Air New Zealand will offer bunk beds for four-hour naps on its longest flights

By Jeremy Binckes

Air New Zealand will offer economy-class passengers a chance to lie down for four hours during one of the longest flights in the world. The cost? Under $400.

Air New Zealand, which will be offering some economy passengers a bunk-bed experience on its longest flights, has released the expected pricing for its longest flights.

For between NZ$400 and NZ$600 -- roughly USD$250 and USD$380 -- passengers flying from Chicago or New York on nonstop flights to Auckland would be able to rent a four-hour sleeping session. The airline plans to debut its "Skynest" product on its Boeing (BA) 787 planes starting in 2024.

The cost for one of the beds is in addition to the cost of the flight. A one-way nonstop flight from New York roughly two weeks out would cost $1,700, according to the company's website, and would cost $5,635 in a lie-flat business-class bed. The 17-hour, 35-minute flight is one of the 10 longest flights in the world, according to a December 2022 article from Travel + Leisure -- and one of nine flights lasting more than 17 hours.

"With our ultra-long haul routes to destinations such as New York and Chicago, Skynest provides a unique and innovative way for our passengers to rest and recharge, making their journey with us even more enjoyable," Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand's chief customer and sales officer, said in a press release. "By launching Skynest on these routes, we are bringing to life our commitment to providing choice, alongside the best possible experience for our passengers, and to continue to innovate and lead the way in the aviation industry."

The airline also told MarketWatch that the product will also help ease the imbalance between passenger loads and available seats.

"We do currently fly with a reduced payload on the southbound flight" between New York and Auckland, partly due to weight restrictions, an Air New Zealand spokesperson said in an email. There will be 90 fewer economy seats in the new configuration but will have 19 more premium-economy seats. Business-class seats will increase from 27 to 42.

The company also has a "Skycouch" product for economy-class passengers -- a row of economy-class seats that can be converted into a bed for one or two adults, or an adult with two children.

Ross Aimer, the CEO of AeroConsultingExperts, praised Air New Zealand's marketing approach.

"I knew that Air New Zealand is very smart when it comes to marketing their seats, being a small country, and where they are geographically located," Aimer told MarketWatch. "They have survived where a lot of other airlines didn't because of their pricing structure, and because of how they sell their product."

Aimer, who was once a pilot for United Airlines (UAL), thought that there were a few ways the Skynest would be beneficial for the company.

"They may make a little more money with less [passenger] weight, I would imagine," he said, adding that passenger comfort and more room for cargo would be two other benefits for the airline. "Passenger airlines still make a lot of money from cargo, depending on what the cargo is," he said. Electronics would be valuable cargo for flights to New Zealand. Potatoes would not.

Air New Zealand plans to offer six Skynest pods on each flight. A passenger would only be able to book one four-hour session for the flight -- meaning that the timing of this reservation could be crucial, and pricing could fluctuate depending on what time each reservation is for.

A full-size pillow, sheets and blanket and ear plugs will be provided for each user, the company said, adding that the pod will have individual lighting and air vents, as well as a seatbelt for each bed. Bedding will be changed between each session, and the company estimated that it will take 30 minutes to get the bed ready for a new sleeper.

-Jeremy Binckes

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05-11-23 0718ET

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