Airline to unveil seating revamp

[anat0l]

A few more pictures on another article fed through Twitter.

I have to say - this is exciting! No winners for the tall people, perhaps, but oh well.

 

[trooper]

Yes, the new Y+ looks damn good.... but it isn't lie flat.. and BP is.

Huge difference IMO..... but I'll happily travel in either right now so the new cabins won't faze me at'all! :mrgreen:

Hell.. I nearly always buy Y and apply for Standby Points upgrades all the way to BP ...and that ain't going to change....

(on NZ the "Y+ if J not available" is NOT an option... it is automatic with any (standby) BP upgrade request)

 

[pauly7]

Good point Sam

I am sure their is a solution!

I am sure there will be....

My question is - obviously in the nice shiny promo video no one reclines in the row onto the 'sky couch'.

I imagine when the row infront does recline, it will actually severely restrict the width of the couch? Would you get two people lying together then - the outer person might get crunched!

Premium Y looks interesting.... wonder how they will price it....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Congrats to ANZ on the new cabin designs for Y and Y+.


In particular a HUGE congratulations for not just the upgrades and lateral thinking, but in recognising that travellers have different needs, and in particular that some travellers travel in pairs or small groups.

Families I think will love the new economy, where presumably a mother with 2 kids will be able to reserve the 3 seats in a row.

A couple will have the choice of 2.5 seats in Y, or splash a bit more cash for Y+.
Being able to face one another in Y+ is a nice bonus.

 

[samh004]

My question is - obviously in the nice shiny promo video no one reclines in the row onto the 'sky couch'.

I imagine when the row infront does recline, it will actually severely restrict the width of the couch? Would you get two people lying together then - the outer person might get crunched!

That’s a good point.

It’s the first 11 rows on each side right, but currently the first row has their tray tables in the armrests, which might make it a little difficult to fold into a couch.

 

[chooms]

Daily Tele has a vid of the launch:

Video - The Daily Telegraph

 

[JohnK]

Interesting idea but can't say I am fan of it. Maybe some people will go for it and pay extra to get the "Skycouch". You can always take the chance to get 3-4 seats down the back on lightly loaded flights. Personally I prefer the shell seats idea in economy but have not had a chance to try them out yet.

Did J have a herringbone layout before, because it certainly looks so now?

I got to sit in the herringbone layout on a few CX flights recently and hated the experience. I felt cramped and claustrophobic and it was made worse by other passengers having loud conversations from one end of the business class cabin to the other as they appeared to be part of a group but were not seated together. It was even difficult for people sitting next to each other to have a normal conversation.

 

[notzac]

Pretty good overview of the new seats and layout over at Cranky Flier:
http://crankyflier.com/2010/01/26/exploring-air-new-zealands-new-long-haul-cabin-with-beds-in-coach/

 

[dajop]

I got to sit in the herringbone layout on a few CX flights recently and hated the experience. I felt cramped and claustrophobic

Seatguru indicates that NZ's config is slightly larger (2" wider, 1.5" longer), and I have been on both and it indeed does feel larger. Personally I am much happier with any configuration that offers direct access to aisles for everyone, without need to climb over/ have someone climb over you, although CX's seats do feel a little cramped.

 

[cosi]

A tall reporter comments on the new Skycounch

Testing Air New Zealand's Skycouch - Times Online

 

[Flying Fox]

I think that the SkyCouch is a great idea. Anything that helps with additional comfort in Y is a good thing. Whilst I'm not 6'5", bending of the legs and sleeping in a foetal position would probably help.

Shame that they aren't doing it throughout the whole aircraft such that if you pre-book the SkyCouch you are guaranteed it but if the loads are light, then you can also score one at no additional cost.

I think that the concept of a 'free' SkyCouch based on loads would drive some undecided buyers NZ way and ultimately increase loads & profits for the airline. Afterall, it costs them nothing extra whilst standardising aircraft configs & spare parts etc etc.

 

[drewbles]

Premium Y - if you are into good alcohol QF's premium economy has same alcohol - ie champagne, wines, spirits as QF Business class.

Used to be slightly different. Piper in Y+, Charles in J and Charles Blanc de Millionaires in F (or Krug/Dom etc depending on when).

Perhaps they've just standardised on the wine list for Y+ to match J. Would make sense.

 

[docjames]

No-one seems to have noticed that Y is now 3-4-3 not 3-3-3 so seat width down to 17" (was 18" like VAust), plus pitch now 33" (not 34" like 744).

So in summary, Y product worse unless you buy a spare seat.

Earth shattering.:evil:


Also, how long until that white fabric (?leather) looks really, really dirty.....

 

[simongr]

I got to sit in the herringbone layout on a few CX flights recently and hated the experience. I felt cramped and claustrophobic and it was made worse by other passengers having loud conversations from one end of the business class cabin to the other as they appeared to be part of a group but were not seated together. It was even difficult for people sitting next to each other to have a normal conversation.

I wouldn't blame the CX seating for the issues with loud conversations...

Personally I like the CX layout and would generally take CX over QF in J due to the consistent lie flat but my shape accommodates that (tall and thinish).

 

[samh004]

Pretty good overview of the new seats and layout over at Cranky Flier:
http://crankyflier.com/2010/01/26/exploring-air-new-zealands-new-long-haul-cabin-with-beds-in-coach/

The flickr photo set linked is quite good.

A tall reporter comments on the new Skycounch

Testing Air New Zealand's Skycouch - Times Online

Mentioned in this article the bed can be raised on 2 seats, suitable for kids and a parent sleeping in the third, so the rumours were partially correct.

 

[anat0l]

I wouldn't blame the CX seating for the issues with loud conversations...

Agreed. Although since the "pitch" (if you could say that by measuring the distance between two human heads) is slightly tighter in a herringbone than a standard (QF) layout.

Personally I like the CX layout and would generally take CX over QF in J due to the consistent lie flat but my shape accommodates that (tall and thinish).

Agreed - the herringbone would be quite comfortable for you.

CX J seat seems a little thinner than VS and VS does lay down a duvet, as does NZ. NZ I think has the best herribone seat of all three of them (no experience with AC). BA CW isn't all that bad either.

If you're a little on the roly-poly side then herribone may feel a little tight (in particular, the first thing you need to be aware of is not knocking off your drink from the coughtail table!)

 

[trooper]

If you'll accept a sample size of ONE (AC J flight.. ICN-YVR) then I have to say I think the NZ seat is quite a bit better than AC's...

It is hard to separate the whole experience into discrete elements.. so perhaps the lousy AC service has coloured my view! :shock:

Nah.. the NZ seat is wider, better equipped with storage and other little design touches, better pillows/quilts, better table etc.. and has FAR, FAR better IFE!

 

[lovestotravel]

If you'll accept a sample size of ONE (AC J flight.. ICN-YVR) then I have to say I think the NZ seat is quite a bit better than AC's...

It is hard to separate the whole experience into discrete elements.. so perhaps the lousy AC service has coloured my view! :shock:

Nah.. the NZ seat is wider, better equipped with storage and other little design touches, better pillows/quilts, better table etc.. and has FAR, FAR better IFE!

Agreed on all counts!

The AC seat while being better than Skybed 1 and slightly better than Skybed 2 is no match for NZ!

NZ has a great hard and soft product.

I don't know if it's the grumpy staff, the poor food, the poor wine, the adds on the IFE, the lack of moving map or the duct tape, the faulty toilet taps or the 1 J class toilet that was for "Staff use only" that made me dislike AC so much :shock:

 

[JohnK]

No-one seems to have noticed that Y is now 3-4-3 not 3-3-3 so seat width down to 17" (was 18" like VAust), plus pitch now 33" (not 34" like 744).

So in summary, Y product worse unless you buy a spare seat.

I did not notice the width. That is not good enough. More like Economy -?

I wouldn't blame the CX seating for the issues with loud conversations...

I don't think I blame CX but rather the herringbone layout. It was my first experience with it and I think a combination of being in Asia and people trying to talk through/over barriers made it worse.

 

[medhead]

Mentioned in this article the bed can be raised on 2 seats, suitable for kids and a parent sleeping in the third, so the rumours were partially correct.

Yeah this arrangement would be ideal for my family as i can sleep sitting up and have the two kids next to me and then have SWMBO on her own couch in another row.