7 airlines around the world offer lie-flat beds in economy — see what makes this seating arrangement so rare and unique

Taylor RainsApr 18, 2023, 16:04 IST

The "Skycouches" can be cheaper than airline premium economy seating, which typically offers more legroom and better food, but doesn't lie flat.Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand set the trend for lie-flat seating in the economy cabin with its innovative "Skycouch."
The carrier has since licensed the product to other carriers, like Azul Brazilian Airways and France's Air Austral.

A new trend is popping up in economy class — lie-flat beds.

Air New Zealand

Championing the idea is Air New Zealand, which first introduced its revolutionary "Skycouch" in 2011 and has since patented the design.

The "Skycouches" can be cheaper than airline premium economy seating, which typically offers more legroom and better food, but doesn't lie flat.Air New Zealand

"Being a relatively small airline from a small country, innovation is at the heart of our business," former ANZ CEO Rob Fyfe said about the product in 2010.

Air New Zealand 787.Shutterstock

The concept is simple — imagine three coach seats that have legrests that flip up 90° to create one large space. And, it will only be reserved for those who book it, meaning no one will share with a stranger.

The legrests of Air New Zealand's Skycouch flipped up.Taylor Rains/Insider

The concept is simple — imagine three coach seats that have legrests that flip up 90° to create one large space. And, it will only be reserved for those who book it, meaning no one will share with a stranger.

Granted, the couch is smaller than what you'll find in business class, with the full sleeping area being just 5'1" long and 29" wide.

The Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Skycouch fully set up.Taylor Rains/Insider

But, lying down to sleep on ultra-long-haul flights is much easier than sitting up — and I know from personal experience.

Flying Air New Zealand's Skycouch.Taylor Rains/Insider

I flew the Skycouch from Auckland to New York in September on ANZ's Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and thought it was a game-changer. I'm short at only 5'3," so I felt I had enough room…

Taylor Rains/Insider

I flew the Skycouch from Auckland to New York in September on ANZ's Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and thought it was a game-changer. I'm short at only 5'3," so I felt I had enough room…

…but taller travelers will need to bend their legs. I also wouldn't recommend it for more than two adults — there simply isn't enough space for three people to all lay down.

My legs nearly stretched the full length of the Skycouch when I was sitting upright with my back against the fuselage.Taylor Rains/Insider

…but taller travelers will need to bend their legs. I also wouldn't recommend it for more than two adults — there simply isn't enough space for three people to all lay down.

For safety, ANZ does provide what it calls a “cuddle belt” to strap laying travelers to the seat.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Since the Skycouch's debut, other airlines have adopted the design for their own planes. In 2014, Taiwan's China Airlines introduced the "Family Couch"…

China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Family Couch.China Airlines

…followed by Azul Brazilian Airlines' "Skysofa" in late 2014…

Azul Brazilian Airlines Skysofa.Azul Brazilian Airlines

…Kazakhstan's Air Astana's "Economy Sleeper" in 2015...

Air Astana Economy SleeperAir Astana

…and French carrier Air Austral's "Extra Couchette" in 2016.

Air Austral's Extra Couchette.Air Austral

More recently, Japan's All Nippon Airways unveiled the "COUCHii" in 2019 on its Airbus A380s flying exclusively between Tokyo and Honolulu.

ANA

The product uses a row of three or four economy seats to create the sofa bed.

ANA

Vietnam Airlines has also installed a "Sky Sofa" on flights between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Vietnam Airlines' ad for the Skysofa, which doesn't come with legrests.Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines has also installed a "Sky Sofa" on flights between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, German flag carrier Lufthansa allows passengers to book a "Sleeper's Row" for flights trekking 11 hours or more. These can only be booked at check-in or at the gate.

Lufthansa's "Sleeper's Row," which have been available since August 2021, consist of three or four economy seats and will only be offered if there is an open row available.Lufthansa

Meanwhile, German flag carrier Lufthansa allows passengers to book a "Sleeper's Row" for flights trekking 11 hours or more. These can only be booked at check-in or at the gate.

While the original "Sleeper's Row" doesn't have a flip-up legrest, Lufthansa recently announced its future long-haul aircraft will have an improved "Sleeper's Row 2.0" with the needed feature.

Lufthansa's "Sleeper's Row 2.0."Lufthansa

While the original "Sleeper's Row" doesn't have a flip-up legrest, Lufthansa recently announced its future long-haul aircraft will have an improved "Sleeper's Row 2.0" with the needed feature.

But, not all couches have survived. While China Airlines expanded its lie-flat economy product to both its Boeing 777-300ERs and its Airbus A350-900s, it ditched the design in 2018 due to poor demand.

China Airlines' Family Couch.China Airlines

But, not all couches have survived. While China Airlines expanded its lie-flat economy product to both its Boeing 777-300ERs and its Airbus A350-900s, it ditched the design in 2018 due to poor demand.

Defunct airline Thomas Cook also had a "Sleeper Seat" on its Airbus A330s for single passengers — meaning no duos or couples — but those left the sky after the carrier declared bankruptcy in 2019.

Thomas Cook recommended only passengers under 5'11" to book the "Sleeper Seat."Thomas Cook

Defunct airline Thomas Cook also had a "Sleeper Seat" on its Airbus A330s for single passengers — meaning no duos or couples — but those left the sky after the carrier declared bankruptcy in 2019.

For those wanting to fly on one of these unique lie-flat options, it will come at a cost. Some fees are pretty straightforward, like Vietnam's outlined rate of $400-$600 per person on top of the airfare…

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which flies between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City.viper-zero/Shutterstock

For those wanting to fly on one of these unique lie-flat options, it will come at a cost. Some fees are pretty straightforward, like Vietnam's outlined rate of $400-$600 per person on top of the airfare…

…and Lufthansa's outlined price of $179 to $249 per person per leg for its original "Sleeper's Row" option.

Lufthansa trialed the original "Sleeper's Row" on its Boeing 747s.Lukas Wunderlich/Shutterstock

Other carriers like Air New Zealand and Azul have more varied pricing, which will differ depending on the route and season.

An Azul Brazilian Airlines A330-200, which its Skysofa first debuted on.JTOcchialini/Flickr

For example, the price for ANZ's Skycouch for one, two, or three people on a June 15 flight from New York to Auckland is $605. This is on top of the $1,310 one-way airfare per person.

The added fee for the Skycouch for three passengers from Los Angeles to Auckland on June 15 is $600 total, or $1,200 for one passenger.Air New Zealand

For example, the price for ANZ's Skycouch for one, two, or three people on a June 15 flight from New York to Auckland is $605. This is on top of the $1,310 one-way airfare per person.

Business class on the same route is about $6,500 one-way, while premium economy is just under $3,200.

Booking a Skycouch for one person on the June 15 flight from New York to Auckland would cost about $1,900 total — much cheaper than Air New Zealand's premium economy (pictured).Air New Zealand

Personally, I think an economy sofa is a better alternative to any premium economy seating out there, which typically comes with a legrest, footrest, and better food, but it doesn't lie flat.

Lufthansa's new long-haul premium economy, which cost about $2,800 roundtrip from New York to Munich in mid-September. A Sleeper's Row, if available, would be cheaper to pay for on top of the $1,800 roundtrip economy fare on the same flight.Lufthansa

Personally, I think an economy sofa is a better alternative to any premium economy seating out there, which typically comes with a legrest, footrest, and better food, but it doesn't lie flat.

Given the product's success, ANZ is introducing yet another lie-flat option in economy. Coming in 2024, travelers can book the "Skynest," which is a set of flying bunk beds.

Air New Zealand

Given the product's success, ANZ is introducing yet another lie-flat option in economy. Coming in 2024, travelers can book the "Skynest," which is a set of flying bunk beds.

The cozy sleeping pods will come with linens, a privacy curtain, and USB ports, a company spokesperson told Insider in September.

Taylor Rains/Insider

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7 airlines around the world offer lie-flat beds in economy &mdash; see what makes this seating arrangement so rare and unique

A new trend is popping up in economy class — lie-flat beds.

Championing the idea is Air New Zealand, which first introduced its revolutionary "Skycouch" in 2011 and has since patented the design.

"Being a relatively small airline from a small country, innovation is at the heart of our business," former ANZ CEO Rob Fyfe said about the product in 2010.

The concept is simple — imagine three coach seats that have legrests that flip up 90° to create one large space. And, it will only be reserved for those who book it, meaning no one will share with a stranger.

Granted, the couch is smaller than what you'll find in business class, with the full sleeping area being just 5'1" long and 29" wide.

But, lying down to sleep on ultra-long-haul flights is much easier than sitting up — and I know from personal experience.

I flew the Skycouch from Auckland to New York in September on ANZ's Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and thought it was a game-changer. I'm short at only 5'3," so I felt I had enough room…

…but taller travelers will need to bend their legs. I also wouldn't recommend it for more than two adults — there simply isn't enough space for three people to all lay down.

For safety, ANZ does provide what it calls a “cuddle belt” to strap laying travelers to the seat.

Since the Skycouch's debut, other airlines have adopted the design for their own planes. In 2014, Taiwan's China Airlines introduced the "Family Couch"…

…followed by Azul Brazilian Airlines' "Skysofa" in late 2014…

…Kazakhstan's Air Astana's "Economy Sleeper" in 2015...

…and French carrier Air Austral's "Extra Couchette" in 2016.

More recently, Japan's All Nippon Airways unveiled the "COUCHii" in 2019 on its Airbus A380s flying exclusively between Tokyo and Honolulu.

The product uses a row of three or four economy seats to create the sofa bed.

Vietnam Airlines has also installed a "Sky Sofa" on flights between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, German flag carrier Lufthansa allows passengers to book a "Sleeper's Row" for flights trekking 11 hours or more. These can only be booked at check-in or at the gate.

While the original "Sleeper's Row" doesn't have a flip-up legrest, Lufthansa recently announced its future long-haul aircraft will have an improved "Sleeper's Row 2.0" with the needed feature.

But, not all couches have survived. While China Airlines expanded its lie-flat economy product to both its Boeing 777-300ERs and its Airbus A350-900s, it ditched the design in 2018 due to poor demand.

Defunct airline Thomas Cook also had a "Sleeper Seat" on its Airbus A330s for single passengers — meaning no duos or couples — but those left the sky after the carrier declared bankruptcy in 2019.

For those wanting to fly on one of these unique lie-flat options, it will come at a cost. Some fees are pretty straightforward, like Vietnam's outlined rate of $400-$600 per person on top of the airfare…

…and Lufthansa's outlined price of $179 to $249 per person per leg for its original "Sleeper's Row" option.

Other carriers like Air New Zealand and Azul have more varied pricing, which will differ depending on the route and season.

For example, the price for ANZ's Skycouch for one, two, or three people on a June 15 flight from New York to Auckland is $605. This is on top of the $1,310 one-way airfare per person.

Business class on the same route is about $6,500 one-way, while premium economy is just under $3,200.

Personally, I think an economy sofa is a better alternative to any premium economy seating out there, which typically comes with a legrest, footrest, and better food, but it doesn't lie flat.

Given the product's success, ANZ is introducing yet another lie-flat option in economy. Coming in 2024, travelers can book the "Skynest," which is a set of flying bunk beds.

The cozy sleeping pods will come with linens, a privacy curtain, and USB ports, a company spokesperson told Insider in September.

7 airlines around the world offer lie-flat beds in economy — see what makes this seating arrangement so rare and unique