We have flown in Business Class with Air New Zealand, Swiss Air and Qantas in the last two years, and Air NZ was the only one with completely lie-flat beds -- i.e. FLAT not 8 degrees or any other slant. Does any other airline have completely flat beds? Our other options for up-coming travel are Emirates and Singapore, but I can't see anything in their material that suggests that they have these beds. The flat beds allow a much superior sleep.

On SQ, you'll find completely flat beds in business class on their A380, 777-300ER, as well as the all-business A340-500 on LAX/EWR-SIN non-stops.

On EK, I believe only the A380 has them.

Here's a list that can be helpful. But information may be complete. Just as a rough guide:

http://www.flatseats.com/Reviews/A-Z-Business.htm

What you're looking for are called "flat beds". Not "lie-flat".

Virgin have flat beds in Upper Class, very nice too, esp on the night services with the duvet.

The ones that I can think of that have them now in business class:

BA, Virgin, Air NZ, Delta (777-200LR, and 767-400s from LHR only), some United planes, certain Swiss routes, and the Singapore planes mentioned above. Continental is rolling them out, but I think it will be a crapshoot with them until the fleet is fully converted, as they don't tend to dedicate specific aircraft to specific routes.

It'll be a while before there are significant number of CO planes with them. The very first one is just being retrofitted.

I don't know where the OP is flying to, but if they're considering SQ, then CX might serve the route too. All their 777-300ERs and most 747-400s have them.

Cathay Pacific also has beds that lay flat in business and first class

Thanks for that information. That is a useful link, rk, but I note the caution about its accuracy.

CX is an option that I hadn't considered, but it would be viable.

The trip that we are planning will involve flights from NZ to Europe. I'm not yet sure which European city we will be our entry port, but our travel time is usually more than 28 hours once we finally get to our destination. Getting some sleep on the way is fairly important to us.

The main advantage with SQ and QF is that we can depart from and return to Christchurch on international flights without having to make domestic transfers to and from Auckland.

Thanks again.

Rob.

And EK out of and back to Christchurch as well.

Not for the OP's trip, but just checking the status of United's conversion. The flat beds are on all 21 of the 767s, 22 of 24 747s, and none of the 46 777s.

SQ only uses the 777-200ER for CHC-SIN. That has the angled "lie-flat" Spacebed, and not flat bed. For the SIN-Europe part, make sure you choose a flight with a A380 or 777-300ER.