Airline Profile: Air New Zealand

Featured Image: An Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER in a special All Blacks livery (Image: Pseudopanax Wikimedia Commons)

The Facts:

Analysis:

5 Things You Need To Know About Air New Zealand

• Air New Zealand’s long-haul fleet consists of 9 Boeing 777-200ERs, 8 Boeing 777-300ERs, and 13 (+ 1 on order) Boeing 787-9s. It operates these aircraft in a three-class configuration, with economy class, premium economy class, and business class. To replace their aging Boeing 777-200s, Air New Zealand recently ordered eight Boeing 787-10s which it will start taking delivery of in 2022 and will finish taking delivery of them in 2027. These aircraft will feature a new business class product which they have not introduced yet. Air New Zealand intends on taking delivery of an extended range version of the 787-10 (which Boeing is developing) so that they could operate the aircraft to longer range destinations such as Chicago, Houston, or possibly even New York.
• Air New Zealand’s short-haul fleet consists of the Airbus A320, the A320neo, and the A321neo. Air New Zealand operates the aircraft in two different configurations depending on if they are used for domestic or international flights, as their international aircraft have personal on-demand entertainment and the domestic aircraft to not. The airline operates these aircraft in a one class configuration, meaning that all flights on A320 series aircraft don’t have a business class. However, Air New Zealand consistently operates widebody (the 777 or 787) on short-haul (Australian or South Pacific), so on many short-haul destinations, Air New Zealand does have a premium cabin on at least one flight a day, such as to Sydney, Melbourne, or Nadi. However, all intra-New Zealand flights are in a one-class configuration.
• Air New Zealand has one subsidiary – Air New Zealand Link, which operates solely on domestic flights within New Zealand. It operates a fleet of Bombardier Q300s and ATR 72s, and fly on most of the airlines’ routes within New Zealand. These aircraft are both in a 2-2 configuration (obviously no premium cabin) and also are both turboprops.
• Air New Zealand operates to a total of five destinations in the United States and one destination in Canada. They fly from Auckland to Los Angeles (up to 2x daily, 777-300ER), San Francisco (777-300ER), Houston (777, variant varies), Chicago (787-9), Honolulu (787-9), and to Vancouver (777-200). Also, in their long-haul network, they operate flights from Auckland to Buenos Aires, Tokyo Narita, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Denpasar. Air New Zealand has expressed the interest in eventually serving a New York airport, possibly with a Boeing 787-10, and hopes to do so by 2023.
• Air New Zealand also operates two more interesting routes to the United States. Once weekly, they fly a flight from Rarotonga (serving the Cook Islands) to Los Angeles using a Boeing 787-9 which is the only flight from the US to the Cook Islands. They also operate a flight which flies from Auckland to London Heathrow, which makes a stop in Los Angeles. The total travel time from London to Auckland (with the one stop in Los Angeles) is over 26 hours, making the flight the longest direct flight (same flight number and is booked as one continuous flight), although the route isn’t nonstop! The flight from Los Angeles to London is a fifth freedom flight, and one can book that flight without taking the continuing flight to Auckland. This is a good option for United flyers in Los Angeles looking to fly to London, as the flight has a fair amount of saver award availability (in economy and business) if you book with United miles.

Travel Classes:

Economy

Economy class is in a 2-2 configuration on all ATR 72s and Bombardier Q300s, a 3-3 configuration on all Airbus A320 series aircraft, a 3-4-3 configuration on all Boeing 787s, and a 3-4-3 (it’s very tight, but most airlines have 777s in that configuration) configuration on all Boeing 777s. Person on-demand entertainment is available free of charge on all Boeing 787s, Boeing 777s, Airbus A321neos, and internationally configured Airbus A320s. Additionally, power outlets are available at every seat on all Airbus A320/A321neos, Boeing 777s, and Boeing 787s. Additionally, most Boeing 777s and all Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft have free (kudos to Air New Zealand for being one of the only airlines to have free WiFi) WiFi available for purchase, and Boeing 787s will be retrofitted with WiFi starting in 2019. Free snacks and drinks are available free of charge on all domestic flights, while full meals are also free on all international flights.

Passengers are permitted to check one 23kg (50lbs) bag and to take one 7kg (15lbs) carry on for all international flights. On domestic flights, Air New Zealand has four domestic fare classes. The first, simply called “seat” does not include checked baggage or seat selection or flight changes. The second fare class, called “seat+bag” has the same restrictions as the first fare class, although one can check a bag for free. Third, “flexitime” allows you to change your flight for the same day of travel, free seat selection, but not free cancellation. Fourth, “flexidate” allows you to change your flight’s date and also gives you free cancellation.

Skycouch

Debuted in 2010, Air New Zealand pioneered a new idea and a new travel class. Skycouch is an area of economy class located at the front of the cabin on all Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s. What’s special about Skycouch is that the seats have a leg rest that comes out of the bottom of the seat and transforms a group of three seats on the side of the aircraft into a “couch.” Air New Zealand markets the area turned into a couch for families for extra room for children to play in, couples where you can lie down on the couch area, or even single people to have a full bed like surface to themselves. The couch measures 1.55 meters, or 5 feet 1 inch which makes it practical for families, although is not sufficient for taller people.

However, passengers who want to take advantage of this have to book all three seats in a row to be able to turn it into a couch. Skycouch can be booked for an additional fee at booking. I personally like this concept as it provides more room to families or people who simply would want to lie down without buying a full business class ticket. Passengers located in Skycouch do not receive better food or additional services. Since Air New Zealand introduced it, China Airlines, ANA, Thomas Cook, and Azul have introduced similar products.

Premium Economy

Premium economy is available on all of Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s. It is in a 2-3-2 configuration on all Boeing 787s and is in a 2-4-2 configuration on all Boeing 777s. Air New Zealand has a consistent premium economy product on all of its aircraft since it got rid of the Spaceseat which used space inefficiently and wasn’t that comfortable. Seats have more legroom than in economy class, greater recline, wider and more comfortable seats, leg rests, footrests, and of course, more legroom than in economy class. The seats are roughly comparable to what domestic US first class seats or what long-haul business class used to be 15 years ago.

Business Premier

Business Premier is featured on all long-haul aircraft; the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. Air New Zealand uses the same seats for business class on all of their aircraft. They use a herringbone (not reverse herringbone) seat which is the exact same seat as on Virgin Atlantic. The seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration on all Boeing 777s and are in a 1-1-1 configuration on all Boeing 787s. While the seats do lay flat and do have all aisle access, they are known to be some of the worst flat bed business class seats. Firstly, this is because the seats aren’t private as they face into the aisle and therefore face the person sitting across the aisle. Secondly, the seats have little to no storage. Thirdly, because of the design of the seats, they have tiny in-flight entertainment screens which I believe are smaller than those in economy class. Finally, the seats have to flip over to go into lie-flat mode meaning that you can only either be in flatbed mode or in the upright mode. Overall, avoid Air New Zealand’s business class and fly on another airline if possible if the seat is your main priority.

Besides the seat, Air New Zealand has a pretty good business class soft product. On long-haul flights, passengers receive two pillows, a duvet, and a memory foam mattress pad, which is about as good as you can get in terms of business class bedding. Additionally, passengers receive better food (obviously), amenity kits (similar, but higher quality than in premium economy), and more personalized service. Additionally, passengers can check three 23kg (50lbs) bags and can bring two 7kg (15lbs) carry on bags onboard. Passengers also have access to Air New Zealand (and partnering Star Alliance) lounges located in multiple airports in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. Lounges have free food, WiFi, and standard airport lounge seating. If you aren’t traveling in business class, you can also access the lounges by being having Air New Zealand Elite or Gold status or by having Star Alliance Gold or above status.

Have you ever flown on Air New Zealand? Share about your experience below in the comments section!