Mum shares little-known flight trick that turns economy seats into a comfy bed

29 October 2023 , 11:30

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The trick turns your seats into a comfy bed (Image: Facebook)

If you've ever taken a long-haul flight, you'll know that it can sometimes be uncomfortable to sit in your seat for several hours without being able to properly stretch your legs out or shift your sitting position. And if you're travelling with kids it can be even more of a nightmare, as getting them to settle down and sit still is tricky at the best of times.

But for any parents who might be dreading an upcoming flight, one mum has shared a handy trick which could provide you with some much-needed comfort and relief. A blogger named Adele Barbaro said there is a way you can transform your economy seat into a comfy bed - and it'll cost you less than upgrading to business class.

Adele shared the trick to help out other parents (Facebook)

Adele, also known as The Real Mumma, flew from Melbourne in Australia to Los Angeles in the US in 2019 with her husband and their two children and had been feeling anxious about the flight. But by spending an extra £104 on their economy seats she managed to provide her kids with a giant bed, allowing them to sleep or play in comfort.

The mum-of-two snagged her family a Sky Couch as part of an upgrade offered by Air New Zealand, which transforms a row of seats into a fully flat bed that offers more room to move around and lie down. Essentially the same as economy seats, the Sky Couch seats come with an additional footrest which can fold upwards to form a bed-like surface - which will come as welcome news to any parents planning on flying with Air New Zealand.

In a Facebook post, Adele explained: "If there are two of you travelling, you can purchase a third seat at half price and you will get the entire row to yourself. The leg rests all rise to meet the chair in front and create a completely flat, large play or sleep area. Paul and Harvey had a bed and so did Chloe and I. It's the next best thing to business (but way cheaper) and perfect for long-haul flights with young families. And we all slept."

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Other parents were quick to join in the debate in the comments section too, with many saying they swore by the bed-like seats that make travelling so much more comfortable. One person said: "It was just us and one baby – a MUCH better option than the bassinet seats as I could lie down and feed and both me and baby could sleep (while his dad binge-watched movies! Haha!)."

The Sky Couch premiered in 2010 on Air New Zealand, but since then a number of other airlines have created their own Sky Couch-style seats. All Nippon Airways (ANA) which operates out of Japan, has introduced the ANA COUCHii – where economy passengers can combine three or four seats to make a bed.

In the UK, Thomas Cook began offering Sleeper Seats on its Airbus A330 jets in 2019 shortly before the travel operator collapsed. Since the company relaunched online, they no longer have their own planes so the seats are no longer available.

Zahra Mulroy