5 Airlines That Let You Book a Whole Row for Less Than a First-Class Ticket

Flying first-class is prohibitively expensive for most travelers, with the average cost of a domestic round-trip at $1,299 and international round-trips costing as much as $4,999, according to Executive Class Travel.

Fortunately, some airlines are now rolling out a more affordable option for international flights. So-called “couch” seating allows passengers to reserve a whole row of economy-class tickets for less than the cost of a first-class seat.

Here’s a look at the airlines that offer this seating option and how much it costs.

Kazakhstan’s Air Astana allows you to book a full row of seats with its “Economy Sleeper” option. The cost for a one-way trip from London is around $1,950, compared to $4,738 for a business class seat, The Design Air reported.

A one-way Air New Zealand SkyCouch ticket from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Auckland, New Zealand, costs $2,342, Thrillist reported.

Japan’s ANA offers the “ANA COUCHii” seating option on certain flights. The cost for this upgrade ranges from $130 to $2,580 depending on the time of year and the number of passengers reserving the seats.

For long-haul flights, Lufthansa offers a “Sleeper’s Row” reservation upgrade. The cost to upgrade ranges from $179 to $249.

You can upgrade to a Sky Sofa for as little as $100 per row per passenger, according to the airline’s website.

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