Air New Zealand Will Offer Lie-Flat Economy Seats Next Year

Forget the free food and fancy drinks—the best thing about flying first class is the seats. Specifically, the ability to lie down, which makes a huge difference in comfort on a long-haul flight. 

Lie-flat seats have long been out of budget for most travelers, but one airline is looking to change that.

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Air New Zealand’s new Dreamliner planes will feature six semi-private pods, called Skynests, that can be booked by economy passengers who want to stretch out and get some sleep. 

Stacked on top of each other bunk bed style, each Skynest will include a pillow, bedding, reading lights, chargers, and ear plugs. Each bed will be 80″ long and 23” so even the tallest passenger can truly lie flat. 

Mesh curtains will allow for some privacy, while still allowing flight attendants to check inside and make sure only one person at a time is using the pod. 

Flyers will be able to reserve Skynests for four hours at a time, and the pods will be cleaned in between passengers. Booking the Skynest will cost extra on top of an economy ticket, but a spokesperson for Air New Zealand told SmarterTravel, “At this stage, we’re still working through pricing.”

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Skynests will be found on Air New Zealand’s long-haul routes, some of which are among the longest nonstop flights in the world. The new planes featuring Skynests are expected to be in service starting in 2024.