Lie-flat beds may no longer be the exclusive domain of business class if AirAsia X has its way.
The low-cost Malaysian airline is looking at how three economy seats can be converted into a 'bed-like experience' and sold to a single traveller.
It's a step beyond Air New Zealand's Skycouch (below), which the Kiwi carriers has already licensed to Taiwan's China Airlines and Brazil's Azul.
“While the Skycouch model spurred the thinking about how do you modify the seats, I think there are drawbacks to the specific Skycouch model, certainly when it comes to how much weight you put on the system,” says AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman Rani told Future Travel Experience.
“The next step is can we enhance a simple three-seat configuration to make it even more comfortable to the owner of those three seats by giving it a bed-like experience?" Osman Rani ponders.
“We think there are other solutions that give you a more comfortable experience leveraging on that empty space that would otherwise be for where your legs are, which you don’t need when you’re lying down flat without, sort of, that extra extension."
"It’s been an idea that we’re developing; we’ll see how long it’ll take us to get there.”
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Knowing LCCs like AirAsia X, I'm willing to bet that the bed-like mode won't stay up without a manual lock activated by the crew that is subject to a hefty surcharge. It also offers an opportunity to upsell their blankets, pillows and eyeshades!
Lufthansa - Miles & More
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 181
Knowing air asia this is true but it would be good to see if it arrives
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 98
"I think there are drawbacks to the specific Skycouch model, certainly when it comes to how much weight you put on the system"
The Skycouch flaps that fold up collectively can hold 150kg! I don't think there is any issue when it comes to weight.
NZ Elite
03 Jul 2014
Total posts 110
Excellent point. And given the width of the flap (and the position of the back of the seat in front), you'd have to assume that anyone lying on a SkyCouch would have at least part of their body on the actual seats - which must be able to take at least 450kg (ie 3 seats x 150kg each).
Just how heavy are Air Asia customers? :p
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
Think fast food frequenters, once a year holiday to SE Asia, hefty sense of entitlement about what a no frills fare should entail, unrealistic expectations of carry on allowances... 150kg might be a squeeze!
It's enough to motivate me to pay more for full service carriers!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Once a year holiday to Kuta and Seminyak, I should say!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
Yep and straight off that plane to potato head, no time to waste when trying to feature on "the bali bible!"
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Don't forget to pick up a crate of Bintang!
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 140
Great idea but being a LCC I could only assume after a few months the product will be in a poor state.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1564
I love to see scycouch on each and every airline. It means choice that does not exist right now.
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