Bedding Down

Air New Zealand is offering what it calls “the first major improvement in economy class travel in 20 years”: the provision of beds in coach class flights. “The beds are formed by foot-rests rising to the level of three seats; a blanket and loose normal-sized pillows complete the arrangement. Passengers would need to buy the three seats together. The passengers would also need to be ready to sleep together in small families or couples. The airline’s ‘Skycouch’ follows a wildly successful safety campaign by the company in May 2009, which featured well-formed cabin staff wearing nothing but body paint. ‘For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone,’ chief executive Rob Fyfe told reporters. ‘The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a traveling companion – just keep your clothes on, thanks.’ Developed in-house by Air New Zealand designers and engineers, about a quarter of all long-haul economy seats will convert to Skycouches.”