As much as I personally love and adore traveling as far as I can, there is one aspect of it that I just can't stand. After three or four hours sitting on a plane, my lower back and my legs are absolutely destroyed.
Mind you, I'm not necessarily accusing airlines of making uncomfortable seats. We must face the reality that unless you're flying business class or first class, your long-haul flight will not be incredibly comfortable. Or is it?
A few airlines have allegedly cracked the code and managed to create a seat that is just as comfortable as a business- or first-class seat, but for a fraction of the price. Everybody, give a warm welcome to the couch-style seat, which is technically still an economy seat.
Air New Zealand helmed the rollout of such an innovative seat and named it the SkyCouch. Now, years later, more airlines have acquired permission to launch similar products on long-haul flights.
It's a simple concept. You can get a full three- or four-seat row to yourself for extra money, which is still less than the surplus you'd pay for business or first class. The row is engineered to turn into a couch, and rather than feeling like you're jammed up stretching out on three seats, it is designed to make you feel like you're lounging on a couch. Usually, seatbelts are made to be safely strapped on from a lying-down position, and on some airlines, leg rests flip up 90 degrees to create a wider flat space. Passengers booking this seat are also often given large pillows and blankets.
Usually, sofa-style seating is offered on long-haul flights and only on select airlines. To help you determine what flights you should hop on to get the option, we rounded up all the airlines currently offering couch-style seating.
What Airlines Offer Couch-Style Seating?
Depending on the airline, prices can vary. Vietnam Airlines offers "Sky Sofa" couches starting from $100 per row per person on top of the ticket price, according to the airline's website. Air New Zealand, instead, prices its SkyCouch depending on how many people will be using it. "If one person occupies the Skycouch, they will pay a higher fee than if it were occupied by two people," reads the carrier's website.
It can, however, get pretty pricey, depending on the route. At the time of writing, a one-way Air New Zealand ticket from NYC's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Auckland on October 18 costs $1,182 (including a layover in Houston, Texas). Upgrading to a SkyCouch seat, which is offered on the flight connecting Houston to Auckland, would cost an extra $1,160, bringing the total ticket price to $2,342.
Here Are The Airlines That Offer Couch-Style Seats
Air New Zealand
ANA
Japan’s ANA offers the “ANA COUCHii” seating option on certain flights. The cost for this upgrade ranges from $130 to $2,580 depending on the time of year and the number of passengers reserving the seats.
Air Astana
Kazakhstan’s Air Astana allows you to book a full row of seats with its “Economy Sleeper” option. The cost for a one-way trip from London is around $1,950, compared to $4,738 for a business class seat, The Design Air reported.
Lufthansa
For long-haul flights, Lufthansa offers a “Sleeper’s Row” reservation upgrade. The cost to upgrade ranges from $179 to $249.
Vietnam Airlines
A Cheaper Way to Fly?
For more information about sofa-style pricing, passengers should check directly with the airline they're flying on.
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