Air New Zealand's Latest Economy Seats - Skycouch

Skycouch - Latest economy seat by Air New Zealand, launching in November 2010
Singapore
January 29, 2010 8:45am CST
Lying flat on your back for a mid-flight snooze will no longer be the privilege of the few who fly business or first-class, so says Air New Zealand's new Skycouch seats. These seats which will allow passengers to lie-flat, and if they like, to share it with a traveling companion and they will be featured in the airline's new Boeing 777-300 ER jets expected to be delivered this November. The Skycouch is a specially designed row of three seats that has been engineered to create a lie-flat, flexible space all the way to the seat-back in front – perfect for kids to play on, or couples to cuddle up. For two adults traveling, purchasing the Skycouch will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Full airfare details will be announced when it goes on sale from late April, ANZ added. I am sure that this will certainly be very fondly received by couples and families traveling on long haul red eye flights. Kudos to ANZ for being both initiative and innovative here. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/image.cfm?c_id=7&gal_objectid=10622347&gallery_id=108938#6815753 Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1246145/Air-New-Zealand-offer-economy-class-lie-beds.html
1 person likes this
4 responses
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
29 Jan 10
This looks like a brilliant idea, especially for long-haul flights. It's a pity, perhaps, that it is really only available to couples or families but, for those it should really make the best use of the space available. I'm a bit concerned what happens when (as is sometimes the case) the pilot asks us to 'fasten our seatbelts' because of turbulence. Being able to put your feet up (or, rather, to change position from time to time) should help greatly with the problem of deep vein thrombosis. The other thing is that, judging from the pictures, it is not really a big modification to airline seats and could probably be done fairly cheaply to existing fittings.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
29 Jan 10
owlwings, I am sure there will be a price plan for individual travelers but he/she will need to be comfortable with the extra amounts. As for the safety aspect, I don't see it quite an issue where you are actually seated in your own seat and it being a matter of orientation to buckle up and tuck that seat down. The retrofitting may have to be spaced realigned as some existing seats will need to be sacrificed for the sake of extra leg room space. This is just a small aspect as compared to other issues like the seat reservation systems' mainframes which will need to be updated to show these seats on the seat maps for booking and pre-assignments. Then, there will be the fare tariffs to be worked on as nowadays airlines just do not operate individually, they have pool service and alliance partnership agreements to take care of.
zed_k4
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
31 Jan 10
The extra legroom issues; I've been reading them all the time in airline reviews. Customers keep complaining for extra legroom. But for 15 hours flight with minimal legroom, that can quite uncomfortable.
1 person likes this
zed_k4
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
29 Jan 10
That's awesome. I think it will be very well-received for families with kids especially. A very creative move definitely.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
29 Jan 10
zed_k4, I feel that all full cost carriers should try to be like ANZ in the face of competitions from the low cost carriers. I do agree that the introductions of both the raved Airbus 380 and Boeing's Dreamliner does seems timely but frankly there's really not much being enhanced in the economy section, which I felt a lot of airlines are overlooking. I can understand that there is a need to improve the upper classes to keep their premium paying clients but I do not think they should ignore the economy class clients.
1 person likes this
zed_k4
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
31 Jan 10
And moreover since economy clients tend to be more as well. If you ask me, I'd say I want more delicious food and keep it in different varieties as well.
1 person likes this
maximax8
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 10
I always travel in economy class. I really like the sound of the sky couch. As a mom of a disabled toddler and a baby that would give me a comfortable trip. I travled on Air New Zealand from 2001 to 2002. I went to New Zealand and stopped off in the Pacific Islands. To lie flat on a plane is wonderful. I was able to do that on a near to empty flight on Qantas. I got three seats to myself.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
29 Jan 10
maximax8, Looking forward to a near empty flight will be something of the past now, once these seats become available. Besides, those seats in the past can only comfortable accommodate one person as opposed to this newly fitted seats. I felt that full cost carriers should be doing more with their economy sections and this ANZ seats are just way overdue. However, I must commend ANZ for being initiative and a market pioneer here.
Torunn
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
29 Jan 10
That sounds great! And I really want to go to New Zealand again, I just have to find some friend who wants to go to! Then write a lot on Mylot so we can afford the seat in the middle. I actually sleep quite well in normal seats, but my back gets a bit stiff during the flight.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
29 Jan 10
Torunn, I am sure you will not have any trouble finding a travel partner for your next holiday trip besides you still have time as these seats will only be available from November onwards and reservations will take place earliest in April this year. So, seek and plan your holidays and I am sure you will be able to enjoy this new seating plan with your partner.