Things have come a long way since Orville and Wilbur Wright became the first people to take flight on an airplane in Kitty Hawk, NC, in 1903. Well, maybe not that much farther if you’re Spirit, but that’s beside the point. It’s almost easy to forget you’re on a commercial airline flight if you’re in first class, with unlimited food and booze, room to stretch out, and even sleep in a seat that reclines flat. You can still sleep on a plane if you’re not super rich. You just have to do your best to ignore anyone next to you, recline your seat about 6 inches, not move left or right, and enjoy sleeping at an uncomfortable angle. That’s all about to change, however, thanks to Air New Zealand.
You might want to tell your partner that you'll be sleeping with other people. (Air New Zealand)
As the longest flight one can take, Auckland to New York is somewhere between 16 and 18 hours. That’s about as long as a TV season, but without fun commercials to break up the action. As an economy-class flyer, before now, if you wanted to sleep flat on that flight, you’d have to do so in the aisle, which is frowned upon and the kind of thing you might get put on a flight watch list for. Starting in November, however, even economy fliers will be able to rent a Skynest sleep pod for four hours, offering the first-ever flat sleeping for budget travelers.
Are there some concessions you’ll have to make for temporary slumber? There sure are! First of all, there are only six of these available per flight, and they’re two triple bunks, so you’ll still be in extremely close proximity to your fellow travelers. You’re also not allowed to eat while in the pod, and one of the few things to look forward to while on a multi-hour flight is chowing down to break up the monotony. The rules also state “no perfumes or potions,” which may be their way of discouraging both witches and your Italian uncle, who still douses himself in Drakkar Noir, from renting a Skynest pod.
She sees you when you're sleeping. She knows when you're awake. (Air New Zealand)
Planning on joining the Mile-High Club? Not in one of these you won’t, since only one person is allowed at a time. Regardless, there would also be five other people in extremely close proximity to you, so unless you were an exhibitionist and everyone else was on up for it, you’ll just have to uncomfortably and discreetly make your way to the bathroom with your partner, you big perv. And while you can’t make children in one of these, you’re also not allowed to be a child in one either, as the rules state that no children are allowed.
While sex is prohibited, socks are not. In fact, you’re required to wear special socks that are provided when you check in to one of these for your four-hour nap. You also have to fasten your seatbelt over your blanket while sleeping, which doesn’t particularly sound like the most comfortable thing to do, but at least you’ll be lying flat. You really can’t put a price on that. Air New Zealand has, however, and while you might be saving a few bucks by flying economy, if you want to rent one of these Skynests when they become available in November, prices start around $290, or about $75/hour.
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