Let’s face it, it’s true when they say modern air travel has become increasingly unpleasant, especially flying economy, due to the continuous shrinking of seat size to fit more passengers and etc. However, we’re glad to inform you that not all airlines are the same and surprisingly, many of them are working to increase passenger’s comfort through new innovations!

Convertible seats

Several airlines have introduced economy seats that can be converted to flat beds!

Economy & Skycouch™ 777-300 from Air New Zealand USA on Vimeo.

Air New Zealand’s Skycouch allows for a row of three economy seats to be converted into a flat bed with a push of a button. The arms on the seats retract, while the seat base extends and seat belts lengthen to give you space for reclining. Up to two people can recline together by lying horizontally against the wall. It’s been dubbed the “Cuddle Class,” and comes at the standard price for each seat, and the third shared seat for half price.  

Similarly, China Airlines offers an economy class Family Couch, with three economy seats that adjust into a flat bed to accommodate family and friends. The seats come with a mattress protector, pillows, blankets, and a toy for young travellers. The in-flight entertainment system for these seats also features a “Seat Chat” so you can share movies, music, and messaging with one another. 

Besides that, Air Astana also offers Economy Sleeper, which allows passengers the chance to have an entire row of three seats on long-haul flights. It has armrests that fold up and include a mattress, pillow, duvet, complimentary amenity kit, and priority check-in. The only downside is these seats come at a hefty price, at about half the fee of the airline’s business class flights.

New seating arrangement

Check out the Air New Zealand Space Seat, offered on its 777-300 Premium Economy, gives passengers space and privacy with curved, couch-style seats that can rotate so that you can face the person next to you and share a meal or turn away for privacy. 

The seats are a good option for people who may need to do work or catch some sleep in privacy. Offered for its premium economy class, the seating provides the option for comfortable seating without having to pay for business class.

More leg room

Of course, the biggest problem when flying coach is leg room! Lufthansa created slimmer seats that are made with a mesh fibre instead of traditional foam padding to allow for increased leg room. Plus, the magazine slits are found at the top of the seat back to give you more knee space. It also offers a premium economy class that features lots of leg room at just a little more than economy class price.

Delta Air Lines has its economy comfort class, which offers priority boarding, 50% more recline, four more inches of legroom, and adjustable headrests and footrests. Singapore Airlines’ premium economy class seats are 19.5 inches wide, with increased leg room, 8 inches of recline, and a calf and footrest.

Qantas has installed movable bases on the seats of its A380 that recline to offer a more comfortable sleep for premium economy passengers. The footrest also has a net below offering you a foot hammock for optimal relaxation and continued circulation flow.  

Virgin Atlantic has refitted its Boeing 747 aircrafts flying out of London, Gatwick, Manchester, and Glasgow, to include premium economy seats that offer up to 38 inches of seat pitch and 21 inches of width.

It’s worth noting that the premium economy seats on these airlines cost at least a few hundred dollar more than regular economy, but they’re not as expensive as business or first class, and with most airlines, the service also includes priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.

Better in-flight entertainment

Thai Airways’ entertainment menus are quite extensive too. From music to movies to series, everything via your personal in-seat touchscreen.

Singapore Airlines’ system includes the latest movies, TV programs, games, radio programs, and on some there is even a USB port so you can use the system for a personal media player, photo viewer, or PDF reader. The system has up to 80 movies, hundreds of CDs and audio books, and language learning programs. 

Emirates offer more than 1,500 channels of movies, TV shows, music, and games, and world news direct from BBC.

Qatar Airways’ Oryx Communications system lets you choose from over 2,000 entertainment options including the typical movies, TV shows, audio and games, as well as providing on-board Wi-Fi on select flights to allow SMS and MMS sending and Internet access. 

Brighter interiors

The Boeing Sky Interior includes curving overheard bins, large ceiling panels lit with colour LEDs, and LED sidewall lighting that makes the aircraft look larger.

United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and American Airlines are just some of the airlines that have already adopted the model. The sky blue colour is typically used for daytime flights, while a pink hue resembling sunsets is used in the evening. 

Better food

Korean Air, two-time winner of the prestigious Mercury Award, offers carefully selected Western, Chinese, Japanese, and traditional Korean menus with carefully selected wines. You’ll feel like you are dining at a world-class restaurant.

Singapore Airlines works with a team of Michelin-starred chefs to prepare menus for all classes. Economy class menus include appetizers like potato salad with baby shrimp, entrees like wok-fried chicken and bamboo shoots in sesame oil, and desserts like strawberry mousse cake.

Free amenity kits

Amenity kits may be a small gesture on an airline’s part, but they go a long way in impacting passenger comfort. While most airlines offer amenity kits to first and business class passengers, some are now starting to offer kits to coach passengers as well.

On Singapore Airlines, passengers receive toiletry kits with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and socks. On their Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER planes, you can get e-magazines including the Wall Street Journal and Elle Magazine. They also have complimentary playing cards and writing kits.

Etihad Airways offers all long-flight passengers a Sleep Tight amenity kit including socks, a toothbrush, earplugs, and an eye mask that passengers can wear to notify staff not to wake them up for meals. For longer flights, the airline has a pillow that converts to a neck pillow for comfortable sleeping.

(Content and image source: Business Insider)

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