Although it has been eight years since Air New Zealand launched its innovative SkyCouch product, a new variant will allow more undisturbed sleep for toddlers.
The modified seats will include a dedicated infant harness and belt, allowing little ones to remain in the lie-flat position throughout the cruising portion of the flight. Currently, when the fasten seatbelt sign is illuminated, infants must be woken up and placed on a parent’s lap.
Also available: a new infant pod that will will keep newborns more secure.
Finally, the SkyCouch will now accommodate two children, instead of just one, with one parent sitting on the aisle seat. Until now, the SkyCouch has been reserved for a maximum of two passengers, even children.
Once approved by regulators, the airline will make the modified SkyCouch available progressively on its Boeing 777-300 and 787-9 fleet “in the coming months”.
The bed was originally marked toward couples, but over the years has proved more popular as a family/child-friendly alternative to business class.
CONCLUSION
The new seats will be formally debuted at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg next week. I will be not in attendance but will provide additional pictures via Twitter if made available. These are slight modifications, but important ones.
Much to the delight of those who hate children in premium cabins, I’m quite tempted to try Air New Zealand’s modified SkyCouch for Augustine on a future trip to Europe. Air New Zealand’s 5:15pm departure from Los Angeles (to London) is well-timed for sleeping and may be a more affordable solution than a third business or first class seat once he turns two this autumn.
> Read More: Air New Zealand 777-300 Business Premier Review – Los Angles to London
This is great. Too bad they cancelled those US-NZ mistake fares a couple months ago. We were hoping to travel on Air New Zealand to Auckland with our little one.
Have any adults taller than 5 feet actually tried this? How do you manage to sleep if your feet are hanging into the aisle and constantly being knocked by people walking past? Wouldn’t this wake you up?
Try bending the knees.
Don’t see how it’s any different than stretching out across an empty row of three Y seats. Just use a pillow to lie down with your head on the aisle side, and stretch out your feet to the window side. It’s perfectly comfortable.