Airline introduces sleep pods for economy passengers on long-haul flights

NEW YORK — Air New Zealand just announced another way for passengers to sleep on long-haul flights without upgrading to first class.

The “Economy Skynest” is made up of six sleep pods in a bunk bed-style layout to allow passengers to sleep for four hours while on their 17 or so hour long trip. The beds are available for an extra charge alongside an Economy or Premium Economy seat, according to Air New Zealand.

The sleep pods will be available to reserve starting May 18 for flights in November. The pods will add an extra $500 to the cost of a one-way economy ticket, according to the New York Times.

The new beds will initially be available on the airline’s flagship route between New York’s JFK Airport and Auckland, New Zealand, which is one of the longest commercial flights in the world and the longest offered by this airline. 

Along with access to the pod for four hours, customers will get an amenity kit with an eye mask, ear plugs, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste and some hand cream. The pods also have dim lights for reading while resting, and charging ports for devices. There will be two periods for sleep during the initial rollout of the pods. The sessions are planned outside meal services. 

Each bed is about 6.6 feet long and 25 inches wide, which tapers down to 16 inches by the feet. There may be some climbing, crawling or kneeling required to get in and out of the bunk. 

Anyone aged 15 years and older is able to access the pod with the upgrade to their flight ticket. 

Customers will know their time is up when the lights in the bunk light up, or a crew member wakes up heavier sleepers. The bedding will be changed within 30 minutes before another passenger is allowed into the pod, according to Air New Zealand. 

“For a country as remote as New Zealand, the journey matters. Tourism is a $46 billion NZD industry, but growth depends on travellers’ willingness to spend long hours in the air to get here,” Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said in a statement. “By giving more people the chance to properly rest on ultra long-haul flights, it helps make travel to and from New Zealand more manageable.”

The airline has been leading the charge for alternative methods to increase customer comfort (at an extra charge). In 2011, they debuted the “Economy Skycouch,” which United Airlines debuted this year.