It is a truth universally acknowledged that sleeping on an economy class flight is nigh impossible. Maybe it’s the wearisome whir of the engines, the lamentable legroom allowance, the suffocating dryness of the air, the window seat passenger who cannot plan their toilet breaks, or the simple fact it’s really hard to snooze sitting up.
Read more: How to . . . sleep well on a plane
A few can manage it – mostly battle-hardened veterans of countless business trips – but for the rest of us, an overnight flight tends to mean landing exhausted.
Lufthansa may have devised a solution – a new, upgraded economy ticket known as Sleeper’s Row. Specifically aimed at overnight flights, the scheme allows passengers to book out entire rows and turn them into flat beds, sprawling across three or four adjacent seats at once.
In addition to the extra space (and the absence of row mates), the ticket comes with priority boarding and plenty of perks, including a premium pillow and blanket.
Trials are tricky at the moment, with many planes grounded and most borders closed, but the airline is rolling out the row on its Frankfurt to Sao Paulo route wherever restrictions allow. Booked in person at the check-in desk on a first come first-served basis, the upgrade currently costs €160.
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Lufthansa is not the first airline to tackle economy class exhaustion, and New Zealand Air’s Skycouch initiative was improving high-altitude sleeping as far back as 2011. Also aimed at families and daytime leisure, the Skycouch converts a row of seats into a sofa-style surface, with special footrest and makeshift bedclothes.
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It is unclear as yet whether Lufthansa intends to make Sleeper’s Row a permanent product or roll it out on other routes. But here’s hoping.
Can you sleep on a plane? Would you pay extra for a guaranteed row to yourself?
– With PA
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