Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Air New Zealand turns unsold coach seats into your new bed
Now, an empty seat certainly is worth something, but the airline will take that one step further by turning these empty seats into a lie-flat bed.
The description does not go into too much detail, but apparently by sliding the seats forward and raising the foot rest, the seats will allow you to lie down flat and grab a couple of hours of sleep. The new seat design is the brainchild of Altitude Aerospace Interiors, an Air New Zealand subsidiary.
Empty seats will sell for $150, which is about in line with what I'd be willing to pay for the luxury of sleeping in coach.
According to aviation analysts, the design has the potential of earning the airline an additional $60 million each year.
If Air New Zealand can pull this off, they'll be the first airline to offer lie-flat beds in coach, hopefully starting a trend that other airlines are eager to copy.
Filed under: Oceania, New Zealand, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hickson Chen Oct 23rd 2009 2:24PM
Good article, but what NZ said was NZ$150... about US$113
David Parker Brown Oct 23rd 2009 2:02PM
I look at it this way: if someone would pay you $150 to sleep partly reclined vs fully, would you take it? I surely would!
The money doesn't seem worth it to me for what you would get, but I am guessing it does for enough people!
Angela K. Nickerson Oct 23rd 2009 5:50PM
I was just on a British Airways flight this week where coach was about 75% full. I kept thinking that surely just taking out those seats and giving us all a little more room would make for happier passengers. And I'd be willing to pay a little more to not be treated like chattel. Perhaps Air NZ is on to something!
BrianM Oct 24th 2009 7:56AM
For the 15+ hour flights from the US to there, I would absolutely take that over the $1000s for first or business class, this is a bargain!
PinkFreud Nov 14th 2009 1:34AM
All can say is SIGN ME UP! After my last miserable 17 hr nonstop coach flight to Hong Kong, I swore that I would never fly international again. Even though I know which seats to reserve, even the "best" coach seats are very uncomfortable for that length of time. Since I don't earn enough to fly Business, I would gladly pay the extra fee in order to stretch out a little, be more comfortable, and sleep!!!
Linda Oct 25th 2009 7:18AM
Great idea if they can silence the crying babies. Last time I flew across the Atlantic there was a family with a few-months-old baby in the bulkhead seats right in front of my row. For some unknown reason the parents decided that was a good time to let their baby "cry it out" before going to sleep in the nice little baby bed that was apparently part of the bulkhead seating. The baby did NOT go to sleep during this hour-long exercise and only went to sleep finally after the idiot parents CHANGED HER DIRTY DIAPER and held her in their laps. An airplane flying over the Atlantic Ocean on an OVERNIGHT flight is NOT the time to teach your kid anything. Just let them do whatever keeps then quiet as long as they do it in the seat with you.
Joan Oct 25th 2009 9:36AM
I feel for the baby, most likely the baby also was crying because of his ears hurting. Because the tube that allows the air in the ear to equalize the pressure in the ear is much smaller and easier to get blocked. The baby probably needed to cry to help the process of equalizing the pressure. They can't chew gum like adults or yawn on command. I know one person I was talking to with before a flight thanked me after the flight because I suggested giving the baby a little Tylenol before the flight. It was a peaceful flight. Which was much better the flight they had prior.
cingisbleeving Oct 25th 2009 12:22PM
Babies should be on their own flight. I can't stand sitting next to a crying baby. Most parents bring NOTHING to entertain them with. All you have to do is ask the doctor what they can be given so they will sleep. It's not that big of a deal, but a lot of parents would rather make EVERYONE around them as miserable as THEY choose to be. When airlines do seating they definitely need to put ALL families with children younger than 4 in the same section, away from other passengers, AND in their OWN seat. It is so annoying having somebody's unseated youngster crawling all over you, spitting up, and smelling like stinky diapers on a long flight.
Steve Oct 25th 2009 8:13AM
In the 50's Strato Liners had sleeping facilities from the U.S. to Europe, Great idea then and a great idea now.
Linda Oct 25th 2009 8:35AM
That's why I love "jetting" with JetBlue!! Comfortable seats and tv is all I need for a flight!
JULIA Oct 25th 2009 9:02AM
MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME ABOUT AN AIRLINE THAT HAS MORE COMFERTABLE OR RECLINING SEATS FOR OVERSEAS FLIGHTS .DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT AIR LINE?CANT AFORD BUISNESS CLASS.
ron-ricky Oct 25th 2009 9:20AM
airlines should make a separate cabin for passengers flying with childern on long flights . Yes I wouid pay 150 extra . plus try this tip I go to my doctor tell him give me 2 sleeping pills one each way I sleep for hours on my flights to the philippines.
theycallmebee Oct 25th 2009 10:27AM
Wonderful idea! Have you all seen Singapore Airlines - my gosh! those planes are HUGE with BEDS!!! Of course those classy acts are for the 1st class people and that costs thousands of dollars! So this new way of charging only around $100 to stretch out more on a long flight is a great bargain...but instead of asking if people want it they should just do it for ALL people traveling...going over the Pacific are LONG LONG flights and some people can get health problems sitting cramped for so long.
jp Oct 25th 2009 10:47AM
What are you thinking people? Do you really think that there are going to be random seats available next to you, in front or back that would make this at all practical. From my experience, coach is just that, people acting like cattle hustling seats, making others move from their seat of choice, so someone can lie down? All I can see is cabin chaos, with more pissed off passengers and even crabbier cabin attendants who are busy settling disputes.. boycott airlines and stay home to get your leg room back.
Glenn Shadix Oct 25th 2009 10:51AM
Air New Zealand was the first airline I used that had first class seats turn into beds and they are, simply, THE BEST. Flown'em all and this Airline has got it down. Queen Elizabeth Chose Air New Zealnad when she flew to Auckland. I worked there as an actor and actually looked forward to the plane ride! The food is great and Kiwis are a special breed anyway--they put the passenger first---STRANGE CONCEPT..... Just a love note to Air New Zealand and that very special country WAY down yonder and under...
CW Oct 25th 2009 11:34AM
Customer service and value, they won't last...
Linda Oct 25th 2009 11:57AM
Might've been the baby's ears, but when the parents held her or her sister was playing with her she seemed fine. Only time she did any extended crying was when they put her down in the bed. It might have hurt her to lay down - my kids' pediatrician told me that ear infections make it more painful to lay down than to sit upright. HOWEVER, when you're on an overnight flight and you realize that your baby cries when you lay her down, pick her butt up and let the other passengers get some sleep.
Betsy Oct 25th 2009 12:33PM
Not necessarily this child but seems to me that you do not like children crying. Do you have children?? If so, I guess they never cried or they never bothered anyone. The next time you see a child crying for an unknown reason, how about think that there might possibly be something else bothering them. My son has autism and when we go anywhere people will give you dirty looks like your child is a brat but going into busy places is chaos intheir minds. We practice taking him in public so that he learns proper behavior in public places. I really hate people like you that think they have never bothered anyone but to be frank we have to be subjected to your ugly face and comments and I can't get away from you. Just deal with and learn some compassion. I hope you do not have grandchildren. Talk about the wicked witch. I guess they will not be able to touch, anything, say anything or even pass gas in your presence. All of that kind of stuff is bothersome, correct? It must be hell being perfect and then hold your family to that standard.
an Oct 25th 2009 12:48PM
Good thing you were the super perfect quiet robot baby that everyone dreams of to be such a critical person. Yes it is annoying but you cann't always help it. Babies cry, period. And that doesn't make the parents stupid...all babies cry! And sometimes you have to fly unexpectedly-like to a funeral and you have to bring the baby, have some compassion you have no idea what is happening in those peoples lives. We were all babies at one time and we all cried. And depending on the age of an infant, your doctor will not recommend anything to make your child sleep, that's not what tylenol, benadryl or other cold medicines are for, they may have that effect but a doctor will not recommend giving it to an infant for flying. I find it annoying to fly with judgmental idiots who are super selfish and self centered.
Julz Oct 25th 2009 12:52PM
Hey Besty, who cares if someone doesn't like children? If you can handle the obnoxious screams of a child, good for you. Would you like a cookie? Traveling seems to be stressful enough without having a child scream its head off for the entire flight, or as someone else mentioned--crawling all over the other passengers, spitting up, etc. Just because someone else sees their baby as a bundle of joy doesn't mean everyone else will. And as for being the "wicked witch of the west," talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Telling someone they are ugly and that you actually hate them just because they voiced their frustration over screaming kids is a BIT dramatic, don't you think?