Lufthansa has been surveying some of its customers to gauge interest in all-sleeper seat economy class cabins. It’s in interesting idea, much like sleeper cars in trains can come with more economical couchettes vs. actual beds.
The image above (via FlightGlobal) is apparently one of several designs under consideration, and minimal information is available at this time. Given the dimensions of the pictured cabin, with the flat ceiling, it would appear to be on the lower deck of an Airbus A380.
In principle, a sleeper cabin sounds great, especially for ultra-long haul flights. Somewhat like a premium economy cabin, it offers an intermediate step between regular economy seats and business class. It’s perhaps a bit hard to envision staying flat for a long duration, so I would hope that there is a way to comfortably sit, and not just lie. And that top bunk might be a bit scary during turbulence. But the fact that this is even in discussion is a good sign: Lufthansa is thinking outside the box.
(Hat tip to the FlyerTalk newsletter)
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July 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Oh, god, can you imagine the sleeping garments in full view?
I recently flew BA to BLR and watched a woman (in First!) change into footy PJ’s under a cloak. In the aisle.
And then change back 12 hours later.
-TF
July 19th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Hot, or not?
July 19th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Neat concept, though I don’t think I’d like having to lay flat for an entire flight, either. Getting in and out of the upper bunks could be interesting. (Note to self – probably shouldn’t wear a skirt on these planes.)
July 19th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I think I’d like something like that when flying overnight to Europe since I can’t sleep sitting. That space would go in waste in the other (daytime) direction though… Lying for the whole flight duration doesn’t seem a problem — provided you can always stand up and go for a walk
July 19th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
This is an interesting concept … Don’t know how you’d eat your meal in a supine position. Gives new meaning to the phrase “breakfast in bed.” But the good news, a major carrier is thinking in terms of how to make coach travel comfortable again. This may not be a perfect answer, but what’s important is that *someone is asking the right question.”
July 20th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Andy, most likely this will be only on the longer longhaul flights, where Lufthansa can schedule the flight as an overnight in both directions.
David, the Flyer Talk discussion suggests that there will be a small bar/lounge area at the rear for eating. I imagine something similar to what Singapore Airlines has on the A345.
July 20th, 2007 at 6:52 am
LOL! This is absolutely hysterical! Funny comment on the idea that skirts shouldn’t be worn on these flights… Great way to start the day. Thanks for the laugh!
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:44 am
That’s an A380?? I knew Airbus was part of the Matrix!
July 28th, 2007 at 12:04 am
I could never understand why this has never happened in the past. I have been lucky and had 4 seats in a row and been on some pretty rough flights and never even came close to coming out of the seats while asleep. It would be no more different than being on a train in a upper on a bad line like in Vietnam or Myanmar – Burma.
August 4th, 2007 at 7:49 am
[...] só o que eu encontrei no blog Upgrade Travel Better: um projeto da Lufthansa para equipar a classe econômica (ou parte dela) com beliches — ou, [...]
August 8th, 2007 at 3:34 am
It’s good that they are asking the right question…
I’ll take the upper bed ..then inevitably spill my hot coffee during a bumping ride..
August 8th, 2007 at 3:34 am
It’s good that they are asking the right question…
I’ll take the upper bed ..then inevitably spill my hot coffee during a bumping ride..
August 13th, 2007 at 6:37 am
[...] be outdone by Lufthansa’s recently-floated but still very much tentative proposal to create a bunk-bed cabin in economy class, Air New Zealand is reportedly considering an alternative economy-class sleeper configuration. [...]
August 15th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Fantastic idea, I can’t sleep at all in a sitting position. Why can’t some clever engineer make a pod that would convert to a seat so that one could choose their position? Seems to me that if man can invent the barcalounger, the flyerlounger can’t be far behind!!!!
August 15th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
And please let me know as soon as they do!
August 16th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I like the concept of a “couchette” on intercontinental flight – but don’t see any storage in the concept – I’m not sure I’d trade no carry on for a bunk.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I have to wonder about privacy. Sleeping in an open cabin could be less appealing, could we get a curtain?
And if so, the mile-high club will start having to print a lot more membership cards.
December 4th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
And what about the obese? Or folks who can’t climb ladders or crouch like that? Or people travelling together with babies or small kids? Bunks like this could only work in a premium economy section in a small part of the plane. And no luggage racks or places to eat or any of that could be a problem. BUT! great that they’re thinking
May 13th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Yay!! Well,at least Lufthansa is thinking about our needs. Does it come with a tv? At least I can sleep instead of the bone breaking in economy class :O . Just so you know, I think there are seatbelts on the design thingy. Wait… we have have to sleep with tthat on….???? ugh. And about the whole lying down thing, there’s such thing as PILLOWS. And I think it’s possible to sit with the seatbelt on.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:00 pm
This is a good concept, finally economy class will have the benefit of sleeping acomodations.
http://www.createthefuturecontest.com/pages/view/entriesdetail.html?entryID=1347
September 6th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
You know though, this really does remind me of the third class (steerage class) of the White Starline’s TITANIC… just places to sleep “below deck.” LOL!
December 25th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Wow. I would just about kill for the ability to lie down and sleep on a long flight. I am utterly incapable of sleeping sitting up and flying back from Australia on a 22 hour flight was utter torture. So much so, I asked the flight attendant if there was any chance that I could lie down on the floor in the galley while they were not making food. She said no. I offered $100 and she still said no.
Given the fact that I can’t afford the super expensive decked-out uber-luxury of the premier international first class arrangement where you get a full reclining seat and a little mini-room to stay in, I think bunks in coach would be the best damn thing going.
I have absolutely no belief that superjumbos like the A380 will improve passenger comfort at all. Oh sure, they will have huge beds and entertainment and everything for those who have money to burn. That’s the situation now on smaller planes. The only difference is you can fit a few more of them in the aircraft. For the rest of us it will just be more company in the miserably small seats.
Remember, the Boeing 747 was the same when it came out – they talked about lounges and piano bars and everything. They put them in a few early models for show. Once the party was over, most got converted to sardine-seating while others kept the super-luxury configuration and used to ferry billionaires to Dubai.
February 18th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Dear Sir,
I am glad to learnt that, Lufthansa provided bunk bed for long haul economy in A 380. This concept is great for LH passengers to touch with comfortable which never met before. So for my idea, I like to thanks the management team of the said quality of travel. Any how I will travel from Bangkok to Tallinn on this April, then I would like to know we will got the happy hours as above.
Jarunee
18 February 2009
March 12th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Great idea. Hopefully this will be really followed and is not just another marketing gag.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
[...] seat, this is pretty good. Hey, you get a bed! And it’s a little more defined than the Lufthansa bunk bed [...]
August 28th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
[...] http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/19/lufthansa-considering-bunk-bed-style-sleeper-seating-i... [...]