This is probably the ideal time to fly longhaul international in economy class in terms of comfort. With passengers in short supply, your ability to stretch out is better than ever. Seeking to capitalize on this, Lufthansa has introduced “Sleeper’s Row” within economy class to allow you to reserve an entire row of seats for yourself on a lightly-filled flight.
Lufthansa Trials “Sleeper’s Row” Service – Lie-Flat Bed In Economy Class
For now, Lufthansa is trialing its Sleeper’s Row service on one route, between Frankfurt-São Paulo (LH 506/507). The trial will run through at least the middle of December. These extra seats can be purchased only at the airport during check-in or at the gate and are priced at a flat rate of EUR 220 / USD 260.
Included in the package:
- 3 or 4 adjacent seats in a row
- Lufthansa Business Class kit containing pillows, blanket and topper
- Priority boarding with Business Class passengers
Lufthansa operates a Boeing 747-8 to Sao Paulo, with 3-4-3 seating in economy class. Both sections of three and section of four will be used for the Sleeper’s Row.
How many rows offered per flight will depend both upon flight loads and upon passenger interest. Lufthansa notes:
The number of Sleeper’s Rows offered is limited per flight and will be occupied by the sequence of passengers that show interest to our ground staff.
The concept is not unique: Air New Zealand introduced it many years ago with its “Sky Couch” product, which goes a step further in that the cushions fold up to create an even wider bed.
Lufthansa is very clear not to emphasize the social distancing aspect of Sleeper’s Row. To do so would undermine the argument is has consistently made that the aircraft is safe even when filled to capacity.
CONCLUSION
With loads so light, chances are you can still score a row to yourself even without paying the extra $260. That said, that’s not a bad price at all for a 12-hour flight.
Would you pay extra to ensure a whole row of seats to yourself?
