Attempting to sleep on a long-haul flight in economy is one of the most uncomfortable tasks in travel, right up there with handling seasickness on a cruise or managing a third-degree sunburn at the beach.
Although some coach seats are certainly more comfortable than others, on the whole, airline seats at the back of the plane are only getting smaller, with less recline and shorter legroom, nearly guaranteeing a bad case of jet lag upon arrival. Fortunately, a handful of airlines have come up with a creative solution to this problem—by offering fliers the option to reserve a row of seats for sleeping at a reduced rate. The overall effect is a make-shift bed of sorts in economy class, which offers more room to stretch out without the business class price tag.
Here are three popular airlines that let fliers turn economy seats into beds, plus advice on when they're worth the upgrade—and how to book.
Air New Zealand
Before it debuted its much-anticipated bunk beds for economy class (called the SkyNest, which is set to roll out later this year), Air New Zealand introduced the Skycouch. The concept is a row of up to three seats that economy passengers can reserve all to themselves on long-haul flights. There are different configurations available, too. Passengers can reserve one row of seats, or one row plus an adjacent economy seat, or two full rows of three seats.
To help passengers turn the economy seats into beds, the Skycouch seats come with special foot rests that can be locked at a full 90 degrees, extending the width of the row. When in this “couch-mode” the Skycouch measures 29 inches wide and 5’1” long—about a foot shorter than a standard twin bed.
A maximum of three passengers can share the Skycouch. For parents traveling with young children, an adult must either be seated on the Skycouch, across the aisle in an adjacent row, or in the row directly behind. The airline also offers an optional free “infant pod,” essentially a bassinet that straps into the Skycouch, as well as an infant harness and harness belt. You’ll also get multiple pillows and blankets—including a thick comforter—as well as a cuddle seat belt made for comfortable and safe sleeping.
Passengers don’t pay the full cost of all three seats if they’re booked together as the Skycouch. But the cost will vary, depending on the route and how many people plan to use the row of seats (one person using a Skycouch will pay a higher fee than if two people are booking it).
To book the special row, travelers should add the Skycouch option when selecting their seats for their long-haul flight. The product is only available on the airline’s Boeing 777-300 and Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft. After the option is selected, Air New Zealand’s seat layout platform will show the cost of upgrading to Skycouch. If it’s too expensive, you still have the option of canceling and returning to the previous screen to choose regular seats.
Lufthansa
Debuting in 2021, Lufthansa’s Sleeper’s Row concept offers passengers the chance to book a row of three or four seats in economy class at a discounted price. The row of seats comes with a “Sleeper’s set,” which includes a special seat belt, thin mattress pad, and a “business class-quality” blanket and pillow, according to Lufthansa. Another perk afforded to Sleeper’s Row passengers is pre-boarding, so they have plenty of time to settle into their row and get cozy before other coach passengers are allowed in the cabin.
Fliers on Lufthansa can select the “Sleeper's Row” upgrade during check-in.
The product is only available on long-haul flights that are at least 11 hours long, which includes certain routes to Asia, Africa, South America, and the Western US. Keep in mind that unlike Air New Zealand’s and ANA’s products, Lufthansa’s Sleeper’s Row does not consist of special seats with extenders that flip up to make a wider bed. These are plain old economy seats that you can stretch out on, with a width of a snug 17 inches. However, booking the product could still be worth it, as the price is quite affordable. The fee to upgrade to the make-shift bed ranges between $179 and $249 per leg for a single passenger.
