“Air New Zealand Launches Skynest: Heavenly Beds for Economy Passengers at a Price”

Most people who have flown long-distance have probably dreamed one or more times of being able to lie in a bed and sleep until the landing site.

Stiff, stiff and tired, we have envied those who, for various reasons, have been able to fly business or 1st class with comfortable sleeping facilities that we have only seen pictures of.

Air New Zealand has now launched its solution for people like us – travelers in economy class.

Sky nest on a long trip

Skynest – can perhaps be translated as Himmelrede – is a separate section with bunk beds where passengers can rent a bed for four hours of the flight to really relax.

– We wanted to offer our economy customers a lying option on the trip, and that’s how Skynest was born. It’s going to be a real game-changer for the economy passenger travel experience,” Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said when the news was announced.

NOK 1,000 an hour to sleep

In the newly furnished Boeing 787 aircraft, space will be reserved for a separate bedroom located between the Premium Economy and Economy classes. The bedroom consists of two three-story bunk beds.

In the first phase, the Skynest offer will be launched on the two longest flight routes – from Auckland to New York and Chicago respectively, and will be available from September 2024. These flights take 15-16 hours.

According to information released by Air New Zealand, the beds can be booked for a power-relax-nap session of four hours per passenger during the flight. Families traveling on the same ticket can book a bed in turn. The price will be between 400 and 600 New Zealand dollars (NZL) for four hours – i.e. between NOK 2,670 and 4,013 at today’s rates.

Well equipped bed

Each berth will include a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, earplugs, a separate reading light, USB outlet for personal device, ventilation outlet and lighting designed for rest.

The bed linen will be changed between each session, and a 30 minute transition time will be allowed for this.

The candles are gently lit at the end of each session.

According to Air New Zealand, passengers who do not respond to the gentle wake-up signals will be easily awakened by the cabin crew.

– Our extensive research and design process, which spanned five years and 170,000 hours, has resulted in a product that we are confident will revolutionize the flying experience for Economy passengers, says Leanne Geraghty, director of customer and sales at Air New Zealand in a press release.

For those with a lot of money or someone else who pays for themselves, we can add that the sleeping facilities of the Business Premiere Luxe Suite and Business Premiere Seat are included in the sleeping upgrade program.