Air France launches inflight 'couch' for families
Families can pay extra for small children to have somewhere to play or sleep
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Your support makes all the difference.Air France’s budget subsidiary, Joon, has copied Air New Zealand by adding a couch option to some seats on its Airbus A340 aircraft.
“Cosy Joon” is offered on the central block of four seats in four rows towards the back of the ageing four-engined jets.
The idea is that the cushions can be detached from head rests and attached instead to extend the length of the seat, creating a bed or play area of sorts, measuring 41x30 inches. A “mattress pad” is also supplied.
The airline says: “Cosy Joon makes it possible for kids to sleep horizontally in a comfy bed and have play space!
“In an instant, the cabin crew can transform your child’s seat into a comfortable area for him or her to play and sleep. And suddenly, the entire space between rows is all yours!”
The option is available only to families with two young children, accompanied by one or two adults.
It is not possible for parents to book themselves into business class and leave the children in economy. Joon warns passengers: “An adult must be seated beside his or her children.”
A special seat belt is provided for children.
The cost is €20 (£18) per family member (adults as well as children), although frequent flyers with silver status or better are entitled to the facility free of charge, so long as they are travelling with children.
Other passengers can pay €30 (£27) to select seats a long way from the special rows, 33 to 36.
Joon has been established as a brand for millennials, promising ”a flying experience that’s both stylish and relaxed”.
The offshoot of the French airline flies from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Cairo, Cape Town, Fortaleza, Mumbai and the Seychelles.
Links to the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, and the Caribbean island of St-Martin are due to start in 2019.
The concept of extending the seat area to provide a bed was pioneered by Air New Zealand in 2010 with the Economy Skycouch.
“Cuddle Class”, as it was dubbed, involves moving the footrests up to seat-cushion level, creating a surface the size of a slim single bed: 61x29 inches. It is available to adults as well as children.
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