Airline Uses Naked Staff for In-Flight Safety Vid

Couples can book a row and sleep

(NEWSER) - It’s not “economy” seating—it’s “cuddle class.” That’s the genius innovation cooked up by Air New Zealand, which is fitting its Boeing 777s with new “Skycouches,” rows of three regular seats that can convert into something vaguely resembling a bed. (Aol has a picture here .) Buy out the row—paying full price for two seats and half price for the third—and you should have room for two adults and a small child to sprawl out and nap. More»

3-seat 'Skycouch' designed for couples, families

(NEWSER) - Beds in the sky aren't just for first and business-class passengers any more, says Air New Zealand. The airline unveiled its new "Skycouch" seat design today, which allows couples or passengers with children to turn three seats into a bed by lifting armrests and a footrest. Passengers buying the three seats pay the price of two-and-a-half. More»

Aims to shave jet fuel costs in unprecedented deal

(NEWSER) - Delta Air Lines is pocketing a Pennsylvania oil refinery in an industry-first move to clip its ever-burgeoning jet fuel costs, which soared to $12 billion last year. The $150 million deal—about the cost of a new jetliner, notes Reuters —is set to satisfy 80% of the airline's US fuel needs, while simultaneously saving it $300 million a year. Delta will also sink $100 million into upgrades at the idled ConocoPhillips plant in Trainer, Pa., so that it can better refine jet fuel. More»

Ticket holders may not get refunds

(NEWSER) - An Australian airline has gone bankrupt—leaving some 4,000 passengers stranded in spots like Indonesia and Hawaii. "It currently appears that there are no funds available to meet operational expenses so flights will be suspended immediately," Air Australia and its new administrators said today, according to CNN . "It also appears highly unlikely there will be any flights in the short to medium term," so passengers should seek other transportation, the company noted. More»

Find tickets, new flights, even lounges

(NEWSER) - Every air traveler armed with a smartphone should load up on these five apps, says the Travel section of USA Today:

• SkyScanner (Free): This app will hunt down the best price for your ticket. It scans not only all of the airlines' websites but all of the online travel agencies (Expedia, Priceline) as well.
• Next Flight ($2.99): Yeah, it's relatively pricey, but worth the cost when needed. If your flight is canceled or delayed, or you just plain miss it, the app provides a list of all available flights from all carriers over the next two days. If none are there, it searches for hotels and car rentals.
• Priority Pass (Free): This app supplies a list of all the lounges at your airport. You can look through photos and amenities before deciding whether to shell out money for a pass.