WELLINGTON – Sleep can be almost priceless for passengers jammed upright in economy class on long haul flights. Now, Air New Zealand plans to sell it for around US$100 (S$133) an hour.

The airline is installing bunk beds on its ultra-long Auckland-New York and Auckland-Chicago routes in 2024.

Four-hour sessions, only available for travellers in economy class, will probably cost between NZ$400 (S$336) and NZ$600, Air New Zealand said on Wednesday. That works out at US$64-US$95 per hour. The exact price has not yet been determined.

The six-bed pods – known as Skynest – will be available from September 2024.

Each bed will have a pillow, sheets and blanket, ear plugs, and a reading light. Passengers will be limited to one booking per flight, and time limits are set to be strictly enforced.

“Crew will politely wake any passengers who sleep through,” Air New Zealand said.

Customers on the 17-hour direct New York flights – launched in September 2022 – can already opt for Air New Zealand’s Skycouch, which transforms a row of three economy seats into an improvised bed. BLOOMBERG