Glossary
Turn-Down Service
Definition: Turn-down service in airline business and first class is when cabin crew convert your seat into a bed, laying out a mattress pad, sheets, duvet, and pillows to create a comfortable sleeping environment.
Turn-down service transforms a lie-flat seat from a daytime seating position into a proper bed for sleeping. The crew will offer to prepare your bed at a time that suits you, laying out a mattress topper, fitted sheet, full-size pillow, and duvet.
The quality of turn-down service varies by airline. Premium carriers like Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates provide thick mattress pads, high-thread-count cotton sheets, and premium duvets that create a genuinely comfortable sleeping surface. Some airlines also offer a choice of pillow firmness and pyjamas.
Turn-down service is standard on most long-haul business class flights and all first class flights. The crew will also offer to make up your bed again if you wake during the flight. This hotel-like service is one of the key differentiators between business class and economy, and contributes significantly to arriving well-rested at your destination.