Air NZ Premier Business Class
June 30th, 2006 at 5:05 pm by David FarrarOk well I just experienced the new “Premier Business” class on an Air NZ 747 and I have to say I am definitely impressed.
The TV screens are massive compared to most airlines. Really good for movies. And now they finally have a fully interactive entertainment system (Singapore Air has had one for years) you can pause movies for meals etc.
The privacy screens really do make it much nicer, and the fold-out to a bed works very easily.
The only small problem was hard to see out a window without turning the head around. But if you are lying down you get an excellent view.
I’d rank Air NZ cattle class 2/10, the old business class 6/10, the old first class 7/10 and this new premium business probably a 9/10. I haven’t tried the new premium economy class but it looks to be 5/10 – close to the old business class.
Am at the resort hotel and it is superb. All the rooms and paths are in native trees, next to the beach and a huge swimming pool with an adjourning bar. Mike M picked me up from Cairns and we had a great drive over Captain Cook Highway in his jeep.
Catching up with Stats Girl tonight, and tomorrow heading into the Daintree and up to Point Tribulation. All good. Hence very little blogging except maybe very early or late in the day.
Tags: DPF
June 30th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Well david got past teh drug dogs at cairns aiport and I collected him for the hour’s drive north to Port Douglas (or as some nawdy locals call it since so much development..Port Uglyarse!) But it still is a really unique part of Australia.. where in the midst of winter it’s a chilly 25 degrees and 84% humidity… Reports will follow on well-presented bribes…
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
I agree AirNZ’s new entertainment system in the 747s and 777′s is great, even normal economy has its own screen and a fantastic selection of films.
It was lightyears ahead of United’s offering – the older single movie projector system which kept breaking down, not that I wanted to watch the shitty movies they were playing anyway.
The only complaints I had about AirNZ’s system was that it was slow to respond to buttons, and there was a fair bit of interference visible.
The plane I was on had engine problems as was delayed on the tarmac an hour and a half, but they just enabled the system and everyone was happy.
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
I think the best thing is that it IS flat, not the flat slope of Singapore Airlines, Qantas or Cathay. Hardly any others have proper horizontal flat bed seats in business, BA and Virgin are the other main too (Virgin seats are what Air NZ bought).
Though, you hardly need it for going to Cairns!
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Shit some people have a hard life. If you are having a beer or a rough red have one for me, I will probably be chasing cows and calves through shit and mud.
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
No wonder ANZ isnt making any money on the trans tasman if its running a 747-400 on the run to Cairns.
Vote:June 30th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
I’m selling my shares first thing Monday.
Vote:July 1st, 2006 at 2:19 am
Eeek! That’s almost as bad as shares in Telecom !
Vote:July 1st, 2006 at 7:02 am
UUGGHMM? That’s really nice for Air NZ, that there are still loyals out there that will prop them up for simply follwing the example of other operators. Economy user contolled digital entertainment systems with pause features, interactive games and quizies, email and large selections of programming including cockpit listen have been pretty much standard in economy with most airlines flying modern aircraft for more than a decade. I remember pre-Erebus days when Air NZ was one of the most innovative in flight experiences in the World. Now they catch up with the multitudes. I am not impressed with a Biz Premiere that’s nothing different than what one would normally expect for that king of price. Anything less would be patonizing.
Vote:July 1st, 2006 at 9:16 am
I got a copy of the Air New Zealand Entertainment Guide sent with a magazine I subscribe to. The system looks good, but only catching up with the systems offered by competitors like Emirates.
The time I flew to Brisbane in 2003 was on a 747 as well – which I thought was strange for three hour flight but the plane was almost full.
Vote:July 1st, 2006 at 2:38 pm
I recently ended up flying from Melbourne to Auckland on Air NZ in economy (the plane was going on to LA, so was a long-haul) and the new entertainment system was good, I particularly liked that it had NZ films on it (and not just LOTR either). It was slow at responding though, compared to Emirates or Singapore.
But the big advantage over Emirates (who we were supposed to be on and have flown on a bit recently) was the leg-room. In economy it was actually half-way decent, whereas on Emirates it was pretty tight.
Vote:July 1st, 2006 at 8:25 pm
I blogged on airline legroom and seat width – Virgin Atlantic is a perfect example of an airline that has poured money into a good entertainment system, but crams them in like sardines – Emirates squeezes 10 seats across on a 777, when NZ and Singapore fit 9. Virgin Atlantic has 3-5 inches less long haul less room than Air NZ 747s. Economy passengers don’t tend to give a damn that most airlines treat them like cattle.
http://libertyscott.blogspot.com/2006/03/airline-leg-room-varies.html
Vote:July 2nd, 2006 at 9:45 am
I don’t think their economy class product is that bad. I haven’t flown on a refit aircraft soon (but only a few more weeks off to LA in Premium Economy).
The 34″ of seat pitch (vs. Qantas, and some others at 31″) is the biggest selling point for me.
Vote:July 2nd, 2006 at 10:23 am
Inadequate legroom is a bitch, at 184cm with longish legs I cannot sit straight in some economy class seats. About six years ago I flew Lufthansa from Moscow to LA (about 14 hrs) and then another haul LA back to Auckland on another carrier (I forget which) with an equally short pitch.
After 30 plus hours sitting at an angle I was left with hip pain that lasted about six months. Not disabling, but it would make sleep difficult and any long walk quite impossible. A higher price for the trip than I expected to have to pay.
Vote:July 5th, 2006 at 11:57 am
McPhee, Kiwi Bloke and Will you have this one all wrong. I was on the same flight and it was full. My screen was the only one on the plane they could not get to work and they apologised and gave me a gift voucher as there were no spare seats they could move me to.
Returned yesterday on a 626 (or whatever) and that was almost full as well – only half a dozen empty seats as far as I could see.
Vote: