To finish off my two trips to the Southern Hemisphere, I flew Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787 business class from Auckland to Los Angeles. It had been years since I had flown Air New Zealand business class, so I was excited to check it out again.
Continue reading: Review: Air New Zealand Business Class 787-9 (AKL-LAX)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
There should be a USB outlet at the bottom of the monitor.
While I agree with most of your comments on the seat, I have to say that the bedding is great and not having my feet in a small cubby is huge. I have usually had my best sleep in these seats.
Unpopular opinion, but I actually like herringbone seats on red-eye flights where my sole priority is to sleep. Obviously, they are to be avoided on daytime flights.
I was flying VS’s herringbone seat on their 787 earlier this week (LHR-SEA) and the seat and cabin looks nearly identical. The row on the left hand side is certainly key.
Lucky, I believe that actually states the stainless steel composition of the cutlery, not the production date.
Lucky - I've noticed that you always proactively ask for turndown service. Is there a particular reason for this? The reason I ask is because I'm conflicted on this. To be honest, I almost feel guilty asking for this service because I have to think that the FA does not like to do this and also, I'm a grown person and can make my own bed. Maybe I'm in the minority on this. Maybe it would be nice to hear from some FA readers on this issue. Sure, I think it's a nice service to offer but I don't necessarily feel as it's the FA's job to do this. Again, maybe I'm wrong on this issue?? I've always wondered about this and how a passenger should approach this situation.
It is VS licensed NZ’s seat design when it was first introduced as it was considered cutting edge.
Totally agree with all your personal comments, having flown them several times in that “dormitory” configuration, I’m surprised anyone still pays full fare to fly in that , hopefully the next stage will show some improvement
Waiting for all the offended Antipodean lockdown lovers who will cry anytime someone criticises NZ or QF. Despite the reality they are worse than third world airlines.
Thanks for the honest review
Likewise. I was on VS LHRIAD yesterday and the seats are almost the same. I do not find them particularly comfortable and I'm not a big guy. Pretty much nowhere to store anything and a very narrow area. And this is the 787-10.
We recently (April) moved permanently from Launceston Tasmania to Queenstown, NZ. Prior to that, have travelled Air NZ at least twice a year since 2002.
Border restrictions meant that rather than our usual "Works Deluxe" flight MEL - ZQN we needed to fly MEL-AKL. We went business class.
Thank goodness the flight was only the usual 3 + hours! We hated the seating format and felt no sense of privacy with each row looking across at each other.
We're not overweight, but the whole space felt small.
We're accustomed to going to France each year, choosing window seats each with Air France. Their model, 1-2-1 is used by many airlines.
There's no way, as much as we love Air NZ (and are Koru members), that we'd do a long-haul flight in this herringbone pattern.
The cabin crew are invariably wonderful, as is the food. For us, on a short trip, Works Deluxe is better!
With a Kiwi mother and over 2 years under my belt there, I’ll be charitable and say the FA was trying to be funny and friendly about your picture taking. I’d have responded humorously, and probably you both would have come away happy.
On the other hand, the dirty lavs and lack of service between meals speak to a lazy union culture that may have spread from the U.S.
The 'flip-over' seats are a challenge for those not accustomed to them. Same as the latest Singapore Airlines J seats. The crew recognise this and are happy to help. Only takes them a few seconds.
Great review; thank you!
Those herringbone seats were never a good idea and remain so.
The 50 Shades of Purple (lighting) for most of the flight is nauseating, and also was not a good idea.
Not the least concerned with ANZs award stinginess, as the two issues above are sufficient dealbreakers and reason enough never to fly Air New Zealand.
You can fly on a great aircraft model which seems lousy; it's up to the client airline to dictate the fitout! Hence you can get some truly crappy fitouts on brand new aircraft, and also some great ones on refurbished older birds.
I’m 6’4” and find the bed too short to actually sleep well in. The seat doesn’t incline far enough to sleep, so I don’t sleep in business class. I prefer premium economy so I can get some sleep on that flight.
I’m going to NZ next fall, and having read so many bad reviews of Air NZ, plus the really high price, will be looking for alternatives. Leaving from Boston.
United through SFO and Qantas through JFK (they’re starting JFk to AKL direct next summer) are basically your only other options.
As a Kiwi, this is a fair review, but I did have to chuckle at "Air New Zealand business class candy". I'm afraid the lollies (NZ's preferred term for candies) are offered to all classes, even those in economy. 🙂
AA fly DFW-AKL as well. Searching for fares from here (Australia), Singapore and Cathay are often competitive on flights to and from NYC, that might work for trips to NZ. Emirates and Qatar are also potential one stop options to AKL although possibly not for good fares. Searching on Google or Amex travel might show other options via Europe or even on LATAM.
The candy you had at landing (New Zealanders would call this a lollie) is not a business class thing. It's a tradition on Air New Zealand and before that, its predecessor, NAC and every passenger is offered them. The idea was that sucking a boiled sweet helped with any discomfort in your ears when the cabin pressure changed at landing. When we were kids, we used to look forward to my Dad returning from work trips on NAC, because he'd have a sweet for each of us from the flight.
If turndown is a service offered by an airline then it’s part of an FAs job to deliver that - if it’s not explicitly offered then I could see an FA explaining how to operate a seat but probably not much more than that.
No, it is indeed the date, I have an addiction to airline teaspoons and have some of these with /14 /15 /16 /17 and /19.
Absolutely hate those seats. And being a bit claustrophobic, they would really make me feel anxiety.
IIRC NAC was the domestic carrier (flew on them WLG-CHC in 1974). Air New Zealand was the international carrier (originally Tasman Empire Airways - airline code TE) and NAC was merged into it in much the same way that TAA/Australian Airlines was merged into Qantas.
“On the other hand, the dirty lavs and lack of service between meals speak to a lazy union culture that may have spread from the U.S.”
The English speaking Commonwealth nations are all more unionized than the rebels who called it quits in 1776.
One of my favorite things to do as a kid was pass out the lollies on the flight. Also eagerly awaited for each work trip my dad took on TE/NZ for my orange lollie.
What are you talking about it’s 180 degree lie flat seat and bei g 6’4 you should appreciate it having your feet jammed into a tiny cubby.
The union for Air NZ cabin crew is weaker than a wet tissue. As ex Air NZ cabin crew I can assure you its company standard to clean toilets so this just reeks of crazy crew.
What a rude reply to a plain statement. Disgusting lavs isn't something Americans endorse.
I fly on NZ a lot (but also QF, with whom I am platinum - just to add some balance).
I agree with the downside of the design (lack of privacy, and the 787 seating cubicle is narrower than the 777, cricked neck looking out of the window), I always sleep well on this eat. Foam mattress, nice duvet and two almost full-sized pillows means I can get comfortable and NZ doesn't whack up the heating to try and knock us out - I can't bear hot cabins as it stops me sleeping. The schedules at both ends of the route are timed for sleep.
The cutlery changed at the end of October, as did the crockery and menus. It is far better.
My flights are usually full of Americans and they always seem to enjoy the social aspect of the layout - many are heading for cruises of the South Pacific so are probably in holiday mood.
I always end up enjoying my flight on NZ trans-Pacific despite the hard product negatives. Interestingly, I usually end up disliking my US airline trans-Pac trips despite the hard product positives.
Totally agree. I recently flew Singapore to Auckland Business class and absolutely hated the seating layout. I also didnt think the service was great and some of it didnt make sense. For example i got the mushrooms and poaches eggs for breakie, but had to ask for toast to accompany it so it could soak the sauces. I forgot about the breakfast smoothie, and cheese platter etc, and was never asked if I wanted it. I also was surprised that they didnt have NZ branded juices like Arepa or Wai Manuka or L&P. So dissapointing. I am due to fly again with them in Feb in Business but this time to China. I'm a bit meh about it. The lounge food is also very boring in the Air New Zealand lounge, and i hate to admit it, i actually took McDonalds into the lounge! How bad is that.
AirNZ is miles behind all other airlines when it comes to business class. Cabin crew can be very much hit and miss. I find the more experienced crew usually are on the shorter flights and new inexperienced on long haul. The meals have been the same the whole year which is so disappointing when you fly often. They really need to lift their game but I imagine since we don’t have much choice they don’t seem to care
It's a very old and dated product. The flight manager was promoting their new seats on our recent trans Tasman flight. While the seat 1A was barely acceptable for a day time trans Tasman I would not not be acceptable for a long Haul flight let alone a night flight.
Air New Zealand has always done a candy or a "lolly" service just after descent starts - it has always done this and it's great to see it still happening. It's iconic for Air NZ.
Would I fly Air NZ again - yes I would if they were the only choice for a premium cabin, would I fly long haul in this cabin - NO . I would much prefer to long haul on another airline. If I were faced with a AKL LAX I would choose to fly AKL SIN LAX in SQ
I am a New Zealander. This is an accurate review. They seemed to peak maybe 10 years ago but have become arrogant - very high prices and below average service with a poor product. You are correct that they basically do not offer business class award availability so you were very lucky finding this seat. Their Air Dollars scheme is one of the worst out there. Basically they trade on facing a captive audience with limited choice and probably high loyalty despite being ripped off
I've been flying Air New Zealand business class to and from the UK for over 15 years. When this seat first came out I loved it and the cabin crew seemed to have a real pride in their roles as well. It was so much better than the BA product back then. The food was also better - I still remember the first time I had a burger on a flight - fantastically well done.
I kept loyally flying Air NZ even when Singapore Airlines was definitely better but recently the food and the less friendly attitude of the cabin crew has made me think again. Last time I got an overcooked lump of lamb on a massive plate of undercooked beans - completely different to what their team used to produce.
Such a pity, I hope they turn it round with their new business class, but when I fly BA it seems so much more advanced - not like the old days!
I have directed auto plants in five countries, and had over 4-1/2 million frequently flier miles/ I took the wife on many trips using miles. I prefer Virgin Australian from USA to Aus-NZ, but got talked into trying Air New Zealand. POOR RECOMMENDATION. Unless no other alternative, we will avoid Air-NZ.
The planes were clean, but seemed outdated. The food was pedestrian. The Cabin Crew did not "cater" to us Biz-Class passengers. For the high price, in 1st or Biz Classes I expect to be pampered. Air-NZ did not make us feel that way. We compared the flights to riding an intercity transit bus.
A carrier that uses its country names should present the face of the country. It should be a corporate symbol and advertisement for the country.
NZ is a beautiful country, has friendly people, serves a wide variety of great food from transplanted chefs. Too bad he airline does not show these attributes.
Our OVERWHELMING recommendation is Virgin Australia, even if there might be transfers when you get to the South Pacific. Great seating, food, Cabin Crew service. in Biz-Class there is an actual bar --- not just liquor/wine seat-service, but a true bar with barstools. The 180-lay-flat suite-seats were terrific, especially after changing into the free pajamas.