Comprehensive Assessment of Air New Zealand's Skycouch Seating Arrangement
Air New Zealand's Skycouch is revolutionising economy class travel, offering passengers a more comfortable and restful experience on long-haul flights. This innovative seating option transforms a row of three economy seats into a flat, couch-like surface, complete with a mattress pad, pillows, and a blanket [2][3].
The Skycouch works by allowing passengers in a row of three adjacent seats to lift their footrests fully and lower their armrests, creating a flat space across the seats. Each seat in the Skycouch row comes with a footrest that can be folded up to create a flat surface [1][3].
The benefits of the Skycouch for economy travel are numerous. Passengers can lie down and rest during long-haul flights, providing a comfort level closer to business class without the higher price [5]. It is ideal for couples, families with children, or anyone wanting more space and comfort than traditional economy seats allow. Passengers get added comfort, the option to stretch out fully, and a more pleasant sleep experience, which is often difficult in regular economy class [2][5].
In addition to the Skycouch, Air New Zealand offers in-flight Wi-Fi and in-seat power on all flights, although in-flight amenity kits and kids' activity packs are only provided on long-haul flights [1]. The catering on the Perth-Auckland route offers more food on the kids' meal than the adult option, while on the Auckland to Perth flight, both a meal and a snack were served, compared to only one meal on the Perth-Auckland flight [6].
The Skycouch can be selected during the seat selection stage when booking a flight, with seat numbers for the Skycouch being 39HJK and 40 HJK [4]. Air New Zealand also provides seat extenders, quilts, large pillows, and blankets to enhance the Skycouch experience [7].
The Skycouch is exclusive to Air New Zealand, making it the only airline in the world to offer this unique seating option [1]. The crew on Air New Zealand's Auckland to Perth flight went above and beyond to assist a family with a difficult child, demonstrating the airline's commitment to customer service [8].
While the Skycouch was not previously tried by the AirlineRatings team, it has been recommended for solo travelers, couples, and families seeking more comfort in economy class [9]. The Skycouch offers a spare seat between two passengers for an additional cost of $150 per person [10].
In summary, Air New Zealand's Skycouch enhances economy travel by transforming three standard seats into a flat lounge or bed area that improves comfort and restability during flights, providing significant value and comfort at economy prices. Whether you're a solo traveler, couple, or family, the Skycouch offers a more comfortable and restful economy travel experience.
- Airline news: The Skycouch, unique to Air New Zealand, is revolutionizing economy class travel, providing a more comfortable and restful experience on long-haul flights.
- Lifestyle: For travelers seeking a more luxurious economy class experience, the Skycouch offers added comfort, allowing passengers to lie down, rest, and even sleep during flights, offering a level of comfort closer to business class without the higher price.
