At last....long haulers rejoice!

[Tassie Kaz]

Air NZ to install bunk beds for economy class passengers

The airline's new sleeper-train style bunk beds will be ready for take-off in 2024.

www.traveller.com.au

View attachment 128738
Finally an airline taking the initiative for all its long haul passengers...not just those fortunate enough to turn left on embarking & seated in the pointy end.

Will be interesting to see if this gets off the ground (haha! ) & at what cost. Imposing time limits (article mentions 4 hours) & the width of the bunks are points which immediately leap out to me.

Well done to Air NZ...if they can pull this off, other airlines will surely follow. Not everything should be for the top end of town; the majority of us don't land (again, haha..somebody stop me...) in that category.
In the meantime, we can but dream...

 

[Anamiri]

Air NZ to install bunk beds for economy class passengers

The airline's new sleeper-train style bunk beds will be ready for take-off in 2024.

www.traveller.com.au

View attachment 128738
Finally an airline taking the initiative for all its long haul passengers...not just those fortunate enough to turn left on embarking & seated in the pointy end.

Will be interesting to see if this gets off the ground (haha! ) & at what cost. Imposing time limits (article mentions 4 hours) & the width of the bunks are points which immediately leap out to me.

Well done to Air NZ...if they can pull this off, other airlines will surely follow. Not everything should be for the top end of town; the majority of us don't land (again, haha..somebody stop me...) in that category.
In the meantime, we can but dream...

It seems like a good idea, but you only get 4 hours. The other 20 is all sitting up in economy seats..

 

[trecile]

It seems like a good idea, but you only get 4 hours. The other 20 is all sitting up in economy seats..

Even a one hour reprieve from an airplane seat would seem like heaven!

 

[Anamiri]

Even a one hour reprieve from an airplane seat would seem like heaven!

Yes I guess 4 hours is better than nothing. They showed them on TV last night. I wasn't too keen on the layering of the bunks though, they look pretty narrow, and the top one seems high. And I could without the pink light. Lets hope they keep working on it. I presume there is a team of very young keen engineers who don't mind the height without a barrier to stop you falling out.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

Yes I guess 4 hours is better than nothing. They showed them on TV last night. I wasn't too keen on the layering of the bunks though, they look pretty narrow, and the top one seems high. And I could without the pink light. Lets hope they keep working on it. I presume there is a team of very young keen engineers who don't mind the height without a barrier to stop you falling out.

As you say, it's a work in progress but at least someone is trying to do something rather than it all being about First Class.
As with @trecile, to be able to lay flat & unfold the legs for any time at all on a long haul flight is a vast improvement on what we have now.
There is a multitude of considerations incl safety rails or a seatbelt arrangement for turbulence, inflight emergencies (access & escape), sizing for larger framed people, people with disabilities, etc...& this is where new initiatives get bogged down.
It's a start & that's what matters. I look forward to seeing where it goes especially as it's something which should be obtainable for most rather than aimed solely at the wealthier traveller.

 

[Anamiri]

As you say, it's a work in progress but at least someone is trying to do something rather than it all being about First Class.
As with @trecile, to be able to lay flat & unfold the legs for any time at all on a long haul flight is a vast improvement on what we have now.
There is a multitude of considerations incl safety rails or a seatbelt arrangement for turbulence, inflight emergencies (access & escape), sizing for larger framed people, people with disabilities, etc...& this is where new initiatives get bogged down.
It's a start & that's what matters. I look forward to seeing where it goes especially as it's something which should be obtainable for most rather than aimed solely at the wealthier traveller.

Yes to lay flat is a dream

 

[kirkie]

Yes to lay flat is a dream

Especially when working hard at watching Wimbledon at home...
I came across this article very recently. I forget how it came to my attention. Cattle class seems to have been the dream for the author of the piece!

When Airplanes Had Beds

In 1955, some transatlantic flights still offered sleeper berths.

www.smithsonianmag.com

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Air NZ to install bunk beds for economy class passengers

The airline's new sleeper-train style bunk beds will be ready for take-off in 2024.

www.traveller.com.au

View attachment 128738
Finally an airline taking the initiative for all its long haul passengers..

This just might be a revolution in long-haul passenger comfort. Hoping the idea spreads to Qantas!

 

[Tassie Kaz]

This just might be a revolution in long-haul passenger comfort. Hoping the idea spreads to Qantas!

Yes...oh They-of-the-No-Gap-Between-Knee-&-Seat-in-Front!
I'm sure airlines will sit back & wait for the innovators to deal with all the implementation problems then follow suit.
I'm crossing my fingers for Qatar.
2024 isn't that far off for the roll out...

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Yes...oh They-of-the-No-Gap-Between-Knee-&-Seat-in-Front!
I'm sure airlines will sit back & wait for the innovators to deal with all the implementation problems then follow suit.
I'm crossing my fingers for Qatar.
2024 isn't that far off for the roll out...

Perth - London non stop. Can’t wait.

 

[Robo]

Interesting.
The safety angles should not be hard.
The cabin crew have had similar bunk areas tucked away in various locations for years.

 

[TravellingMan2022]

Yes...oh They-of-the-No-Gap-Between-Knee-&-Seat-in-Front!
I'm sure airlines will sit back & wait for the innovators to deal with all the implementation problems then follow suit.
I'm crossing my fingers for Qatar.
2024 isn't that far off for the roll out...

Interesting development from a very innovative but unheralded airline. Lots of challenging operational and engineering issues for sure but the fact they have ‘gone public’ suggests they are confident they can do it.

Will be fascinating how they price it and position it versus economy, premium economy and business class cabins and their benefits!

 

[Tassie Kaz]

Interesting.
The safety angles should not be hard.
The cabin crew have had similar bunk areas tucked away in various locations for years.

Great point @Robo; tucked away so well I only recall seeing an example once...& that was me being a sticky beak. I was very quickly redirected whence I came...

 

[TravellingMan2022]

Great point @Robo; tucked away so well I only recall seeing an example once...& that was me being a sticky beak. I was very quickly redirected whence I came...

Quite a big difference between cabin crew using bunks and passengers doing likewise but it feels doable.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Air NZ to install bunk beds for economy class passengers

The airline's new sleeper-train style bunk beds will be ready for take-off in 2024.

www.traveller.com.au

View attachment 128738
Finally an airline taking the initiative for all its long haul passengers...not just those fortunate enough to turn left on embarking & seated in the pointy end.

Will be interesting to see if this gets off the ground (haha! ) & at what cost. Imposing time limits (article mentions 4 hours) & the width of the bunks are points which immediately leap out to me.

Well done to Air NZ...if they can pull this off, other airlines will surely follow. Not everything should be for the top end of town; the majority of us don't land (again, haha..somebody stop me...) in that category.
In the meantime, we can but dream...

I have two little birds. They are so cute! One sits on my left shoulder and the other sits on my right shoulder. If you were to see them, I guarantee you would love them. I've named them "Thirty years in the aviation industry" and "Free market economy."

They happened to be perched on my shoulders when I read this post and some of the comments out loud.
They're both laughing hysterically. Have you ever heard a bird laugh? I had not either. They say there's a first time for everything.

 

[TravellingMan2022]

I have two little birds. They are so cute! One sits on my left shoulder and the other sits on my right shoulder. If you were to see them, I guarantee you would love them. I've named them "Thirty years in the aviation industry" and "Free market economy."

They happened to be perched on my shoulders when I read this post and some of the comments out loud.
They're both laughing hysterically. Have you ever heard a bird laugh? I had not either. They say there's a first time for everything.

Can you clarify please?

 

[Angus Strongbear]

Finally, an albergue with wings. Will they stamp your credencial?

 

[Keith H]

Air NZ has been working on this for years. I remember reading about it for what seems like 10 years so far. They’ve done some great innovations in the past so hopefully this is the next!

 

[TravellingMan2022]

Air NZ has been working on this for years. I remember reading about it for what seems like 10 years so far. They’ve done some great innovations in the past so hopefully this is the next!

Couldn’t agree more. Some very innovative product development and advertising over last 10 year! Part of Star alliance of course which will no doubt be watching with interest as will everyone else.

All about how you use space on aircraft and getting extra revenue from every inch. And of course decreasing weight. They have clearly identified a market that will buy this product at a premium. They will need to ensure it’s not ‘too good’ in case biz class customers ‘trade down’ but it’s interesting nonetheless. Mirrors the introduction of premium economy cabins twenty years ago!

 

[Keith H]

Couldn’t agree more. Some very innovative product development and advertising over last 10 year! Part of Star alliance of course which will no doubt be watching with interest as will everyone else.

All about how you use space on aircraft and getting extra revenue from every inch. And of course decreasing weight. They have clearly identified a market that will buy this product at a premium. They will need to ensure it’s not ‘too good’ in case biz class customers ‘trade down’ but it’s interesting nonetheless. Mirrors the introduction of premium economy cabins twenty years ago!

Absolutely. I’m not sure if Air NZ started Premium Economy but they jumped in there quickly for sure. I flew Auckland to London in that class and it was totally fine. Obviously lie flat in Business is better but if I had a choice between Premium Economy for an entire flight or a bunk for 4 hours I would go Premium Economy for sure. So perhaps there’s money to be made in the space between the classes?

 

[TravellingMan2022]

Absolutely. I’m not sure if Air NZ started Premium Economy but they jumped in there quickly for sure. I flew Auckland to London in that class and it was totally fine. Obviously lie flat in Business is better but if I had a choice between Premium Economy for an entire flight or a bunk for 4 hours I would go Premium Economy for sure. So perhaps there’s money to be made in the space between the classes?

Yes not sure who started it. But lots of airlines adopted it quickly. Yes I would choose premium economy over a bunk for sure. Guess question is whther they offer it as a separate ‘brand I.e ‘economy plus bunk’ or whether it’s a modular type ‘’add a bunk for £500’. I think there are loads of sub markets in the airline industry but deliverability and keeping complexity and weight neutral is so tough !

Of course nothing beats a flat bed in business but it takes up so much space it is out of reach price wise for most leisure passengers!

 

[AlwynWellington]

Even a one hour reprieve from an airplane seat would seem like heaven!

If I'm struggling yo nod off, a practice I have developed is to take regular walks around the aisles of the cattle truck.

As I pass through by the rear (or wherever) galley I might get a drink (water or juice or whatever)

Kia kaha

 

[Kanga]

I love it! Having experienced something similar as a child. Whether I would chose a bunk probably depends on the time of day the flight leaves. If it leaves in the late afternoon or evening I would definitely prefer a bunk to any seat.