Air New Zealand said Tuesday it will set a new benchmark for longhaul flights by offering beds in economy class, but they come with a catch -- passengers need to buy three seats to enjoy lie-down travel. The airline's "Skycouch" will use three economy seats, folded flat to the seat-back in front, creating a space where children can play or people can relax and sleep, airline chief executive Rob Fyfe said. The Skycouch is aimed at couples and families, and will be the price of about two and a half seats.

"For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone," Fyfe told reporters. "The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a traveling companion -- just keep your clothes on thanks."

Developed in-house by Air New Zealand designers and engineers, Fyfe said the Skycouch represents the first real improvement in comfort for economy travelers in more than 20 years and would help the airline set a new benchmark for international travel.

To create the bed, leg rests rise up to fill in the gap between the front of the seat and the back of the seat in front. A thin mattress is placed on top and full size pillows are provided. The result is a level bed across three seats, though it is not completely even due to the seat contours.

About a quarter of all longhaul economy seats will convert to Skycouches, taking up the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the airline's new Boeing 777-300 planes.

Passengers will pay the standard economy fare for two seats and receive the middle seat for about half price. Presuming it's a couple that buys the seat, the total amounts to about 7,600 New Zealand dollars ($5,420) per person for a return flight to London.

Single passengers in business class lie-flat seats pay nearly $7,140 for the London flight, for example. A single premium economy seat that does not recline to a bed costs nearly $4,300.

Air New Zealand was rescued from bankruptcy by a billion-dollar government financial package in September 2001 that left the government owning 75 percent of the national carrier.