By MSN NZ Travel staff
Fancy cuddling up to your partner in cattle class?
You’ll soon be able to with Air New Zealand's seating redesign.
‘Skycouch’ is set to be rolled out on their Boeing 777-300s.
It allows the passenger to lie completely flat, or for a couple to curl up for a cuddle.
But it won’t come cheap — the price is based on travellers buying two economy tickets and paying an additional 50 percent of the cost of a third seat.
Each plane will have 22 sets of skycouch seats.
PHOTOS: See the new skycouch
The new seats will be available on all Air NZ's long haul services from mid-2012.
Meanwhile, tickets for December flights between Auckland and Los Angeles go on sale in April.
Chief executive Rob Fyfe said it was set to revolutionise economy class.
"For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone," he said.
"The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a travelling companion — just keep your clothes on thanks."
Air NZ is also set to launch a premium economy 'spaceseat'.
"We’ve even created a new foot bean bag style cushion affectionately called otto. It enables premium economy passengers to create their own position for sleeping rather than being restrained by an uncomfortable, stiff leg rest," Air NZ group general manager international airline Ed Sims said.
A new interior design scheme includes a move away from traditional blues and greens to a more luxurious blend of chalk and deep ink colours.
Mr Fyfe said the carrier’s food and beverage services and entertainment systems would also be upgraded — food will be cooked mid-flight, not reheated.
“Being able to order a steak, medium rare in business premier, a pizza for two in premium economy or a late night snack in economy, whenever you want, will be a very cool experience,” he said.
Standard economy seats will get a makeover — they’ll be fitted with a larger video screen and a cushion that attaches to the headrest.
The cost:
Return flights for two adults from Auckland to Los Angeles:
Economy: $4244 (tax added)
Cuddle class: *$5250
Premium economy: $6844
Business class: $18,644
Return flights for two adults from Auckland to London:
Economy: $5830.20 (tax added)
Cuddle class: *$6250
Premium economy: $10,028.40
Business class: $21,493.80
*House of Travel estimate for November 2010
What do you think of Air NZ's upgrades? Would you fly cuddle class?
