You can soon lie flat in economy on United—but it’ll cost you

Plane comfort is important yet notoriously hard to achieve. But now one airline is set to offer a cozier way to fly that won’t break the bank: extendable couches for economy passengers.

On Tuesday, United Airlines announced the new, more comfortable seating arrangement — a set of economy seats that transform into a couch during long-haul flights. The offer is the first of its kind for any North American airline. The new seating arrangement, which was built from a patent held by Air New Zealand, a United partner, will be called United Relax Row.

The seats will be located between United Economy and United Premium Plus®. The airline will offer up to 12 Relax Rox sections on the planes with an average of nine. 

“As a leading premium airline, we’re committed to delivering new, industry-leading experiences for all of our customers – and the United Relax Row is the perfect example of that,” Andrew Nocella, United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said in a press release. “Customers traveling in United Economy on long-haul flights deserve an option for more space and comfort, and this is one way we can deliver that for them.”

Nocella added, “United is the only North American airline offering a product like the United Relax Row and is one of the many reasons why we’re continuing to win brand loyal customers.”

The new couch seating will be ready for takeoff on some planes by 2027. By 2030, they’ll be on at least 200 Boeing 787 and 777 widebody aircraft. And, per an ABC 7 News report, the couch seating will come with amenities like a mattress pad, blanket, pillows, and even a plush toy for children.

On Tuesday, Nocella spoke about the new innovation at its “Elevated” event at LAX, explaining that the latest innovation is being crafted with families in mind. Nocella said that parties of either one, two, or three can purchase the couch seating, as long as all three seats are purchased, adding that while the cost will be more than standard economy, it will be cheaper than premium economy seating.

“What we’re trying to say is premium for all,” he said. “We don’t often focus on the main cabin, but we really want to change that at United.”

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