Air New Zealand’s world-first concept Economy Skynest will officially go on sale from 18 May, for travel on its Auckland and New York service from 26 Oct.
Skynest features six lie-flat pods in a bunk-style layout between the economy and premium economy cabins, each pod featuring a full-length mattress with fresh bedding and ambient lighting. Passengers can pay $495pp for a four-hour Skynest session.
There will be two four-hour sessions available on each flight initially, designed around natural sleep cycles to allow time to settle, sleep and wake gradually, adds NZ.
Included is a privacy curtain, personal stowage and USB-A and USB-C charging points, a reading light and ventilation outlet, a crew call button and in-pod seatbelt, and an amenity kit including eye mask, ear plugs, socks and Aotea skincare.
“After giving hundreds of agents the opportunity to view the Economy Skynest at Hanger22, conferences, or trade events over the past couple of years, it’s exciting that soon agents will be able to offer this innovative new product to customers…giving them the opportunity to stretch out, lie flat and get a few hours’ proper rest in the air,” says NZ’s senior manager retail/ TMC CJ Lowe.
“Whilst initially this isn’t available to be booked via the GDS, agents are able to contact our Agency Sales Support team for assistance to secure this for their customers,” adds Lowe.
Looking ahead, she says NZ is working towards enabling Skynest sessions to be added to any existing bookings post-ticketing directly via its airnzagent.co.nz manage booking function.
For now, agents will be able to create customer bookings via airnzagent.co.nz using their IATA/ TIDS number, adding an Economy Skynest session during the on-line booking flow—flights that have this available will display ‘Skynest available’.
Lowe also urges agents to stay tuned for a Skynet training module on duo.
Alongside Skynest, the new 787-9 aircraft will also feature eight business premier Luxe seats, 34 business premier seats, 52 premium economy seats and 120 economy seats, including nine economy Skycouch and 24 economy Stretch.
See more information on the new product HERE.
