Delta Air Lines aims to be the top carrier for naps

Delta Air Lines, one of the nation’s largest airlines, said surveys of its own customers suggest that sleep is the most important in-flight experience.

For that reason, the Atlanta-based carrier is upgrading the bedding and seats for long-haul passengers in the BusinessElite section.

Starting in June, those upper-class passengers on international or transcontinental flights get a special pillow and comforter made by the same folks who produce the high-end bedding for the Westin Hotels. The “Westin Heavenly” bedding is stuffed with a combination of goose down and feathers.

In addition, Delta is adding a channel on the in-flight radio that plays white noise to help passengers sleep. The airline is also installing full flat-bed seats for BusinessElite passengers. Delta hopes to have the lay-flat beds on all of its wide-body planes by early 2014.

In the economy section, however, sleepy passengers on Delta flights get the standard airlines pillows and blankets, free of charge.

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