by David Benton
Another Air NZ (ANZ is a bank 
) product Amtrak could look at replicating is Skycouch. Initially , it was started as offering passengers the opportunity to buy the seat next to them , or the whole row of 3. If the plane wasn't full , they would have agents offering this to people at the check in lines. The cost was around 10 % of the original fare per seat . Then it modified the seats to allow a couple to share a lie flat area , made from 3 seats. That idea didn't prove that popular with couples , but took off with Families.
https://apex.aero/2020/11/20/air-new-zealand-skycouch
In Amtrak's context, the obvious first step would be to offer a single traveler the opportunity to buy the seat next to them. Next would be to offer blocks of 4, turned in to each other, to families or couples. A sound proof curtain could be added if the demand for "pods" was there.
Ken, if you could work an extra day into your schedule, I would recommend the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth. If you could spare another day , The Ferry from Wellington, then the Coastal Pacific to ChCh, would mean you've covered all KiwiRail services.
) product Amtrak could look at replicating is Skycouch. Initially , it was started as offering passengers the opportunity to buy the seat next to them , or the whole row of 3. If the plane wasn't full , they would have agents offering this to people at the check in lines. The cost was around 10 % of the original fare per seat . Then it modified the seats to allow a couple to share a lie flat area , made from 3 seats. That idea didn't prove that popular with couples , but took off with Families. https://apex.aero/2020/11/20/air-new-zealand-skycouch
In Amtrak's context, the obvious first step would be to offer a single traveler the opportunity to buy the seat next to them. Next would be to offer blocks of 4, turned in to each other, to families or couples. A sound proof curtain could be added if the demand for "pods" was there.
Ken, if you could work an extra day into your schedule, I would recommend the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth. If you could spare another day , The Ferry from Wellington, then the Coastal Pacific to ChCh, would mean you've covered all KiwiRail services.
Moderator worldwide railfan , Rail travel & trip reports
The only train trips I regret are the ones I didn't take.
The only train trips I regret are the ones I didn't take.
