Lufthansa A340-600's have them downstairs in economy.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...340-600-a.html

I would welcome bunks on any daytime flights. Nice to just kick back and relax. Good to know some planes already have them.. but I'm still unclear if you can buy airline tickets for these bunks.

I would definitely take a bunk bed on any flight over 4 hours. (east to west vs west to east matters not to me.)

I have no problems with the lie down and stay there requirement, and wouldn't mind the turbulence or being strapped down aspects.
^

In fact I'd give up the right to handheld luggage and check everything for a lie down option. There's lots of potential room up there.

Good idea to give up overhead compartments (at least of this size) and utilize the space better. I am ready for more restrictions on carry-on luggage in exchange for more comfortable seating / a bunk bed. I think there must be a seat for every passenger. Bed only is not an option. So we neeed convertibe seats, but this is basically C class and needs a lot of space, or a separate optional bunk bed area with very efficient use of the space. So far I thought it could be in the cargo area, see A340 lavatories and crew rest. But getting rid of the overhead compartments (in exchange for very small ones) might be another option. Just wonder how one could climb up there without disturbing the aisle seat passenger? Its also not suitable for elderly and handicapped passengers.

I wholehearted agree and really wish that bunk beds would come to economy class and I'm sure airlines have thought of this before and would love to implement this idea which would attract MANY more customers!

HOWEVER........

Bunk Beds in eco class will never happen unless the FAA change their safety regulation laws. Emergency landings, 90sec evacuation rules, etc yada yada yada.... Flying is safe enough these days anyhow, I would choose bunk beds over uncomfortable safe chairs any day! haha

Double and triple bunks are actually in use. Have you had the misfortune to travel in either of these:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Scand...D-82/0746187/L
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Germa...MRTT/1774100/L

Evacuation time cannot be a problem. Surely, if a crash landed and burning MD-80 can, in 90 seconds, evacuate 36 passengers none of whom can walk, then evacuating 36 passengers who all are healthy (and woken up by the crash) is easy?

The real estate is a problem. As you see, MD-80 fits 3 berths each side - total 6 berths abreast. A310 fits 3 tiers on berths in the middle, but for some reason only 2 tiers in sides. So total 10 berths abreast.
With about 2 m berth pitch, a 4 m section of cabin could fit 2 rows of berths - but that´s also the space for 5 rows of cattle seats.
On MD-80, that 4 m section would mean a choice of 25 cattle seats or 12 berths. On A310, the choice would be between 40 cattle seats or 20 berths.

So - the berths are nowhere near economy class. Rather they should be business class.

Actually old enough to recall a distant time when several airlines offered "sleeper" service on transcontinental long hauls in the then standard DC-3s, the fares were hardly "Y", rigging and un-rigging berths, etc., was complicated, and the concept disappeared soon.

Nor could you call the berths on PanAm's big seaplanes "Economy" service. In adjusted dollars, they were far higher than today's Business and First Class fares.

I remember travelling in China in the 1990's....
 

....and they had sleeper buses with stacked bunks.
I actually thought it was a cool idea and they only ran them on overnight runs.
I did get some sleep.

I saw them in India beginning of this year. But only from outside...

+1

+1

The middle section of a widebody could be a good option; remove the overhead bins and replace the seats with triple-deckers. I would take it every time and gladly forego meals and carry-on space.

Here's my take on this concept
 

In a middle row of seats why can't you just alternate rows with one being a raised row of seats and the other being attached to the floor where airline seats normally are that may allow for angled flat seats every other row.

Just have a step up to the raised row that's hollow so the seats behind it could angle in.

I would assume on the raised row you would only need as much head clearance as in a car to be comfortable

They still have them! Really not a bad option for longer/overnight journeys. They have been phasing them out after some accidents which led to fatalities - so perhaps the bunk bed idea is significantly less safe after all.

My goodness! Between the Consumer Products Safety Commission, the DoT and the FAA, a/c bunks would have to be equipped with 5 point safety harnesses, and the 5th strap, the one in the middle between the legs would certainly affect males in sudden stops....

Ouch. :D But it does bring up the question of regs: IIRC, the FAA and other bodies required passengers to be "seated" for takeoff and landing. If true, then you can't just replace seats with flat bunks; you still have to have some kind of seat for these people to occupy at takeoff and landing.