13% happy to sleep with strangers on flights

13% of people would be happy to share a Skycouch with a stranger they met in queue, according to the latest poll from flight comparison site Skyscanner. The Skycouch, which has been developed by Air New Zealand, works by converting a row of three airline seats into a bed. It is being heralded as the first ‘lie-down economy bed’, and the first major improvement in economy class travel comfort in 20 years. Three seats must be purchased together, with the third seat offered at a discounted rate. Each of the seats has a cushion that folds up from beneath, and arm rests all tuck away, creating a flat mattress that will allow two adults to stretch out.

73% of the people who voted in Skyscanner’s poll said that they would happily pay the extra for a Skycouch, of which 60.5% said they would share with their partner. 25% said that they wouldn’t pay the extra and would rather save their money.

Nearly 500 people voted in the poll, and the overall results show that Air New Zealand’s innovation is a winner with long haul flyers and a lucrative move for the airline.

new seating planned for Air New Zealand

I have always liked this carrier. I ave flown them to NZ and Tahiti and Australia. Now, they have proven their grit by throwing out all the old conceptions of seating an leading innovation. Their CEO said he was mortified by the lack of seating styles available through Boeing for its 777, so, after spending $300M per plane, NZ decided to design their own! More recyclable materials that reduce weight and add comfort like bean bag foots rests. Premium economy seats can now face each other for meals, talking & playing games and on the near horizon... ECONOMY will offer sky couch seats! Yes, lie flat in economy. Air New Zealand is a two class aircraft so with these extraordinary changes in economy, can you imagine the new Business Premium? ll this will start to enter their fleet in November 2010, first LAX to Auckland.