Air travel might soon feel very different, especially for people flying long distances in economy class. Air New Zealand has introduced something called “Skynest,” which is basically a set of sleeping pods designed for economy passengers. This is being seen as a big step, especially for very long flights like the 17-hour journey between New York and Auckland.
Skynest is like a small sleeping area inside the plane. It has six pods arranged like bunk beds. Each pod is around 6 feet 8 inches long and comes with a mattress, pillow, blanket, USB charging, and a curtain for privacy. Passengers can lie down properly and sleep instead of struggling in their seats.
But there is a catch. You do not get the pod for the entire flight. Instead, you book it for a limited time, usually around 4 hours. After your session, the crew takes about 30 minutes to clean and reset it for the next passenger. So, it works more like a shared facility.
Coming to the cost, this comfort is not cheap. A regular economy ticket costs around Rs. 84,000, and the Skynest add on is about Rs. 46,000. That brings the total close to Rs. 1.3 lakh (approximately in INR) for a one-way journey. So, while it is still called “economy,” the price starts getting closer to premium travel.
Long flights in economy are tiring. There is very little space, and proper sleep is almost impossible. Skynest tries to fix that problem by giving passengers a chance to rest properly without paying full business class prices.
Air New Zealand has already tried something like this. Earlier, they introduced “Skycouch,” where three seats can be turned into a flat bed. Skynest takes that idea one step further.
Other airlines are also thinking along similar lines. United Airlines is planning something called “Relax Row” in the future, and airlines like Vietnam Airlines and Azul Airlines already offer couch style seating options.
But the price is quite high for many passengers, and not everyone may want to pay extra for just a few hours of sleep. Also, with only six pods on a flight, availability could be limited, especially on busy routes.
For Indian passengers, especially those traveling long distances to the US, UK, or New Zealand, Skynest could be useful but expensive. Many may find it hard to justify the extra Rs 46,000. It may mainly attract business travelers or those who prioritize comfort over cost during long, tiring journeys.
If people are willing to pay for it and if it works smoothly, this could become a common feature in long flights in the future.
