Air New Zealand Economy Skynest

[Flying Fox]

Air NZ release Economy Skynest Concept.

Air New Zealand unveils 'Skynest' economy class lie-flat beds concept

Air New Zealand is looking at what it says is a "ground-breaking" new lie-flat prototype sleep product for economy class travellers.

www.traveller.com.au

Wonder if it will become a commercial product and at what price.

Great work Air NZ on thinking outside the box!!!

 

[CaptJCool]

I’m surprised it’s taken this long for airlines to BOTHER to do anything about it.

These long range flights are best served having capacity to lie flat and it’s a no brainer...

Of course, it defies prevailing logic To re-configure all that internal cabin space which currently is unused air space and thus not delivering any revenue...

But dumb rules get dumb results .... Boeing Files Patent for Upright Sleep System

Well done Air New Zealand

And I hope the finances “stack up” as great as the beds do!

 

[dajop]

I’m surprised it’s taken this long for airlines to BOTHER to do anything about it.

I suspect any airline would have to be very very careful not to diminish demand for business class and premium economy through such a product. Maybe that's why this hasn't been seriously looked at.

If you're talking about 200cm length (if it is uniform), 58 cm width, that's potentially offers a better sleeping space than many business class products with their cubby holes for the feet.

Mind you it might be "economy sleepers" but I wonder, suspect, the pricing to be somewhere between premium economy and business class and not between economy and premium economy .....

 

[Denali]

Would prefer this over the SQ feet cubby holes in J.

 

[CaptJCool]

They can do

Mind you it might be "economy sleepers" but I wonder, suspect, the pricing to be somewhere between premium economy and business class and not between economy and premium economy .....

Thus far, the air space & overhead lockers inside existing cabins is given away for free......Only the seat is charged....
Since it’s a re-configuration of existing space, one wonders why you’d sell the “same” real estate for inflated prices? Yes, capitalism at its finest - a bit like inflating the price cause you’re higher up and got a better view.....

Similarly to any brands of aggregated hotel chains, there’s always price points which people are willing to pay....cheap beds at hostels and 3 Star hotels across to wonderfully luxurious 5 Star bells and whistles outfits.... if I hazard a guess, would t be many who will “slum it down market” just solely because of price?

 

[samh004]

An interesting concept, looks quite tall. I wonder if placed where usual seats would be how many rows/seats it would displace? On such long flights, might make more sense as a PE product than a Y product.

 

[moa999]

Wonder if it will become a commercial product and at what price.

It looks like the 6 beds take up the space of 3 rows of economy seats.
So the space of 1.5 seats per bed, plus presumably a normal seat for takeoff and landing and eating

So you'd be looking at 2.5x plus a normal economy seat, more than Premium I'd think.

Unless of course they are using underfloor space (like QF had talked about but seemingly dumped for Sunrise)

 

[eastwest101]

An interesting concept, looks quite tall. I wonder if placed where usual seats would be how many rows/seats it would displace? On such long flights, might make more sense as a PE product than a Y product.

You would think logically that this product would make sense for ULH flying only? If it could stack 3 high with bunks in an east west configuration within the cabin then 3 bunks would take up the same volume as a row of 3 Y seats? But you lose the overhead luggage space, and its an expensive reconfig and makes the plane unsuitable for short haul. Would have to balance this against having to provide some common space for people to stretch their legs or even eat as thats two things you can't do with a bunk bed.'

All providing they can get the idea past the regulators.

 

[Flying Fox]

So you'd be looking at 2.5x plus a normal economy seat, more than Premium I'd think.

If the price was >Y+ and <J I think that I would consider it. Seat for some of the flight and flat bed for the rest of the time with Y meals, sounds like an OK deal to me for AKL-NYC.

 

[futaris]

Air New Zealand to put economy travellers to sleep

Air New Zealand Skynest: Economy Bunk Beds

Air New Zealand is introducing Skynests, which are bunk beds in economy. Here's how this will work, and how much it will cost.

onemileatatime.com

 

[Denali]

How will it work for take off/landing? Seat belts, evacuations, meals ect. Do people book by the hour? Hell, I will take the entire 13hrs thanks.

And you know people are nasty - there will be shenanigans in those bunks very quickly so byo antiseptic wipes and plastic sheets.

 

[Antoallison]

Great idea in theory for economy passengers on their long haul flights. Will have to wait and see what 2021 brings.

I would not want reading lights or USB ports in the pod though, you can do that back in your seat.

With only 6 pods to be shared amongst all the economy passengers on a flight,
I would just want to book maybe ? 3 hours (hopefully of deep sleep) then back to my seat.

@Denali The narrowness of the V shaped pod, just 58 cm across the shoulder width area single pods only and the curtains should deter most (not all) passengers.

 

[trooper]

You would think logically that this product would make sense for ULH flying only? If it could stack 3 high with bunks in an east west configuration within the cabin then 3 bunks would take up the same volume as a row of 3 Y seats? But you lose the overhead luggage space, and its an expensive reconfig and makes the plane unsuitable for short haul. Would have to balance this against having to provide some common space for people to stretch their legs or even eat as thats two things you can't do with a bunk bed.'

All providing they can get the idea past the regulators.

Nope. Three economy seats in Skycouch config reportedly give you 49" A 4 ' 1" Flat bed would be pretty useless.. (and it wouldn't even be that long due to structure) I think its pretty clear why they are looking at a north/south V shaped pod... but it will take up more real estate than many seem to be hoping... and I predict the usual wails when/if it happens and pricing is announced.. ... Concur with the 2.5 x estimate... What Im most impressed with is that NZ have actually gone at least some of the way to trying to make this real. Most of these ideas never seem to get past the paper stage!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Nope. Three economy seats in Skycouch config reportedly give you 49" A 4 ' 1" Flat bed would be pretty useless.. (and it wouldn't even be that long due to structure) I think its pretty clear why they are looking at a north/south V shaped pod... but it will take up more real estate than many seem to be hoping... and I predict the usual wails when/if it happens and pricing is announced.. ... Concur with the 2.5 x estimate... What Im most impressed with is that NZ have actually gone at least some of the way to trying to make this real. Most of these ideas never seem to get past the paper stage!

Not sure if I have read your dimensions correctly - but NZ claims the dimensions are 5'1 long, and 29 inches wide: Economy Skycouch™

Unless you only sleep fully straight, for most people who side sleep or bend their knees while sleeping, the skycouch would be ample.

 

[samh004]

You would think logically that this product would make sense for ULH flying only?

Often in ULH you don't carry the full load you normally would anyway, so switching out some seats for this concept might work well. In the video they have it set up at the back of the plane, but I could see two of these being set up side by side in the last few middle rows of an aircraft, perhaps even in the forward economy section too. This would give between 12-24 premium beds that could be sold for an extra price on top of the ticket cost and if you can't sell a certain number of seats already due to the nature of the ULH flights, perhaps this will simply fill that space.

I could see it as something like this at the rear of the aircraft, with access from the front and back (or sides). As each pod holds 6 passengers, this would mean the seats directly opposite would be for those sleepers. I realise this means a loss of up to 12 seats, but this would also help lighten the load (assuming the "skynest" doesn't weigh considerably more). That's 12 less seats, passengers and equivalent baggage/catering. Helps the jet fly further and the seats would otherwise be unsold anyway.

 

[trooper]

Not sure if I have read your dimensions correctly - but NZ claims the dimensions are 5'1 long, and 29 inches wide: Economy Skycouch™

Unless you only sleep fully straight, for most people who side sleep or bend their knees while sleeping, the skycouch would be ample.

Thankyou! So it is. SO that's the maximum length of three Y seats? So if the Skynest bed is longer the point is still valid...it won't fit by simply replacing three east west seats. As suggested upthread.

 

[ozfflyer]

the inference is it will be available to economy passengers, but probably only those paying full wack of $3 to $4k economy OZ east coast to US west coast rtn.

 

[Citoyen]

OK so does this end up charged in 4 hour time slots?

 

[Ade]

I think re: pricing -

1. it could be that those buying Y FLEX fares could upgrade to the skynest
2. Pax could bid for the upgrade to a skynest
3. Ask to be upgraded to a skynest if they're not getting upgraded from Y to J or PE, based on the metal configuration
4. Use airpoints for all these upgrades (or pay at check in if offered)

 

[ozfflyer]

I think re: pricing -

1. it could be that those buying Y FLEX fares could upgrade to the skynest
2. Pax could bid for the upgrade to a skynest
3. Ask to be upgraded to a skynest if they're not getting upgraded from Y to J or PE, based on the metal configuration
4. Use airpoints for all these upgrades (or pay at check in if offered)

doubt #4. Airlines want cash. They've already been paid for points/miles through credit cards/other purchases