Will full recline beds ever be feasible for economy class?

[firewater]

Is there any way for any airlines to offer beds in economy class and not be significantly more expensive?

Will a different seating configuration or innovations in seat and plane interior design allow something like this?

 

[elanshin]

Is there any way for any airlines to offer beds in economy class and not be significantly more expensive?

Will a different seating configuration or innovations in seat and plane interior design allow something like this?

From an innovation and technology point of view: yes. (In fact we probably already have designs that could be implemented pending approval. AirNZ is planning their bookable bunk bed pods soon.

But as a wider adoption thing- highly doubt it for anytime soon because the business case wouldn't make sense for airlines. It would highly diminish the value of Business class which would really eat into their margins. It would need multiple higher profile airlines to do it before others in the industry would consider.

 

[jase05]

I think QF and NZ have proposed having a bunk setup on their extra long US flights where you can pay for a bed for a block of 4hrs or something. Obviously only a limited amount and I’m guessing probably $800 or something for a 4hr stint

 

[Brissy1]

I think QF and NZ have proposed having a bunk setup on their extra long US flights where you can pay for a bed for a block of 4hrs or something. Obviously only a limited amount and I’m guessing probably $800 or something for a 4hr stint

I think called "hot bunking" in the navy. Yuk.

 

[equus]

Short answer no.

Slightly longer answer, not unless they are paying a whole lot more - close to business class. Think the all J SQ set ups.

Even longer answer - it is not practical even if it could be marginally economic. Comes down to number of passengers, and density / weight. Need a certain amount of revenue to make things work. This works out as number of pax times what they each pay. Pay less per passenger (economy here), need more pax in the same space - means less room for each, means no room for a bed and space around it. Those increased numbers come with another significant catch - the need to be able to evacuate all passengers in an emergency within a certain time frame. Less passengers total, means each can be slower to get out of the bed / pod (so can work in an all J or current style mixed configuration). Lots of passengers, and you can't stack bunk beds above each other (even if you don't want to sit up) or have lots of people needing to climb over / through around flat beds packed together tightly etc. as the times to evacuate won't be able to be met.

 

[cjd600]

What? Economy doesn't get beds? That's outrageous.

 

[p--and--t]

Is there any way for any airlines to offer beds in economy class and not be significantly more expensive?

Will a different seating configuration or innovations in seat and plane interior design allow something like this?

I think you referring to inside cabin on a cruise ship?

I predict exclusive use of a flat bed for the duration of the sector in Y or Y+ won't happen In my lifetime, if ever.

Of course I've been wrong before.

 

[Brissy1]

I can visualise how it could work without using any extra space at least in PE ..in pairs, the front seat pivots up as it extends flat while the seat behind pivots down as it extends flat. Like train bunks needs mutual cooperation of bedtime.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can visualise how it could work without using any extra space at least in PE ..in pairs, the front seat pivots up as it extends flat while the seat behind pivots down as it extends flat. Like train bunks needs mutual cooperation of bedtime.

Good idea! But as you say, everyone would have to bed-mode at e same time.

QF’s current PE seat with foot net is getting pretty close to an angled lie-flat. Another few inches of pitch and the could almost do it.

I can see angle-flats coming to PE, but for the reasons outlined above probably never in economy.

 

[Forg]

Could you pile ultra-small pod-hotel style pods atop each other to get 3 persons into the same volume as 3 Y seats?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Is there any way for any airlines to offer beds in economy class and not be significantly more expensive?

Will a different seating configuration or innovations in seat and plane interior design allow something like this?

In theory yes but airlines are too greedy to improve whY.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Could you pile ultra-small pod-hotel style pods atop each other to get 3 persons into the same volume as 3 Y seats?

I think for the reasons outlined above it would be difficult. Would passengers be able to sit upright for takeoff and landing? Oxygen in case of emergency? Evacuation.

Air NZ’s sky nest is dong the bunk thing, but only occupied in flight.