Airlines Offer Comfort Upgrade for Economy Passengers

Air New Zealand was the first airline to launch an economy-class lie-flat product called Skycouch in 2011. The nation's isolated nature means it offers some of the world's longest flights, such as routes to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which can exceed 17 hours.

Skynest is a new product that will be available on Air New Zealand's Auckland to New York route in November. Economy class passengers will have the option of booking six bunk-style pods for a four-hour session at $495 per session.

United Airlines hopes to debut its Relax Row lie-flat economy class product in 2027, initially available on Boeing 787s and 777s. Each plane will have up to 12 Relax Row sections, with passengers getting a mattress and basic bedding to convert the surface into a short bed.