Airline adding triple-decker bunk beds in economy-class for long-haul flights

MoneyWatch Airline adding triple-decker bunk beds for economy-class travelers on long-haul flights .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } April 17, 2026 / 6:54 AM EDT / AP Add CBS News on Google Wellington, New Zealand — Sleep on a long-haul flight in economy class has always been a fantasy for many travelers. Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed wearing special socks.The airline will open bookings for four-hour stints in the Skynest sleep pods and says they will be the first lie-flat beds for budget air travelers. Fliers will get cozy with their fellow passengers, however, so crumbs, strong perfumes and bedsharing are forbidden. The curtained berths will be available to economy and premium economy fliers on the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from November. The planes will service the Auckland to New York route, one of the world's longest commercial flights that currently leaves economy passengers sitting upright for a marathon 16 to 18 hours. Instead, travelers will have the option of a pre-booked four-hour spot in a curtained pod, with costs starting from 495 New Zealand dollars ($291) on top of the price of their economy tickets. But use of the six pods, arranged in a triple-bunk style layout between cabins, will put fliers in close proximity to others, prompting the airline to publish etiquette notes. This photo provided by Air New Zealand shows sleeping pods in a mock-up of a plane cabin in Auckland, New Zealand. Air New Zealand via AP Rules prompted by pods' close-quarters  Passengers must refrain from snacking in the pods, which can't be used by children or any additional visitors. "That means solo snoozes only please, no musical nests or tag-teaming," Air New Zealand's website says. For those worried about cleanliness, the airline assures travelers that the pillows, blankets and sheets supplied "are all refres...