Air New Zealand’s Skynest Is Open for Booking — Here’s What the Lie-Flat Pods Are Like

Air New Zealand fliers will now have two options to lie flat in economy class, with the airline opening up bookings for its new Economy Skynest as of May 18.  

Skynest is a pod concept that economy and premium economy passengers can book for a four-hour timeslot on select ultra-long-haul flights between New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and New Zealand’s Auckland Airport, starting in December. Skynest joins the airline’s Economy Skycouch product to create a second lie-flat option for economy passengers. 

“Innovation is in our DNA at Air New Zealand,” said Nikhil Ravishankar, CEO of Air New Zealand. “As an island nation that sometimes requires a long journey, we are committed to providing the most restful in-flight experience for travelers. We introduced the first lie-flat option in economy with Skycouch in 2011, and Skynest was a natural next step in providing even more comfort and choice for travelers.” 

With Skynest, travelers can select their preferred time slot (with two sessions offered on each flight, scheduled so passengers don’t miss meal times), and their preferred pod (top, middle or bottom). Passengers can book a single four-hour time slot per flight for a price of $495, in addition to the fare paid for their economy or premium economy seat. 

The Skynests are located between economy and premium economy, with six nests available. Each is 6 feet and 8 inches long, providing enough room for most people to be able to lay completely flat.  

Testing the Skynest

I was able to try out the Skynest at Trenz in Auckland this month, and there was plenty of room for me to lay flat, roll over and shift while lying down in the bunk, which is 25 inches across at its widest point (tapering down to 16 inches at the foot). There wasn’t enough room for me to sit up straight.

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Travelers will need to be able to independently (or with the assistance of their traveling companion) enter and exit their Skynest. Air New Zealand notes that accessing these spaces can involve “bending, kneeling, crawling or climbing,” which matched my experience. The lower pods are just four inches from the floor, while the top ones are 65 inches up, with steps required to access them. Skynests are restricted to one person per nest (no swapping partway), and passengers must be 15 years or older to use the product.

Each of the nests includes a full-length mattress; bedding consisting of a pillow, a sheet and a blanket (which are refreshed between passengers); ambient lighting; a reading light; a ventilation outlet; and charging ports (with both USB-A and USB-C). There is a curtain for privacy and a seatbelt for safety, as well as a crew call button. A complimentary “Nestcessities” amenity kit features socks, an eye mask, ear plugs, a dental kit, and Aotea hand cream. Since the pods are designed for rest, there is no in-flight entertainment. 

Skynest vs. Skycouch

Skynest is the airline’s second lie-flat economy option, joining its existing Skycouch product. Skycouch consists of three standard economy seats with leg rests that pull up to make a relatively flat space in certain rows in economy. It includes special “cuddle belts” that allow people to be safely belted in while laying down. A mat is provided to cover the seats, along with two large pillows in addition to the pillows and blankets for each of the three economy seats. 

In total, it offers 5 feet and 1 inch of lie-flat space, though passengers can curl up or rest at an angle, as long as the aisle remains clear.  

In addition to the size, another key difference is that Skycouch is available for the entire flight, except for a short time after takeoff and before landing, when seats must remain in their normal position. Passengers now have more options for how they would like to spend their flight, and Ravishankar believes this will help them better enjoy their journey overall. 

“At Air New Zealand, we believe the journey to our beautiful country begins before you even step foot on our planes,” he said. “On the journey from New York to Auckland, we know our passengers need time to truly recharge, and by offering a four-hour window to lie flat and get some rest, passengers aren't losing a day to recover once they land. Getting even a few hours of true rest helps travelers land in New Zealand ready for adventure.”