"Pay 430,000 won more and lie flat in economy"... Airlines add bunks and combine seats

The Financial News reported that Air New Zealand, the country's flag carrier, is introducing a new sleep service for economy passengers on ultra-long-haul routes. By paying an additional fee on top of the regular ticket price, passengers will be able to use a lie-flat bed space to rest during the flight. Industry observers say this marks a full-fledged shift by airlines to reduce fatigue on long-haul journeys.
The Guardian reported on the 15th (local time) that Air New Zealand will be the first airline to launch a lie-flat sleeping capsule service called "Skynest."
The service will initially be offered to economy passengers on the ultra-long-haul route between Auckland, New Zealand, and New York City in the United States. Bookings will open in May, and the service will be available on flights departing from November.
The sleeping pods will be installed in the aisle area of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The setup consists of six full-length beds, each about 203 centimeters long and 64 centimeters wide at the shoulders. Each pod comes with bedding, a privacy curtain, and lighting. Amenities such as eye masks, earplugs, and socks will also be provided to help passengers relax.
Access to the bunks must be purchased separately from the standard airfare. Each session lasts four hours and costs about 495 New Zealand dollars (around 430,000 won).
There will be two sessions per flight, and each passenger can reserve only one session. Anyone holding a ticket for that flight can use the service, regardless of seat class.

However, given the confined space, there are some restrictions. Passengers cannot sit upright inside the pods, and eating is prohibited. Children cannot use the pods, and they cannot be shared by more than one person at a time. The airline also advises passengers to refrain from using perfume. For snoring, there are no specific rules; instead, earplugs are provided.
Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar referred to New Zealand's reliance on long-haul air travel and said, "The journey experience itself is important. People will only be willing to make the trip if they can tolerate long flights," adding, "Making sure more passengers can get proper rest on long-haul flights will make travel much easier."
Air New Zealand already offers its Economy Skycouch service, which allows passengers to use an entire row of economy seats like a bed. With the introduction of Skynest, the airline aims to further enhance comfort on long-distance journeys.

Other airlines are also expanding similar services. United Airlines recently announced on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that it will launch "Relax Row" seats starting in 2027. The service allows three seats to be joined together and used like a bed. A mattress pad, blanket, and two pillows will be provided.
Australian carrier Qantas Airways plans to install a stretching area called the "Wellbeing Zone" on its Sydney–London route, the longest flight in the world.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter