Air NZ introduces economy lie-flat seats

[Saint in Paradise]

Lie-flat seats in economy class will be a reality on long-haul Air New Zealand flights,

but passengers will have to buy two and a half seats first.

 

The airline has unveiled its new design for its Boeing 777-300 cabin. The planes, which

come on stream late this year, feature the pod-style "Skycouch", which is a specially designed

row of three seats, providing a lie-flat space all the way to the seat-back in front.

 

Passengers will have to buy two seats at standard price and the third seat at approximately half price.

Twenty-two Skycouch seats will be available in the first 11 window rows of the economy class cabin.

The full details of the airfares will be announced in late April.

 

The airline is also overhauling its premium economy area with what it calls "Spaceseats" which will

offer more leg room, comfort and an on-demand food and beverage service. CEO Rob Fyfe says

the new dining arrangement will be a unique feature.

 

The first routes to offer travellers the new long haul features will be selected NZ5 and NZ6 services

between Auckland and Los Angeles from December followed by dedicated return services

on NZ1 and NZ2 between Auckland and Los Angeles and through to London from April 2011.

 

http://nz.travel.yahoo.com/100125/7/gvjs.html

 

:cool:

[dubai_phil]

A number of airlines have held inventor competitions to find a way of designing flatbeds in economy.

 

Those used to European travel will think such stories are plain stupid, but for those who have to travel for business or to see their friends and families regularly who are 6ft tall that spend 10 or more hours squashed into seats designed for the average build global human at about 5ft 9in will understand why this is an issue.

 

But SiP they ain't economy, they small print says standard fare - so that will be the full IATA cost x2.5 = you'll get first class on a second line carrier with one stop-over for the price they describe.....

 

Best lie-flat biz class seats Emirates A380, then Etihad, Then BA, Then Emirates normal 777 flights.

Be a long time though until they fit a massage seat in economy, The Emirates one has a massager in just the right spot for the GF. (allegedly)

[whitenred]

Yeh areee with you there Phil, flew BA to AUH which was ok but was really looking forward to the 14 hr Etihad flt to Sydney. Imagine my disappointment at the airport to be told by Etihad that Business was full!................ so they upgraded me to First - sadly their biz class seat will never be the same :-)

[Saint in Paradise]

At the moment Air NZ charge approx 5000 NZ Dollars for a premium economy return seat Auckland to London.

For business it's approx 10,000 NZ Dollars return and they say they think this new economy

seat will be about 7000 NZ Dollars.

 

At the moment 10000 dollars will buy 4325 UK Pounds, but 4325 Pounds will only buy 9375 NZ Dollars.

 

I never did understand these exchange rates

 

Here are the seats in Business class on an Air NZ Boeing 777

 

http://www.flatseats.com/Reviews/nz-spc-1.htm

.

Edited 26 January, 2010 by Saint in Paradise

[dubai_phil]

At the moment Air NZ charge approx 5000 NZ Dollars for a premium economy return seat Auckland to London.

For business it's approx 10,000 NZ Dollars return and they say they think this new economy

seat will be about 7000 NZ Dollars.

 

At the moment 10000 dollars will buy 4325 UK Pounds, but 4325 Pounds will only buy 9375 NZ Dollars.

 

I never did understand these exchange rates

 

Here are the seats in Business class on an Air NZ Boeing 777

 

http://www.flatseats.com/Reviews/nz-spc-1.htm

.

 

 

That's the same module that BA use in Biz class. No good for anyone with more than a 42" waist!

 

Emirates are 8850NZD on-line

 

find their pics yourself:-)

 

Who needs a flat bed Whitenred when you're in first with Dom Perignon? :-)

[Micky]

This whole idea has been ripped off from that groundbreaking carrier that is Ryanair.

 

They are pioneers of this lie flat travel concept - except they want to take the seats out completely and 'flat pack' thier customers into the aircraft in a standing position, like bloody sardines.

 

Real forward thinking, quality driven carrier, honest...!