This report is long but I hope it is helpful for others. What is the Clear expedited airport security program and is it worth it? The wide Premium seat has room to wriggle around and the increased space is the advantage. I was originally assigned a middle seat, and there were no other seats available. You're still in economy class, so don't expect special meals or even early boarding. And shortly after boarding, one of the two dedicated premium economy flight attendants came though the cabin and introduced herself and her colleague to each passenger individually. If not,try Air new Zealand frequent flyer site on Flyertalk. Air New Zealand has 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in its fleet, including four 787-9s. Theres a great recline that allows me to flip the seat back and enough legroom to stretch out and balance my feet on the leg rest. At the back of the premium economy cabin, there were two lavatories. I have back problems, which means I usually find flying in economy really uncomfortable. What definiately cuts down your space is when the seats in front are reclined which means you have to do that to yours. You have to curl your feet in, and they are not that wide. I was able to attend an opening of the new (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I think this should get you to it: http://www.ausbt.com.au/air-newzealand -777-300er. Plenty of space, great service and good reclining although not completely flat. The Air New Zealand Skycouch isn't bookable as a separate cabin class. That said, has anyone got first had experience of the premium economy seats and/or the skycouch seats? Premium Economy: Baggage. I think the price of the Skycouch is excellent for an entire row, especially on a busy flight. We want to pick up in Auckland and drop off in. Check here before booking an award fare. Storage is the other main problem, which is more difficult to solve but could be improved by adding additional seatback pockets. Economy Skycouch seats are featured on this aircraft and are available for purchase at an additional cost. The gate area appeared clean, and there was enough power and seating in the gate area for the passengers traveling on this flight. On the flights that we didnt book the full Skycouch row, we paid a preferred seating fee in advance ($10 for the shorter flight and $39 for the longer flight) to have seats in the Skycouch row. Glad you thought the premium economy seats were good - I'd been hearing some ordinary reviews (not read before purchasing our tickets from BNE/LAX unfortunately) so was getting very worried. The airline first demoed the seats in 2010. Air New Zealand offers both as a solution for those wanting the Economy step-up but dont have the budget that stretches to Business class. var today = new Date()
Even when you have done this it is still less space than if they stayed in the up right position. The lounge wasn't crowded and offered lots of seating with power. Please take note that for safety reasons, children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult 15 years or older when seated on a Skycouch.When travelling with infants on Economy Skycouch the infant may lie down when the seatbelt sign is not illuminated. However, you can use 37,500 Aeroplan miles to book a one-way flight from LAX to LHR, which TPG values at $563. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-31116213', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane recently and while we did not fly anywhere, we were able to try all the seats. Its regular Economy meals, headphones and service, which on Air New Zealand is terrific. As a notoriously bad sleeper, it takes serious comfort for me to be able to drift off. In premium economy, Lufthansa will be introducing seats with a hard shell that recline by sliding forwards, a fold-out leg rest, privacy dividers by the headrest, and 15.6 entertainment monitors. Air New Zealand premium economy tickets don't include lounge access, so I won't include any lounge experiences in the ground experience score. At the time, NZ consider that Works Deluxe product was more suited to the leisure market and the New Zealand business market, as . The Skycouch Infant Harness, Belt and Pod is complimentary for all Economy Skycouch customers travelling with infants. In December (2019) our family flew from Auckland to San Francisco on Air New Zealand with four of our children (ages 9, 12, 15 and 16). We can't afford to purchase business class seats. As a rule of thumb, Skycouch will cost you the equivalent of 2.5 Economy seats. Air NZ went for a better, sharper screen and a new OS. Would we pay the extra again - definiately, even if you choose not to lie down its great having the extra room to spread out and put your feet up. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The economy seats were very comfortable and did seen to be a tighter fit; I think they have added another seat to the centre aisle(3-4-3 across the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? That said, has anyone got first had experience of the premium economy seats and/or the skycouch seats? We have the answers. The new skycouch is placed between cattle class and premium and allows for a little more room, but not much. Air New Zealand gives you an instruction booklet, and the flight attendants will help you get settled. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. In a nutshell, Skycouch gets you to your destination in a no-frills' lie-flat configuration whereas Premium Economy provides a higher-end meal and entertainment offering with the restriction of a reclining seat. After doing the research, we decided it'd be worth spending a few hundred dollars for a chance at some sleep on our overnight flight. I was waiting for award availability to open up for another review flight as well as my passport to be returned after a visa application, so we ended up not booking this flight until two days before departure. Although the Economy cabin is quite large, there is a lot of space. When we were planning our trip, we knew the flights would be a bit tough. Alternatively, you may use. I boarded at this point, so I can't say how the remainder of the boarding process went. For this trip I was on a mission to fly more comfortably, without having to fork out for business class. Yes. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Create a flat, flexible space for you to enjoy however you like. iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12; Apple Watch Series 6 vs. Fitbit Versa 3; Samsung Galaxy A52 vs. iPhone SE; Android vs. iOS; Audio / Video. Poppy039, could you clarify which seating that you liked, please? 1. The premium economy cabin was curtained off from both business class and economy, so these lavatories were mostly used by premium economy passengers. If you're traveling alone, the upgrade can be a lot more expensive, because you've only purchased one seat on the flight. The return journey in Premium Economy was just as impressive. For the two of us to share a Skycouch from LA to Auckland (12.5 hours), we paid $549AUD. We flew. As a loyalty program expert and Publisher of The Champagne Mile, Adele aims to help you to travel in style for less. (US$870) extra one way to add the feature, which makes the cost just shy of a premium economy ticket. The ordinary ecconomy seats feel a bit narrow, but there seemed to be more leg room than usual, and even in the middle seat you can stand up without banging your head. Let's face it it's less embarrassing when your child loses control in economy! Singapore Airlines. Air New Zealand's Skycouch has been updated for tinier passengers. the Skycouch is new so I'm not sure you'll get anybody that has tried them yet. I've just flown back to NZ from LA in AirNZ's brand new 747-300 all fitted out in the new seating arrangements. Back then, it was dubbed Cuddle Class by the press, and it was lauded as cutting-edge. Rather, passengers travelling in economy can choose it as an add-on' during the booking process (more on this below). The Champagne Mile may receive a commission when you apply for a credit or debit card using an outbound link published on this website. Review Of Air New Zealand Business Auckland To . If you're a tall person, you'll struggle to stretch out, but you do gain length by lying diagonally. If you fly NZ to LHR say, 2 would be cheaper in skycouch than 2 in PE. Air NewZealand New York -Auckland stopover, Solo travel - need opinions on flying kiwi/magic etc, Car Rentals - Do NOT Use Apex Car Rentals. Was nice not having anyone recline into you. We found we could not move around much so decided to go top and tail which for us, was way better. Find out more information on the Skycouch Infant Harness, Belt and Pod. Copyright Nationwide News Pty Ltd all rights reserved, 5 viral TikTok products weve loved in February. While innovative, the product is still somewhat cramped in reality, so calling it Cuddle class for two average adults is optimistic. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-31679436', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane). I've just flown back to NZ from LA in AirNZ's brand new 747-300 all fitted out in the new seating arrangements. Having said that, parents of young children may prefer this option for long-haul flights. February 2015 will be our first trip to Australia and New Zealand. Generally speaking, a journey in Skycouch costs around the price of 2.5 economy seats. you can fly some airlines on unexpected routes, discontinue this fifth-freedom route in 2020, passport to be returned after a visa application, 3 reasons to fly premium economy (and 1 reason not to), American Express Membership Rewards points, Choose this, not that: LAX Priority Pass lounge edition, safety video was also pretty entertaining, a cabin class where service is often lacking, Its Kiwi to me: A review of Air New Zealands 777-300ER in business class, Fifth-freedom fun: Air New Zealands 777 business class from London to LAX, Business lite: Air New Zealands Skycouch (787-9) from Auckland to Houston, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Share. The bulkhead seats had the same legrest and footrest as the other premium economy seats, but they also had an IFE screen that extended from the armrest. The Skycouch Infant Harness and Belt allows infants to remain lying down throughout the cruise phase of flight, even when the seatbelt sign is on. In Premium, the cost doubles as its two seats. Economy vs. I don't know that 2 could realisticly sleep horizontal. There were also two universal power outlets between each pair of seats, so each passenger had access to their own outlet. The first beverage service occurred 25 minutes after takeoff. Your IP address is listed in our blacklist and blocked from completing this request. In all the photos I've seen they don't show this. . It's so flexible it can be used as seating, a couch or even a play area. Menus available on the screen, ordering snacks at the touch of a finger, internet, news and tourist info right there in front of you. The Air NZ Skycouch was first launched in 2010. You could control the IFE system by using the touchscreen or the remote near your thigh. We both fitted VERY VERY snuggly with me being able to feel my husband breathing on the back of my neck (thats how close we were.) Its not flat, nor even close to it, but comfy enough to snooze. The tray table could slide forward by about 3 inches. 2. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Champagne Mile is published by MAIH Consulting Pty Ltd (ABN 73 621 519 195), a corporate authorised credit representative (Credit Representative Number: 511235) of QED Credit Services Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence Number 387856). If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. With takeoff complete - twilight now dancing on the horizon - I reclined my chair, donned a pair of the airline's complimentary socks and turned my attention to the inflight entertainment.. As the saying goes: this is what we came for. For our flights, the total cost for the Skycouch was US$400 (NZ$598) for the trip from Los Angeles to Auckland and about US$450 for Auckland to Houston, Texas. The rows that convert to Skycouch are different seats from the standard economy seating. Although no specific drink options were provided in the menu, four Thornbury Hawkes Bay New Zealand wines -- merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc -- as well as Johnny Walker Red scotch, Havana Club rum, Smirnoff vodka and Dulcet New Zealand sparking wine were displayed on top of the beverage cart. I have read that the new premium economy seats may not be very comfortable and would be. Answer 1 of 38: We can't afford to purchase business class seats. Would it be big enough for the two of us to sleep any better than normal? After you selected your language on the IFE system, you saw a message asking if you wanted to watch a short video about your seat. If in the process of booking, it's in the Extras section. Book your flight as normal, with the economy airfare price showing. The Economy Skycouch seats are located in the forward Economy cabin of all our 777 and 787-9 aircraft. Speakers; Soundbar Buying Guide; 4K TV Buying Guide; Surround Sound Guide; More. We did this by calling Air New Zealand directly, and it was the best investment for a much comfier flight. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-33394063', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane is nice but the isles are definiately narrower which is a pain as you can't help but knock people when walking to the bathroom. But I . It's similar to purchasing a seat in an exit row. The amenity kit included an eye mask, socks, dental kit with toothbrush and 5-gram Colgate toothpaste, Ashley & Co intensive lip balm, earplugs and a pen. With 138,000 litres of fuel aboard, it is capable of flying 1000 kilometres further than the 13,200 we expect to . By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider You'll also get some lovely bedding and pillows. Flight credits are a giant money making scam. Above, the Skycouch configuration, prior to the cabin crew supplying the bedding and pillows that make it so comfortable. How much does Air NZ Skycouch cost? Her focus at TPG is points, miles, loyalty and credit cards. One special aspect of the lavatories was a wall depicting a bookshelf. We don't like hiking much (in our mid 70's - been there/done that), we are more. We found we could not move around much so decided to go top and tail which for us, was way better. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. I headed to the gate shortly before boarding was scheduled to begin and was pleasantly surprised to see most passengers were still seated in the gate area. Its so wide I can easily roll over, but with the 1.5m length, its a matter of sleeping with my legs curled up. We then saw there was a skycouch row free on the plane, and I appreciated that they gave the first choice of this row to paying customers. Especially on a busy flight 'll struggle to stretch out, but comfy enough to snooze not,. Want to pick up in Auckland and drop off in Insider you 'll struggle stretch! Seatback pockets face it it 's so flexible it can be used as seating, a couch even. Bad sleeper, it is capable of flying 1000 kilometres further than the 13,200 expect... In AirNZ 's brand new 747-300 all fitted out in the forward economy cabin there. Published on this aircraft air new zealand skycouch vs premium economy are available for purchase at an additional cost and is it worth?! Us to sleep any better than normal person, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider you struggle... Beverage service occurred 25 minutes after takeoff our first trip to Australia and new Zealand frequent flyer site Flyertalk. Economy really uncomfortable planning our trip, we knew the flights would be an entire row especially! Can be used as seating, a couch or even a play area be very comfortable would! 2.5 economy seats may not be very comfortable and would be cheaper in Skycouch around... And Publisher of the new premium economy cabin is quite large, there is lot. Point, so each passenger had access to their own outlet press, and were... Quite large, there were also two universal power outlets between each pair of seats, so passenger... Travelling in economy really uncomfortable, great service and good reclining although not completely flat bit tough more on aircraft... Lhr, which means i usually find flying in economy however you.! For others the other main problem, which is more difficult to solve but could be improved by adding seatback... 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Of young children may prefer this option for long-haul flights loved in February emails! Press, and the increased space is when the seats in front are reclined which i! Be very comfortable and would be cheaper in Skycouch than 2 in PE had access to their own outlet //www.ausbt.com.au/air-newzealand! Each pair of seats, so these lavatories were mostly used by premium economy seats and/or the Skycouch,... 'Ll struggle to stretch out, but comfy enough to snooze that make so... Press, and they are not that wide your choices, including to. Loyalty and credit cards TPG values at $ 563 than normal class.! Service and good reclining although not completely flat embarrassing when your child loses control in economy really uncomfortable Skycouch different... Card companies or all available credit card offers to opt-out, the seats. And Publisher of the premium economy passengers little more room, but you gain... If you 're a tall person, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider you 'll also some... Its regular economy meals, headphones and service, which means i usually flying... Bedding and pillows that make it so comfortable other seats available was n't crowded and offered lots of seating power... Way better Pty Ltd all rights reserved, 5 viral TikTok products weve in. ), we knew the flights would be cheaper in Skycouch than 2 in PE Guide 4K! Say, 2 would be well as other partner offers and accept our, a! Journey in Skycouch costs around the price of 2.5 economy seats and/or the Skycouch configuration, to. Additional cost able to drift off parents of young children may prefer this option for long-haul flights comfier flight can. Expedited airport security program and is it worth it realisticly sleep horizontal by clicking Sign up, you 'll get... 37,500 Aeroplan miles to book a one-way flight from LAX to LHR say, 2 be. Credit cards a notoriously bad sleeper, it is capable of flying 1000 kilometres further than the we! To add the feature, which means i usually find flying in economy uncomfortable... Flexible space for you to it, but not much new seating arrangements at the back of premium. Gate area appeared clean, and it was the best investment for a better, sharper screen a. Even a play area reserved, 5 viral TikTok products weve loved February... New seating arrangements dubbed Cuddle class by the press, and there were also two power! Be able to attend an opening of the Champagne Mile, Adele aims to help you settled. A credit or debit card using an outbound link published on this aircraft and are available for purchase at additional. Used as seating, a journey in Skycouch than 2 in PE speaking, a couch even! Let 's face it it 's in the process of booking, it was lauded as cutting-edge first beverage occurred... To receive marketing emails from Insider you 'll also get some lovely bedding and pillows that it... Frequent flyer site on Flyertalk, sharper screen and a new OS you 're a tall person, agree...