Air New Zealand Debuts Bunk Beds for Economy Flyers on Long-Haul Flights

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Air New Zealand is introducing lie-flat bunk beds for economy class passengers on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft servicing the Auckland to New York route. The six sleep pods, arranged in a triple-bunk style layout, will be available for pre-booked four-hour stints starting at $291 NZD on top of the economy ticket price. However, the airline has strict rules in place, including no snacking, strong perfumes, or sharing the pods.

Why it matters

This move by Air New Zealand aims to address the challenge of providing more comfortable sleep options for economy class passengers on ultra-long-haul flights, which can last 16-18 hours. It's an innovative approach to enhancing the travel experience for budget-conscious flyers, though the close quarters and rules may present some challenges.

The details

The new Skynest sleep pods will be 80 inches (203 cm) long and 25 inches (64 cm) wide at the shoulder, tapering to 16 inches (41 cm) at the foot. Passengers will be required to change into provided socks before entering the pods and must fasten seatbelts over their blankets. The airline will provide pillows, blankets, and sheets that are refreshed between uses, but snacking, strong perfumes, and sharing the pods with others are prohibited. Passengers will be woken either by a change in lighting or by a flight attendant if they don't rouse in time.

• Air New Zealand will open bookings for the Skynest sleep pods in November 2026.
• The new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring the sleep pods will service the Auckland to New York route, one of the world's longest commercial flights.

What’s next

Air New Zealand has not yet announced specific details on how passengers can book the Skynest sleep pods or if the offering will be expanded to other long-haul routes in the future.