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Airlines worldwide have invested billion into upgrading their cabins and adding unique perks.
Carriers like Air New Zealand, France's Air Austral, and Azul Brazilian Airlines have lie-flat beds in economy.
Middle Eastern carriers Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways have onboard bars and lounges.
Since commercial aviation was deregulated in the 1970s, more and more airlines have entered the market, setting off the fierce competition that allows so many people to fly affordably today.
Many airlines try to get a competitive advantage by offering cheap tickets. But, some airlines have bet on high-end services rather than prices, introducing innovative cabin ideas that offer customers more comfort and convenience — and many are willing to upgrade for the experience.
However, airlines haven't forgotten about their price-sensitive passengers, coming up with revolutionary concepts like Air New Zealand's Skycouch, which offers economy passengers a realistic alternative to premium cabins.
Take a look at 10 cabin designs that make global airlines stand out, including onboard bars, showers, and prayer rooms.
1. Lie-flat beds in economy: Air New Zealand, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Air Austral, Vietnam Airlines, Lufthansa, All Nippon Airways, and Air Astana.
In 2011, Air New Zealand pioneered the world's first "Skycouch" — a row of three economy seats that converts into a five-foot-long lie-flat bed.
The "Skycouches" can be cheaper than airline premium economy seating, which typically offers more legroom and better food, but doesn't lie flat.
Air New Zealand
Passengers are given linens and special "cuddle" belts to strap themselves in during turbulence.
Taylor Rains/Insider
ANZ has since patented the design and licensed it out to other carriers, like Azul Brazilian Airlines, France's Air Austral, and Lufthansa, which call their versions the "Skysofa," the "Extra Couchette," and the "Sleeper Row," respectively.
Some of Singapore Airlines' first class suites on its A380s are also capable of combining into a double room by dropping the middle barrier.
First-class seating on a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, which can be combined with the neighboring suite to create a huge room with a double bed and two loungers.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images.
The jets have 78 lie-flat seats in a 2x2 layout, meaning every traveler with have space to sleep and dine, but window seat passengers do not have direct-aisle access.
4. Lavatory bidets: All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
The Japanese carriers first announced the washlets in 2007, with ANA saying at the time that they will "refresh the parts other airlines cannot reach."
Bidets are common in Japanese homes, and the ones on ANA and JAL are similar with buttons for the desired cleaning — and there are little pictures for non-Japanese speakers.
5. Onboard bar and lounge: Korean Air, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Qatar Airways.
Virgin Atlantic Airways
A handful of global carriers offer an onboard bar and lounge, meaning deep-pocket premium travelers can enjoy a social atmosphere and on-demand drinks outside their private suites.
Emirates A380 lounge.
Emirates
Probably the most well-known is Emirates, which has a bar and couches on the upper floor of its mammoth Airbus A380 aircraft.
The first class cabin on an Emirates A380.
Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images.
Also offering an onboard bar is Virgin Atlantic Airways, which is available in the carrier's A330 and Boeing 787 Upper Class. The "Loft" lounge can be found on its A330s and select A350s.
Meanwhile, Etihad has prayer areas on most of its aircraft, as well as electronic devices that find the Qibla — the fixed direction towards which Muslims face when praying.
An Emirates Airbus A380.
Arnold Aaron/Shutterstock.com
Emirates became the first commercial airline to have showers onboard its planes back in 2008, offering a full "shower spa" to first class passengers on its Airbus A380s.
Only a handful of airlines worldwide employ "flying chefs," who are part of a flight's crew and make sure the food served to premium passengers is top-notch.
Given the space constraints, the chefs don't have a dedicated kitchen to cook meals from scratch, but they focus on presentation, garnishing, and minor modifications via makeshift planting stations in the galleys.
9. Business class double beds: Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines introduced a business class seat that converts into a double bed back in 2017. Passengers seated in the center pairs can drop down the divider and combine the two seats into a 78-inch-long double bed.
The "fake" windows are screens mounted on the wall in the middle suites — meaning those not next to the fuselage. They display to passengers the real-time view outside the plane.
