isolated nature means it offers some of the world's longest flights. For example, routes to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) can exceed 17 hours. That is an incredibly long time to be in economy class discomfort. The table below shows the specifications for the Skycouch product.

Skynest is coming to give passengers the option of a short sleep in a proper bed. In an interview with Business Traveler, Kerry Reeves from Air New Zealand explained why four hours was the selected slot length. He said that “sleep researchers told us that you can get a really solid deep sleep in four hours with two REM cycles."

United Airlines

Lie-flat economy class to come to America's legacy market by 2027

After being teased in March this year, United Airlines hopes to debut its Relax Row lie-flat economy class product in 2027. It will initially be available on the carrier's Boeing 787s and 777s. However, by 2030 United hopes to have it available on 200 widebody aircraft. Each of these planes will have up to 12 Relax Row sections. If Air New Zealand is the pioneer of lie-flat economy class, United is hoping to deploy it at scale.

Relax Rows will be almost identical to the Air New Zealand product. They will have adjustable leg rests that can fold up 90 degrees to create a flat surface. Passengers will get a mattress and basic bedding to put over the surface to convert it into a short bed. Like Air New Zealand, only passengers who are particularly short in stature will be able to lie flat. However, it will still be a significant comfort upgrade from sitting in economy class for upwards of 10 hours.

Passengers with kids on the booking will also get a children's travel kit and a plush toy. Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that "there’ll be up to 12 couches per flight. The average will be about nine, but 12 will be our maximum. Again, it is important that we think about elevating the experience for all of our flyers, across all of our products, from small cities to big cities."

Lufthansa

The German flag carrier's lie-flat economy class is half a decade old.

In August 2021, Lufthansalaunched its Sleeper's Row. It followed a small-scale 2020 trial, which saw lie-flat economy class being made available on select Boeing 747-8 services from Frankfurt to São Paulo. The COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect opportunity for the trial as there was extensive space available aboard Lufthansa's jumbo jets while the German carrier waited for demand to return to pre-pandemic levels. During the launch, Lufthansa said that:

"The Sleeper's Row is a further step towards more product diversity in Economy Class to meet passengers' wishes for more comfort and individuality. By equipping the new long-haul aircraft, Lufthansa is providing its passengers additional services to make flying even more pleasant."

Lufthansa was keen to assert that Sleeper's Row would not be ubiquitous across all widebody services, as is the long-term goal for United. At its launch, the airline said that it would only be available on "flights of approximately eleven hours or more." As a result, the targeted markets were trips from Germany to "the Far East, the United States' West Coast, Central and South America, or southern Africa."

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Lie-flat economy class comes to the Airbus A380

All Nippon Airways (ANA) made lie-flat economy class available on a new scale per aircraft by bringing it to the world's largest commercial airliner, the A380. COUCHii is only available on this aircraft. This plane's size allowed for 60 economy class seats to be converted to lie-flat options. Passengers can also convert either three or four seats into a bed due to the A380's configuration. That option produces a lie-flat bed which is longer than is available when only three seats can be converted.

COUCHii is available on flights between Japan and Hawaii, Business Insider reports. You can book the option up to 48 hours before your flight, either on the website or over the phone. As a result, access to COUCHii seating is far from guaranteed no matter how far out you start planning your flights.

COUCHii also has an enormous variation in pricing depending on demand when you make your booking. The cheapest option is $130 for four people using four seats during the low season. However, having one person per seat defeats the purpose of lie-flat economy class. Meanwhile, during peak travel, you can expect to pay in excess of $2,500 if you are booking a COUCHii row of four as an individual.

Air Astana's Economy Sleeper

A limited lie-flat product is available with the Kazakh airline

You can book onto Economy Sleeper for flights from Almaty to Frankfurt, Londonand Beijing, or from Astana to Frankfurt and Beijing. Given the extremely limited availability, it is worth checking the Air Astana website to confirm that the Economy Sleeper row is available for your specific flight.

Your experience with Air Astana's Economy Sleeper can be advanced even further if you opt for the front row. The two neighboring seats will be blocked, giving you even more comfort. Most lie-flat economy classes offer no or meager perks over standard economy beyond the ability to lie down and get some proper rest. However, Air Astana takes a different path with three main perks.

Firstly, passengers get an expanded luggage allowance. They can check in two 51 lb (23 kg) bags. Passengers also get better amenities, like the standard Business Class amenities kit and access to a personalized in-flight entertainment system. Inside the amenities kit, you'll find "TEMPLESPA cosmetics, a hairbrush, pen, file, eye mask and socks made from recycled materials in FSC-certified packaging." Finally, Economy Sleeper passengers have a fully changeable or refundable ticket.

Vietnam Airlines

You can book a Sky Sofa on routes between Vietnam and 18 nations

Sky Sofa is designed to help passengers sleep onboard their Vietnam Airlines flight, and also to provide more space to work and relax. You can book Vietnam Airlines' lie-flat economy class seating on an impressive range of routes. Within Asia, this includes Korea, Japan, and India. Sky Sofa is only available for flights to the United States in the Americas.

Elsewhere, European nations with Sky Sofa available include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Finally, Sky Sofa seats can be booked on flights to Australia. Business Insider states that pricing varies from $150 to $650 one-way, depending on the route you book and other factors. Vietnam Airlines points to two different ways you can book Sky Sofa.

Firstly, you can book in advance by visiting the 'Manage Booking' section while booking online, or by working with Vietnam Airlines' ticket offices and agents. Last-minute Sky Sofa bookings may also be possible depending on availability. You can inquire at the check-in counter or the airport ticket office when you arrive for your flight.

As with Air Astana, there are some benefits of Sky Sofa that go beyond a more comfortable seat. Firstly, you'll get access to improved in-flight cuisine and amenities. These products are at a premium economy rather than business class standard. Sky Sofa passengers who are Lotusmiles members will also earn bonus miles when booking a Sky Sofa.