When the so-called "friendly skies" are mentioned, a few airlines in particular come to mind:
Virgin America,
Singapore Airlines and
Qantas, for starters. Starting today, you can safely include Air New Zealand in that discussion. In a bid to turn long-haul international travel on its head, the outfit has today revealed a freshly outfitted Boeing 777 with a coach cabin that
easily puts every coach cabin found in the US to shame. Designed by Recaro, the world-class coach area includes 11 rows of Skycouches that can actually fold flat in order to create (admittedly short) beds for two. The best part? The "third seat" in the row will only cost a couple 50 percent of what it normally would, making it somewhat more affordable to buy a bed without springing for first class. You'll also find power sockets, USB ports and iPod connectors in every single coach seat, leaving the plane a
Gogo-module away from being absolutely perfect. Pop those source links below for a hands-on at the Auckland unveiling by our good pals at
Gadling.
posted January 26th 2010 11:17AM
Can we just make my living room look like this please, or do I have to buy the whole plane?
@HardToBelieve
you realize that you won't be using any of theese features as its uncomfortable with a lotta wires. congrats on the bed thing though, but seeming that normally peple sit with atleast 1 stranger, that thing won't be so practicil though :).
neverthless, congrats on revolutionizing a plane
@HardToBelieve you live in a shed or something? we all know it's still gonna be CRAP but then give the airliner an excuse to charge a little bit more!
THE ONLY GOOD THING is to be sitting next to a gorgeous woman and she'll be "FORCED" to sleep with me, haha
@HardToBelieve
For normally lay in this couch - you'll need to be no higher than 1,6-1,5 meters tall or even shorter.
Even on this picture you can see - the woman can't lay there at full height - her legs would block the whole corridor easily.
So - THIS Couches IS SUITABLE ONLY FOR KIDS.
@fontendet
I don't suppose you have traveled much on flights internationally :( Try flying for 19 hours from Seattle to Delhi, in coach and you will know what iron maiden would have felt like in the 17th century :)
This by all accounts would be luxury if I could stretch my legs even two thirds the length of the seats :)
How about free wifi instead? I would fly economy over first class if economy got wifi and first class didnt.
Air Canada has power plugs and USB chargers, so does Lufthansa I belie, anyways, waiting for in flight wi-fi to be more implemented in international airlines :D
@MSM That's right, just got off their 77W and USB and 110V power rocks, so is the large high resolution screen.
@MSM Air NZ have had USB for a while, even their super plain A320 has USB with a media interface on each chair even in economy. The system runs Linux and has VOD, basic games (even multiplayer). Nothing that exciting though. I did see one of the machines next to me have a kernel panic and reset though.
That's pretty sick.
I sure hope the armrests flip up.
Those windows are so blatantly fake.
@Johnny Ive you obviously havent been on a plane. Those windows are real and this was photographed miles and miles up so you can't see nothing but clouds and blue ocean.
@(Unverified) I honestly can't tell if you're being sarcastic or sardonic. Or maybe you've been on a plane where the windows are made of paper. Take your pick.
@(Unverified) Sweet! That makes them astronauts!
@(Unverified) I'm with Johnny. I have been on hundreds of planes, over oceans with cloudy skies and those windows are just mock ups. I do find it odd that there appears to be no sort of method to block out the light from the window. A whole lot of good lying down in a bed will do you when the sun is shining in your face. Most of the red-eye flights I have taken have been over the pole to Europe. During the summer months it is bright and shiny nearly the entire flight, all night long (and the reflection off the ice below doesn't help with the blinding brightness).
@RandomGuy I think ant needs to stop watching star-trek.
@RandomGuy These seats/cabin upgrades were originally designed to be debuted on Air New Zealand's impending 787-9 deliveries, but because of delays they pushed the upgrades forward onto their new 777-300s, so the mockup shown has the 787's electronic window dimming mechanism. you can see it under the window in front and back of the couple lying down
Another reason to never fly an american owned airline. (virgin america 4 lyfe son)
@stabbytheicepic By Law, Virgin America is over 75% American owned and operated. Virgin Group only owns 25%. Americans make up 75% of the board.
If you are talking about Virgin Atlantic that's another story. And since the article is talking about 777's, is comparing Virgin America and "American" airlines really applicable? Neither Virgin America or "American" airlines are flying 777's on flights based solely in the United States.
I think VA is great, but have you ever flown AA 767-300's in business for domestic routes? Lie-flat clam shell beds. AA also has wifi on all 767's. 767's also have two rows which are great when you are flying east/west. Nothing worse than a bev cart blocking a single row on a airbus 320. VA doesn't use them(except on initial service).
@nsfw
I am talking about virgin america, don't pretend that it isn't really run by branson. US law required some holding company he owns to own 75 percent of it, but come on.
There isn't a single airline in the US that can touch the quality of virgin america's coach. I could care less about business/first, since the company I work for tends to not spring for those kinds of duds. When I fly internationally on my own dime i'll spring for first, but companys like Luftansa or even Air France are light years ahead of america owned carriers. So why bother.
Oh and UA flys 777 domestic, but UA is terrible.
@nsfw - One note NSFW, Delta flies their 777-200LR from ATL-LAX a few times a week before it heads on to Sydney.
....and i'm sure air new zealand coach class prices won't be going up anytime soon.
It doesn't look like there's much leg room.
The mile high club just got 11 new rooms. Stay on top New Zeland:D
@locknroll
Get to do something that Singapore Airlines won't let you do in First Class? Nice.
what if ppl make out on those skycouches?
@cphu You don't need couches to make out on a flight. Trust me. Now if you want to go a little further than a makeout session, well....
Nice. Always wanted to snuggle up to complete strangers when traveling alone on long-haul flights.
@tacitus
I have about a 20% track record of sitting next to attractive women on planes. Not exactly great, but I'm not complaining.
I would rather fly for half price in the baggage area than sleep and pay twice the price.
Anyone wonder what happened to the seats on the right side? Can I just sleep there?
@thesafecigarette The little spotlight hanging down from the ceiling suggests that this is a mockup, and not a real plane.
@dtremit
Thank you for you well thought out and well formed reply. I had realized the picture was a mock-up when I also saw the light and the fake windows. I believe that I am going to start putting a disclaimer in front of every post so people don't take everything so seriously. Sorry for the confusion...
What happens if someone tries to copulate with another
@PATRICKmcnicholl
Then at least they'll keep the bathrooms open
@PATRICKmcnicholl
is there some indecency law out for international skies? plus there are no privacy curtains so touchy couples can't make out
Well this isnt good when there is a turbulence. You could get yourself tossed out the window or ceiling. I personally like to keep myself fastened w/ a seatbelt whilst sleeping.
@(Unverified)
*has no idea if it has seat belts designed to handle this arrangement, makes post anyways.*
@(Unverified)
On flights with many empty seats, a lot of people go to the back and lie down like this anyway. Safety would be the last thing on their mind.
Me? I can sleep anytime, anywhere in any posture. I can fall asleep before take-off for a 16 hours flight and wake up on landing. I have acclimated to flying lol
@(Unverified) Since this is a mock-up, I guess they didn't worry about seat belts, but when you are lucky enough to grab the middle row of empty seats, the flight attendants will make sure you're wearing the restraint, however you manage to hook them up. While it isn't the most comfortable thing to be strapped in, the awesomeness of being able to lay flat out and sleep is. Plus, not flying up into the air and landing awkwardly when you hit turbulence is definitely a plus.
Then again people letting their children run up and down the aisles, or the noise they make, is a good reason to at least bump to Business Class for those 9+ hour long flights.
Glad they slipped iPod into the title, I was beginning to worry they would go more then 3 posts with no Apple. It's not the same as another Apple roundup......but it gives a fix for those that need it.
The plane is cool, but if those people extend their legs that woman is going to have to get some major attitude to get that little girl to the can.
@Cringer they slipped "iPod" into the title, because the other guys slipped "iPod" into the plane. Specifically, it says "iPod connectors", not just USB charging.
Not everything is a pro-Apple conspiracy. Relax.
@jimmylittle
Which is kinda crappy. Would be better if it was just a standard usb cable.
@jimmylittle I was just being a smart ass, so you may relax as well.
@Cringer i dont know why dickheads always have to reply to peoples comments lol. arent you sick of that Cringer? i know i am. someones always gotta take your comment out of context and too literally. apparently that guys soul was deleted and his sense of humor with it.
@Cringer Air New Zealand said at the event that the USB and/or iPod connection will allow you to view your own content on the screen. There was also a "Foot Net" to keep your feet from extending into the aisle.
For a COACH offering, I was rather impressed.
How is the seatcushions on those sky couches so long for them to fit side by side on? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable when sitting upright?
@ndukyh they probably fold downward for stowage much like a recliner.
dont cramp your brain thinking too hard about it, though.
Is there a social standard for no spooning in public?
Also, Air Canada also has USB ports that allow users to charge laptops and iPods. However they don't offer these plush couches.
"Is there a social standard for no spooning in public?"
Well, those two are complete strangers after all.
It's similar to how RyanAir transports the human cattle...
So if you are tall and single you are still screwed. Yay!