Today Flight Global report that Airbus are working with Zodiac to design lower deck passenger facilities. These would be the same size as cargo containers and would feature a sleeping berth perhaps.
These would be available on the Airbus A330 and Airbus A350. Other uses for the extra space would be using it for office desks, meeting rooms or lounges.
Sleeping Berths
Berth is not a word that is used much nowadays. It means a fixed bunk for sleeping that is located on transportation such as a ship or aircraft. On the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, you could book a berth for long overnight flights.
Would You Pay To Sleep On The Lower Deck?
Let’s say the Airbus and Zodiac plan goes ahead and berths are located downstairs beneath the passenger cabin. Would you, as a premium economy or economy class passenger pay more to sleep in these on a long haul flight?
Since they are located in the space where cargo is usually stored, it means they could be removed easily enough. Perhaps the berths would be in place for long overnight flights, but not be carried when the aircraft was flying during the day or on shorter flights.
However, since buying a berth even on a train has become uncommon, would this appeal to a person in the 21st century? I would argue yes, as many flights are overnight, flights are getting longer and people are getting wealthier and could probably afford it.
Overall Thoughts
As someone who regularly enough travels on long overnight flights between Europe and Oceania, if I had the choice, I’d certainly book a berth over just having a seat. Sleeping on an aircraft works if you can do it properly and not be sitting upright.
What about you? Would you pay extra for a sleeping berth on a long flight? What kind of price would it have to be to pique your interest? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image via Flight Global.
Woman in berth via Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Women in berth via davidmixner.com.
I would. I have flown 15 hours in coach and 13 hours on Delta One and being able to sleep horizontal has no “price.”
I hear you on that, nothing beats laying flat. I actually can’t sleep at all when I am sitting upright, so the long flights are quite a trial in economy class.
Definitely would! Sounds like a potentially great idea. Of course the devil is in the details (and price!)
I hear you on that! I’d be interested to see if it’s an economy class thing or if it becomes a first and business class thing. Either way, price is going to be key. Thanks for the comment!
What about egress? Twenty sleepy people using a narrow staircase to reach the main deck and emergency exits sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Good point. However, I imagine it’s going to be only be able to be used during flight with the people in normal seats for take off and landing. They’re the most dangerous parts of a flight, so I’d say it would be fine otherwise. Considering how safe aircraft are today, the accident probability is extremely low
Hell yes! I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Haha – me too!!
This is a great idea providing enough people would pay. I hope an airline will give it a try
Yes, cross fingers – I’d say some long long haul routes would justify it while others may not. I’ll be keeping an eye on it anyway!
I think it’s a great idea, especially if the modules are basically modified cargo containers. It will be interesting to see how they sell it. They could either make it an option when buying the ticket, or make it pay as you go for the time you actually spend down there, like the Minute Suites at the airport. The latter I think would be a better utilization and more profitable, or do a combination of both.
I agree, how they sell it will be key. I can’t really see it as being pay as you go though, since a flight is a limited period of time anyway. Renting it by the hour would be a bit weird 🙂 I’d say an option when buying the ticket would make the most sense. Thanks for the comment!
Seeing as I’m buying/flying business class on overnight long hauls now, I’d go for sleeping berths if the price was below the business class fares, otherwise, I’ll just stick with the not-so-private sleeping arrangements in business
Yes, I think you’ve hit on the crux of the issue – if you get a sleeping berth in economy, business class passengers will trade down. The alternative is to make them for business class and ditch the lie flat seats and have normal seats, plus berths. It will be interesting to see what comes of it. Thanks for the comment!
1) people is not getting welthier (why are there more and more eco seats and prices are going DOWN
2) very often people do buy berths, just because you don’t doesn’t mean it is a global average
Well yes, I agree with you to an extent, it all depends on where people are in the world. The fact that so many airlines have a large business class cabin shows that there is demand from that segment of the market. I also appreciate that people do get “berths” though that is just a lie flat business class seat, but it could be considered a berth, so I understand your point. Thanks for the comment!
I totally would go for it! I’m not sure what they would charge, but for a 16 hr flight it would be incredible! If I was flying with a family member or friend, I’d book one bunk, sleep for half the trip, then swap.
Yes, that would be a good way to use it on a very long flight. A bit like cabin crew who get to sleep for part of the flight and work part of the flight on the very long sectors. Thanks for the comment!
We are seniors wanting to fly US to Europe but now realizing we no longer can withstand flights over 3 or 4 hours. This could be the ticket for those of us who may have waited to long to retire.
Yes, I think it would be a nice way to do it. It certainly would beat sitting up – I am not good at sleeping sitting up unless I am completely completely tired.
If affordable I would.
That’s the most important thing I think, affordability. Cross fingers it is – if they do it!
A resounding YES!!!
Exactly my thoughts too!! Thanks for the comment!
Two Females sharing the same berth in the Stone Ages Did I miss the end of Days? What’s next? Marriage for all
Hahahahaha! What next indeed. I noted that myself, when it came to that picture.
real factor is will it pay more than cargo?
Well, that depends on whether the volume for the on board cargo is maxed out or not. From what I understand, sometimes the holds are maxed out when it comes to weight but there remains quite a bit of unused volume. Could work out, it would be up to the number crunchers to work out how though… it would be pretty cool if it worked out though!
That is interesting. I book a couple months in advance to do this, show up to fly and find out that the flight has priority cargo to carry and no space for the berths. Would that make me happy? The airlines do carry as much cargo as they can; especially on overseas flights as they make more than from passengers.. Delta tells it employees that they may have trouble getting on at certain airports due to cargo loads coming and going to various countries at certain times of the year. Just a thought. I am sure other carriers do the… Read more »
You are right, paying for something and then not getting it could well happen. That being said, considering the price premium, it would probably be the cargo that got told to walk rather than the passengers. Depending on the cargo, really. A lot of times cargo makes less than the passengers do, which is why airlines are in the passenger business and not the cargo business. It is true what you’re saying regarding certain times of the year, that does indeed happen where there is high demand and not enough capacity. Same with anything really! Thanks for the comment!