Air New Zealand reveals prices for new economy sleeping pods

(CNN) — Generally, reclining airline seats are a luxury only available to first class and first class passengers. Commercial.

That will change on some Air New Zealand flights in September 2024 when the airline introduces Skynest, an in-flight sleeper concept for economy class passengers.

The airline first announced the SkyNest concept last year, with six sleeping cabins available in a bunk configuration on select aircraft. This week the airline shared more details about bookings, pricing and more.

According to the airline’s press release, the six cabins will be located between economy and premium economy cabins on some long-haul routes, such as the 17-hour nonstop flight between New York and Auckland, which is one of the longest. the world

Passengers can reserve a seat in the lounge for NZ$400-600 (US$254-380) per four hours in addition to normal airfare. The cabin staff will change the bedding after each use.

“The airline has done a lot of research on sleep cycles. A typical sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes, so a four-hour session gives customers a chance to rest, fall asleep and wake up,” an Air New Zealand representative said. CNN Travel, in 2022.

Skynest pod amenities include USB charging ports, reading light, earplugs, full-size sheets, blanket and pillow. There are also seat belts to ensure that the beds comply with safety protocols on board.

Even if you want to share with your partner or children, only one person can use the capsule at a time. Each is limited to one four-hour session per flight to give more passengers a chance to test the concept.

“We focus on sleep, comfort and well-being because we know how important it is for our customers to be well-rested,” Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said last year.

“Whether they’re heading straight to a meeting or their first vacation destination, they want to start their trip off on the right foot.”

Backstage

Skynest has been years in the making.

“Our extensive research and design process, spanning five years and 170,000 hours, has resulted in what we believe will be a revolution in the flight experience for economy class passengers,” head of sales Leanne Geraghty said in a statement. New Zealand Customer Service.

“With the launch of Skynest […] We bring to life our commitment to providing our passengers with a great experience, choice, and continue to innovate and lead the aviation industry.”

Many of the airline’s Boeing 787s are being retrofitted to accommodate the new capsule cabins. While the cabin upgrade will take place at a Boeing facility, the Skynest will be designed and manufactured exclusively in New Zealand, according to the airline’s statement.

Although still in the prototype stage, Skynest is one of the finalists for this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards, an annual industry competition that highlights innovation in the world of airline interior design. Winners will be announced in June.

For its part, Air New Zealand was ranked the second best airline in the world in 2022.

Originally known as Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), the company was established in 1939 to connect New Zealand with its Pacific neighbours. It became Air New Zealand in 1965.