Ordinary Gweilo

A few years ago there was a TV programme, putting forward an interesting idea about how to make better use of the space available on board planes.  I didn’t watch the programme, but I came across a summary of it on a website (though of course I can’t find it now).

The idea was a sort of bunk bed arrangement, giving each passenger the space to sit or lie flat.  It’s an interesting concept because you are taking the space above people’s heads and converting it into something more useful.  Not so great if you are claustrophobic, of course, and there would surely be some safety concerns related to the amount of time it would take to evacuate the cabin, but the big disadvantage for airlines would be that they make money from selling business class seats, and this might encourage some passengers to use economy instead.

However, the idea has re-surfaced after Lufthansa asked its customers for some ideas for improving air travel (Daily Mail, news.com.au).  They appear to be considering this as an option for the new Airbus A380 (which has bigger cabins), though it remains to be seen whether they are really taking it seriously.  The mock-up certainly looks cramped, and it’s hard to see how it would convert from seats (for take-off and landing) to beds.  It appears that passengers would spend most of the flight in their bunk-beds, not be served any food, and not have a TV.  If you choose this option you would be expected to sleep almost all the way.

It’s certainly innovative.  Most flights from Hong Kong to London/Europe leave around midnight, and it makes sense to eat in the airport and then sleep on the plane.  Sleeping in an economy seat is hard enough, and even if you don’t eat the food, the noise and movement caused by the meal being served is quite disturbing.  So if they let you (try to) sleep straight after take-off that sounds like a good idea.

However, not all long-haul flights are overnight.  For example, the Hong Kong-London legs of Qantas and Air New Zealand flights leave in the morning and arrive in the afternoon, and many flights from Asia to the USA leave in the morning and arrive the same morning (due to the time difference).  I don’t think you’d have many takers for bunk beds on a day flight. 

They have said that they could offer this for a little more than the full economy fare, which I think means that the price would be similar to Premium Economy (roughly double the discounted economy fare).

At that price (and based on the mock-up) I don’t think that it would attract people who currently fly Business Class – especially as it seems that this will become even more luxurious on an A380 – so I think it might really happen.