Taking a long-haul flight in economy has always meant accepting long hours sitting upright, with cramped legroom and almost no way to find a comfortable position to sleep. For anyone who wanted to lie down, the only option was a business-class ticket — a solution that is far out of reach for most budgets.

In recent years, though, a handful of airlines have changed course, introducing in-between products that turn entire rows of economy seats into actual beds, letting travelers stretch out at a much lower cost.

The economy-class bed goes mainstream

The idea of offering something like a bed even to economy passengers is enjoying a new golden age. The trailblazer was New Zealand’s Air New Zealand, which introduced the Skycouch back in 2011. It lets travelers book three adjacent seats and raise the adjustable footrests to create a flat surface roughly 1.55 meters long and 73.7 centimeters wide (about 5 feet 1 inch by 29 inches), complete with a mattress pad, pillows, and blankets. What pushed the carrier in this direction were its ultra-long routes — up to more than 17 hours in the air — dictated by the country’s geography. The Skycouch proved a winner right away, so much so that it was licensed to other international carriers.

The airline continues to surprise, with the launch of Skynest, an innovation designed for the Auckland–New York route. It consists of six pods with bunk beds available to economy-class passengers, bookable in four-hour sessions at a guide price of $495. The duration was set based on sleep science, according to which a four-hour window allows two REM cycles to be completed for deep, restorative rest.

From United Airlines to Lufthansa: how Western carriers are responding

These offerings from Down Under have drawn growing interest from travelers, to the point that American and European airlines are now beginning to adopt similar strategies. That is the case, for example, with United Airlines, which in 2027 will launch its Relax Row on Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft — with the goal of covering as many as 200 wide-body jets by 2030 — offering 12 lie-flat positions.

The mechanism lets travelers raise the legrests to 90 degrees to create a horizontal surface, fitted with a mattress pad and basic bedding. It is particularly comfortable for smaller-framed passengers, who can lie down in peace, but it offers a clear improvement for everyone on flights longer than ten hours. Families with children will also receive a dedicated travel kit and a plush toy.

Lufthansa, for its part, launched its Sleeper’s Row in August 2021, after a testing phase that began in 2020 on Boeing 747-8 aircraft between Frankfurt and São Paulo. The product lets passengers reserve an entire row, with a kit that includes a mattress and blankets, on flights of 11 hours or more. It is available on routes to the Far East, the U.S. West Coast, Central and South America, and southern Africa.

The Asian offerings: ANA, Air Astana, and Vietnam Airlines

Similar solutions are also offered by several Asian carriers, which in some cases round out their offering with extra services.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways offers the COUCHii system on its Airbus A380, used on routes between Japan and Hawaii. On board, as many as 60 economy seats have been converted so they can be turned into beds by combining three or four seats. These seats must be booked up to 48 hours before departure, online or by phone. Prices vary depending on the season and the overall occupancy of the row.

On routes from Almaty and Astana to destinations such as Beijing, London, and Frankfurt, Air Astana offers its Economy Sleeper instead. The service lets passengers reserve the front row with the adjacent seats blocked off. Passengers also enjoy additional perks such as a doubled baggage allowance (two bags of up to 23 kilograms, about 50 pounds each) and greater ticket flexibility, with the option to change or refund. The airline also provides passengers with the original Business Class amenity kit, featuring TEMPLESPA cosmetics, and a dedicated entertainment system.

Vietnam Airlines offers its Sky Sofa across a broad network linking Vietnam with 18 countries, including Italy. The service lets travelers book reclining seats either when purchasing online or at the last minute at the airport, depending on availability. Prices range roughly from $150 to $650 per leg and include an onboard catering service comparable to premium economy, plus bonus miles for members of the loyalty program.

Editor’s note

This article was originally published in Italian on money.it by Emanuela Ceccarelli on August 09, 2026 as «Volare in economy come in business. Le compagnie che offrono posti letto a prezzi più bassi». It has been translated and adapted for an international audience by the Money.it International desk.