Airbus is creating a new travel class by 2020 with installing bunk beds in the plane’s cargo hold separate from the luggage area.
The plan is to sell Economy or Coach class tickets with an additional fare attached that will allow you to leave your economy seat when you so desire, and climb a stairway down to the hold where bunk beds are laid in small but neat rows that will allow you to sleep on long-haul flights. Those with claustrophobic issues may want to take a pass on this as the area has no windows, but that problem may be solved by installing mirrors that give the illusion of windows. Besides added revenue for airlines (they are always on the lookout for such opportunities) they may save on food and drink since there will probably be no cabin service to that area. What next? Bunk beds in goods trains on Indian Railways during peak season for passenger travel? What about our private Volvo buses on the Bombay-Goa route. Double bus coaches where you can go to drink, dine and sleep in the attached trailer without batting an eyelid? Roland Francis Toronto.
