Skytrax, the big British airline-quality research firm, sent teams of inspectors aloft - on its own dime - to test flat-bed seats in premium cabins of airlines that offer them.
Criteria included dimensions, contouring and "sleep-comfort positions" for those who sleep on their backs, sides, or in fetal positions.
The envelope, please:
"Great Sleep":
First Class
All Nippon
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Qantas Airways
Singapore Airlines
South Africa Airways
Swiss International Airways
Business Class:
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways
____________________
"Reasonable Sleep":
First Class
American Airlines
Asiana Airlines
Iberia
Korean Air Royal
Lufthansa
Thai Airways
United Airlines
Business Class
Japan Airlines
Jordanian Airlines
Kenya Airways
Qantas Airways
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
___________________
If an airline's not on the list, make sure you have a good book.
Of interest to me is that you can get better sleep for the price of a business class ticket on British or Virgin Atlantic Airways than by paying the first class premium on all those in the "Reasonable" group.
The Skytrax website's got tons of useful information.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I've flown "business class" on Virgin from the London (Heathrow) to Toronto, and it was nice indeed.
2 - Doc
In case you aren't in the front cabin, I've found that taking a couple 10 mg Ambien's are enough to get a good night's sleep in any long haul (12+ hr flight times) trip in coach!