Overview
- Air New Zealand announced Tuesday that customers can book Economy Skynest sessions from May 18 for travel starting November 2026 on select Boeing 787‑9s flying between New York JFK and Auckland.
- Skynest is a dedicated area with six bunk‑style pods between Economy and Premium Economy, bookable in one four‑hour block per passenger, with two sessions offered per flight for travelers aged 15 and over.
- Each pod includes a full‑length mattress with fresh bedding, a privacy curtain, seat belt, ventilation, reading light, USB‑A and USB‑C ports, and an amenity kit, with crew swapping linens between sessions.
- Sessions cost about $495 USD each and are scheduled outside meal service, and passengers must be able to get in and out on their own, which can involve bending, kneeling, crawling, or climbing.
- Air New Zealand frames Skynest as a way to make ultra‑long travel more manageable and to stand out in economy, building on its earlier Skycouch as rivals such as United plan their own comfort add‑ons.