United Is Adding Lie-flat Seats to Economy Cabins—What to Know

[T_R_Oglodyte]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/united-relax-row-economy-lie-flat-seats-11934181

 

[sponger76]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/united-relax-row-economy-lie-flat-seats-11934181

From what I understand Air New Zealand has had a similar product for years. I'm guessing if you want that setup but are traveling alone or with just one other person, you still have to pay for the equivalent of three seats?

 

[Luanne]

From what I understand Air New Zealand has had a similar product for years. I'm guessing if you want that setup but are traveling alone or with just one other person, you still have to pay for the equivalent of three seats?

That seems to be the assumption. The pricing is the part of the United offering that hasn't been disclosed yet. And will buying 3 seats still be cheaper than one Business or First class? If you have a small family of three flying (I mean two adults and one very small child) they may all be able to fit in the lie flat space and that would be more economical.

 

[Blues]

From what I understand Air New Zealand has had a similar product for years. I'm guessing if you want that setup but are traveling alone or with just one other person, you still have to pay for the equivalent of three seats?

From the article: "Customers who book will be required to reserve the entire row for the Relax Row experience."

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

The article says that if you want to use the lie-flat feature, you need to book all three seats.

 

[ljmiii]

From what I understand Air New Zealand has had a similar product for years…

When we were thinking about flying to New Zealand booking a lie flat row was about half the price of first class. Obviously worse food and service…but the reasonable sleeping surface made the difference in price quite attractive.

Ended up not going so can’t give actual experience.

 

[Luanne]

When we were thinking about flying to New Zealand booking a lie flat row was about half the price of first class. Obviously worse food and service…but the reasonable sleeping surface made the difference in price quite attractive.

Ended up not going so can’t give actual experience.

How many of you were going to be in that space?

 

[ljmiii]

How many of you were going to be in that space?

One row of three seats per person (which was half the price of one first class seat).

 

[WorldT]

So if I am understanding this correctly, each row of three seats (or four on Lufthansa) can only fit one person.

 

[Luanne]

So if I am understanding this correctly, each row of three seats (or four on Lufthansa) can only fit one person.

Did you mean Air New Zealand? The article gave the size of the Air New Zealand bed size. They showed an adult and child in the one for United but didn't mention the size.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I hope United does a great job in cleaning those seats between flights......











.

 

[WorldT]

Did you mean Air New Zealand? The article gave the size of the Air New Zealand bed size. They showed an adult and child in the one for United but didn't mention the size.

In the article, Lufthansa has the same offering in a plane that has a 4 seat configuration. The image used in the article does show an adult and a child and that is what I wanted to clarify. I can't tell from the image of the child is less than 2 years old.

 

[Luanne]

In the article, Lufthansa has the same offering in a plane that has a 4 seat configuration. The image used in the article does show an adult and a child and that is what I wanted to clarify. I can't tell from the image of the child is less than 2 years old.

Sorry, it's obvious I didn't read the article carefully enough.

 

[sponger76]

From the article: "Customers who book will be required to reserve the entire row for the Relax Row experience."

Yeah, I must have been speed-reading it a little too quickly, I had missed that line.

 

[Luanne]

Found an article with someone's personal experience:

"Up to 12 rows of economy seats will have sturdy, upholstered leg-rests that flip up 90 degrees to create a firm, flat bed. The enlarged space is designed with families in mind. A parent and a child can comfortably lie down to nap, read or watch a film on an iPad or a seat-back screen.

But as I discovered when I tried out the seats in United’s hangar at LAX Airport, it is big enough for someone who is 6ft tall to sleep on, or for a couple to snuggle up – albeit tightly."

Link to article below.

MSN

 

[WinniWoman]

None of this appeals to almost 70 year old me! Looks very uncomfortable. But then again I hate flying anyway.

11 hours in a plane? Plus hours getting to and from an airport, plus hours actually spent at an airport. No thanks. Lol!

 

[GrayFal]

None of this appeals to almost 70 year old me! Looks very uncomfortable. But then again I hate flying anyway.

11 hours in a plane? Plus hours getting to and from an airport, plus hours actually spent at an airport. No thanks. Lol!

You’re not their target customer (people who hate to fly)

I have started booking three seats for the two of us on longer flights just for the added room/comfort when business class has been sky high in price.
Have this on lax to ogg, ogg to lax and jfk to London.
And with the London trip, we arrive at 6am. I have booked our hotel from the night before, it’s all about making travel less stressful as we age.

I like the three seat concept and would definitely consider it.

 

[Hindsite]

I have started booking three seats for the two of us on longer flights just for the added room/comfort when business class has been sky high in price.

I've never tried to book seats that we don't occupy, how do you do that when the website asks for the names and ID of the travellers? Is there a link that I've not seen where you can book seats that stay empty?

 

[GrayFal]

I've never tried to book seats that we don't occupy, how do you do that when the website asks for the names and ID of the travellers? Is there a link that I've not seen where you can book seats that stay empty?

Some airlines allow you to add an extra seat online when you book. Delta, United and JetBlue come to mind.
You search for 3 people and when putting in the names there is a choice to pick "extra seat" instead of a name.
My London flight is on Virgin Atlantic and I had to call to book. The cool thing with them is that you don't pay tax on the seat so our extra to London cost $236!

 

[geist1223]

Last year when we flew to Australia on Fiji Air they offered us the option of paying about $100 each to be guaranteed an empty seat next to each of us. We normally both Book Aisle Seats. Patti ended up in a 3 seat row by herself. It was great to have the extra room.

 

[WinniWoman]

Now what can they do about the bathrooms? Add more with extra room and charge premium prices for those as well Lol!

 

[PigsDad]

Now what can they do about the bathrooms? Add more with extra room and charge premium prices for those as well Lol!

How much time do you spend in airline bathrooms? Seems like a low priority to me, at least.

Kurt

 

[WinniWoman]

How much time do you spend in airline bathrooms? Seems like a low priority to me, at least.

Kurt

That's not the point. For everyone it is different. I'm not saying the bathrooms should be luxury spas. Just a bit more room.

 

[Pompey Family]

That's not the point. For everyone it is different. I'm not saying the bathrooms should be luxury spas. Just a bit more room.

Airbus planes are the worst. I'm 6'3" and I can't stand up properly when using the toilet on a narrow body Airbus. I have to bend my head back with my face planted into the curved ceiling.

 

[b2bailey]

I'm curious about the "fasten seatbelt" requirement.