All I really want from a business or first-class seat is the ability to lie flat and sleep. I don’t care about multi-course meals (in fact, after interviewing a former CIA agent about jet lag, I started fasting on long-haul flights and feel significantly better when I land). The free-flowing champagne is even less appealing, given how much alcohol worsens dehydration at altitude. My goal on a long-haul flight is simple: be unconscious for most of it, then wake up rested and ready to explore, without feeling like I need a full-body massage and four business days to recover.
Unfortunately, lie-flat seats are wildly expensive, and scoring an empty row to yourself in economy rarely happens anymore in these days of oversold flights. Business class on long-haul routes routinely starts at five times the price of economy (often $5,000+ one way) just for the privilege of being horizontal.
That’s why I was thrilled to see United Airlines is launching Relax Rows, a new economy seating option that converts a full row of three seats into a flat sleeping surface.
What Are Relax Rows?
Relax Rows will be three seats in a row outfitted with special legrests that can be flipped up to bridge the gaps between seats and create a makeshift bed. Each row will come with a custom-fitted mattress pad, specially sized blankets, and extra pillows to help the experience feel more like a bed and less like lying across three separate seats.
United plans to install these on more than 200 widebody aircraft by 2030, with 9–12 rows per plane available to book.
They haven’t announced pricing yet, but the key detail is this: you’re booking the row, not a seat. That means you can split the cost with a partner, or even use it for a family with kids. Realistically, pricing will likely land closer to the cost of three economy seats rather than a business-class upgrade.
Relax Rows Review
United’s idea isn’t unique. Air New Zealand has been offering a similar concept with its Skycouch product for years, and I had the chance to test it on a flight to New Zealand.
Considering a trip to New Zealand? Read our Ultimate Two-Week New Zealand Itinerary.
The seats themselves look like standard economy at first glance, but each one has an adjustable leg rest that lifts individually. You can use it halfway for lounging, or raise all three to a full 90 degrees to create a continuous surface across the row.
When it was time to sleep, a flight attendant came by with a seat liner, extra bedding, and pillows to complete the setup. Within minutes, it went from economy row to something that felt surprisingly close to a proper bed. At 5’5″, I was able to lie completely flat and actually get a solid stretch of good sleep.
The only downside was that since it’s in the economy cabin, you’ll definitely get some stares from other passengers while you try to sleep. You won’t have the benefit of privacy dividers like you would in premium cabins.
Assuming United’s Relax Row pricing is reasonable, I’ll definitely be trying this out on long-haul overnight flights once it launches.
