Air New Zealand, which has a history of introducing new “unusual” products, has revealed details of its new bunkbeds concept “Skynest” which will be able to economy class passengers.
Details
The Skynest will be a six-pod configured sleep zone. Debuting in September 2024, the sleep pods will be available to economy class passengers on long-haul flights. Each passenger will be limited to one session, with families travelling on the same ticket able to book a session for each passenger, pending availability.
Each pod will include a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, ear plugs, a separate reading light, personal device USB outlet, ventilation outlet, and lighting designed for rest. Each pod will come with a separate seatbelt to ensure passengers can fasten them and stay in the pod should the seat belt sign come on during turbulence.
The bedding will be changed between each session, and a 30-minute transition time will be allowed for this. The lights will gently come on at the end of each session, and crew will “politely” wake any passengers who sleep through this. Skynest will be located between Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
Our 83-year history is marked by a commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. SkyNest is the latest example, and we’re proud to be leading the way with this world-first cabin feature. SkyNest has captured the imagination of a global audience and its uniqueness has already been acknowledged by multiple awards – the latest being a finalist in the Crystal Cabin Awards. We’re delighted that customers are as excited about this new innovation as we are. Our extensive research and design process, which spanned five years and 170,000 hours, has resulted in a product that we’re confident will revolutionise the in-flight experience for Economy passengers.
said Leanne Geraghty, Chief Customer and Sales Officer, Air New Zealand.
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Skynest will be available on flights between Auckland and New York & Auckland and Chicago starting September 2024 on Boeing B787 Dreamliners. Skynest is being designed and installed in Aotearoa.
North America is the perfect market for Skynest, as it has a premium segment that values comfort and sleep during long-haul travel. With our ultra-long haul routes to destinations such as New York and Chicago, Skynest provides a unique and innovative way for our passengers to rest and recharge, making their journey with us even more enjoyable. By launching Skynest on these routes, we are bringing to life our commitment to providing choice, alongside the best possible experience for our passengers, and to continue to innovate and lead the way in the aviation industry.
added Leanne.
The flag carrier of New Zealand says that it is still evaluating “how the booking process will work”. The expected price for a 4-hour session will be between $400 and $600.
For more details about Air New Zealand’s new Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins on Boeing B787 Dreamliners, check this article.
Economy with Skynest or Premium Economy?
First of all, the Skynest concept looks great. I love how Air New Zealand has come up with an idea of having such a great product. Travelling in ultra long-haul flights and that too in Economy class can be a pain-in-the-rear (literally) and with this new concept, that can be dealt with to some extent.
A Skynest session will be charged between $400 and $600. In my opinion, the pricing is not too steep, after all you are getting to sleep in a proper bed just like a Business class passenger while being an Economy class passenger.
The question that comes to my mind is that will passengers pay the premium for a 4-hour Skynest session or will they instead opt for Premium Economy if there is not much of a price difference between the two. Of course, it depends on what the passenger wants but it will be interesting to see the percentage of each once the Skynest debuts.
Featured image by Air New Zealand
What do you think of Air New Zealand’s Skynest concept? Let me know in the comments section below.
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