A Guide to Airlines Offering Pod-Style Seating
Pod seats, which can recline further than standard seats and often convert to flat beds, are available on certain long-haul and transatlantic flights. These seats are typically found in first-class and premium cabins, with different airlines providing varying degrees of recline and configurations.
By Charlie Scott
For travelers on transatlantic or other long-distance routes, some airlines provide pod-style seating. These seats can recline more than standard airline seats, and frequently they can lie completely flat at a 180-degree angle to become a bed. Pod seats are usually available in first-class and higher-tier cabins.
Virgin Atlantic Airways
On Virgin Atlantic Airways' Boeing 747s, the upper class cabin contains 44 flat-bed seat pods. When fully reclined to 180 degrees, these seats give passengers the space equivalent to a bed.
Mexicana Airlines
Mexicana Airlines' Boeing 767s feature 40 mini-pod seats in the MexicanaElite section. These seats recline, but they do not lie completely flat. Although most pod seats are promoted as reclining 180 degrees into a flat bed, these recline to 175 degrees. Passengers can still lean back as in a reclining chair, but they will not be lying flat as if in bed.
Royal Brunei
Royal Brunei's Boeing 767s provide business-class passengers with 23 SkyDreamer pod seats that recline 77 degrees. They do not lie horizontal to form a bed, but they recline much more than a typical economy-class seat, offering passengers greater comfort.
British Airways
British Airways' Boeing 777s offer 14 first-class passengers flat-bed sleeping pods that recline 180 degrees. They also provide 48 flat-bed seats for Club World travelers that fully recline into beds as well.
