Air New Zealand introduces the SkyNest: flat beds for economy and premium economy passengers

Air New Zealand is truly one of the most innovative airlines out there, particularly when it comes to its economy and premium economy class products. The new SkyNest product is a prime example of that. With the airline introducing bunks for premium economy and economy passengers, here’s how it’s going to work.

In this post:

• What the Air New Zealand SkyNest is all about
• How the SkyNest Will be sold
• What do you get when booking a SkyNest?
• The aircraft and route which will first have the SkyNest
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What the Air New Zealand SkyNest is all about

Having somewhere to lie down on a super long flight, is somewhat of a dream for any premium economy and all the more for economy class passengers.

Air New Zealand is one of the airlines that operate some of the longest sectors with flights between Auckland and New York. And it has come up with an ingenious way of upselling to its economy class passengers.

Along with offering the SkyCouch option, which allows you to book three economy class seats and use them as a couch, Air New Zealand is now introducing the SkyNest concept.

That is a set of bunks which are lie-flat beds located between premium economy and economy class. There will be six of them on the aircraft they are fitted on, which will be some of the airlines’ Boeing 787-9s, which are the aircraft used on ultra long legs such as Auckland to New York.

Each bunk will be 203 cm long and 64 cm wide. Effectively, they look a lot like and they work a lot like the bunks that crew use to rest, which are usually located above the passenger cabin.

How the SkyNest Will be sold

The six bunks will be put up for sale for premium economy and economy class passengers. There will be an ancillary service sold by Air New Zealand to these passengers. A way of upselling on top of the ticket fare.

You won’t be able to block the bunk for the entirety of the flight. There will be two sessions of four hours each which can be booked. The number of sessions might be increased as the airline ramps up this service.

The price per session will be 495 New Zealand dollars, which converts roughly to 250 euro or 290 US dollars. That’ll be on top of the price paid for your seat in economy class or premium economy.

SkyNest are available for booking starting May 18th, 2026, for travel starting November 2026.

What do you get when booking a SkyNest bunk bed on Air New Zealand?

Each bunk is fitted with a privacy curtain, of course. Inside the bunk is a reading light and an ambient light. With the pod, you get a full-length mattress, pillow, blanket, sheets and bedding, eye mask, earplugs, socks, and Aotea skincare.

Additionally, you have a place to leave your personal belongings in a personal storage and also available charging ports in the form of USB-A and USB-C sockets.

The aircraft and route which will first have the SkyNest

This is going to be something very special and very new in the aviation industry. It is the first time that we see bunks available for economy and premium economy passengers.

Therefore, its release will be gradual, with the airline first releasing it on its longest and flagship route from Auckland to New York. The aircraft fitted with the new SkyNest beds will be the version 5 of the Boeing 787-9.

The aircraft configuration will therefore feature:

In addition to those seats, there are the six SkyNest bunks and the possibility to select either economy stretch seats, which have extra leg room, or the SkyCouch, which allows you to select three economy class seats and use them as a bed.