"Being a relatively small airline from a small country, innovation is at the heart of our business," former ANZ CEO Rob Fyfe said about the product in 2010.
The concept is simple — imagine three coach seats that have legrests that flip up 90° to create one large space. And, it will only be reserved for those who book it, meaning no one will share with a stranger.
The legrests of Air New Zealand's Skycouch flipped up.
Taylor Rains/Insider
Granted, the couch is smaller than what you'll find in business class, with the full sleeping area being just 5'1" long and 29" wide.
The Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Skycouch fully set up.
I flew the Skycouch from Auckland to New York in September on ANZ's Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and thought it was a game-changer. I'm short at only 5'3," so I felt I had enough room…
Taylor Rains/Insider
…but taller travelers will need to bend their legs. I also wouldn't recommend it for more than two adults — there simply isn't enough space for three people to all lay down.
My legs nearly stretched the full length of the Skycouch when I was sitting upright with my back against the fuselage.
Taylor Rains/Insider
For safety, ANZ does provide what it calls a “cuddle belt” to strap laying travelers to the seat.
Taylor Rains/Insider
Since the Skycouch's debut, other airlines have adopted the design for their own planes. In 2014, Taiwan's China Airlines introduced the "Family Couch"…
Vietnam Airlines has also installed a "Sky Sofa" on flights between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and London, Paris, and Frankfurt.
Vietnam Airlines' ad for the Skysofa, which doesn't come with legrests.
Vietnam Airlines
Meanwhile, German flag carrier Lufthansa allows passengers to book a "Sleeper's Row" for flights trekking 11 hours or more. These can only be booked at check-in or at the gate.
Lufthansa's "Sleeper's Row," which have been available since August 2021, consist of three or four economy seats and will only be offered if there is an open row available.
While the original "Sleeper's Row" doesn't have a flip-up legrest, Lufthansa recently announced its future long-haul aircraft will have an improved "Sleeper's Row 2.0" with the needed feature.
But, not all couches have survived. While China Airlines expanded its lie-flat economy product to both its Boeing 777-300ERs and its Airbus A350-900s, it ditched the design in 2018 due to poor demand.
Defunct airline Thomas Cook also had a "Sleeper Seat" on its Airbus A330s for single passengers — meaning no duos or couples — but those left the sky after the carrier declared bankruptcy in 2019.
Thomas Cook recommended only passengers under 5'11" to book the "Sleeper Seat."
For those wanting to fly on one of these unique lie-flat options, it will come at a cost. Some fees are pretty straightforward, like Vietnam's outlined rate of $400-$600 per person on top of the airfare…
Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which flies between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City.
viper-zero/Shutterstock
…and Lufthansa's outlined price of $179 to $249 per person per leg for its original "Sleeper's Row" option.
Lufthansa trialed the original "Sleeper's Row" on its Boeing 747s.
Other carriers like Air New Zealand and Azul have more varied pricing, which will differ depending on the route and season.
An Azul Brazilian Airlines A330-200, which its Skysofa first debuted on.
JTOcchialini/Flickr
For example, the price for ANZ's Skycouch for one, two, or three people on a June 15 flight from New York to Auckland is $605. This is on top of the $1,310 one-way airfare per person.
The added fee for the Skycouch for three passengers from Los Angeles to Auckland on June 15 is $600 total, or $1,200 for one passenger.
Air New Zealand
Business class on the same route is about $6,500 one-way, while premium economy is just under $3,200.
Booking a Skycouch for one person on the June 15 flight from New York to Auckland would cost about $1,900 total — much cheaper than Air New Zealand's premium economy (pictured).
Air New Zealand
Personally, I think an economy sofa is a better alternative to any premium economy seating out there, which typically comes with a legrest, footrest, and better food, but it doesn't lie flat.
Lufthansa's new long-haul premium economy, which cost about $2,800 roundtrip from New York to Munich in mid-September. A Sleeper's Row, if available, would be cheaper to pay for on top of the $1,800 roundtrip economy fare on the same flight.
Lufthansa
Given the product's success, ANZ is introducing yet another lie-flat option in economy. Coming in 2024, travelers can book the "Skynest," which is a set of flying bunk beds.
Air New Zealand
The cozy sleeping pods will come with linens, a privacy curtain, and USB ports, a company spokesperson told Insider in September.
