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I’m sorry, but have you just gone antisemitic on us???? Gotta replay the George Soros comment 😮. Oh phew 😥 it’s George Santos the lying liar. Sorry about that Dan
By now it is almost unimaginable, that there has ever been a time before the invention of staggered and reverse Heringbone seats. While being inferior to those newer types, I guess, we can thank the Heringbone for initiating the development. It really only is the airlines fault for not adapting to these new standards.
The are the same seats air Canada had back in 2005. Seriously. I used to do the Vancouver to Sydney all the time. They were cool back the.n but now … hell no.
Honestly, these non-reverse herringbone seats, as seen on ANZ and VS dreamliners and a330s, have a lot of foot space in bed mode. So for a tall space, they are sometimes more comfortable when sleeping. But only when sleeping. Other than that they are sadly past their times.
Air NZ business class seats looks like you're in Premium Economy. They are so clustered together with no privacy whatsoever without any window view. And the TV screen is on the diagonal so your neck hurts after a while.
No way would I fly in those seats.... views of other peoples smelly socks and completely oblivious to the world passing before you from the window. They are like flying in a fucking coffin!!!!!!
I have flown with AirNZ from the States to NZ probably close to 15 times now and to me, the thing that sets this airline apart from others (especially from airlines here in the States) is how friendly and professional their staff is. It makes such a huge difference in the entire travel experience. And this goes across the board, from the phone reservations people, to check-in people to in-flight attendants. Every single one of the AirNZ staff is so stinking nice!
@@honeymcdonald9120 Yes, I agree. In 2022, I need to call the airline in order to use my credits from previously cancelled trip due to Covid. You can never get someone to pick up the call. Finally I just stayed on the phone for 3-1/2 hours and my tenacities got pay off. It was a very unpleasant experience.
Flying for nineteen hours in a business class that has zero privacy and facing other passengers direct is difficult and it sucks. What you said about skytrax being trustworthy as Santos is hilarious.
@@maxstechnology6363you know that business is ridiculously expensive and if you’re paying for that you would expect good service and a good product. i have never flown business but if i had the chance to i would expect it to be better than this
Because the bed is sooooo comfortable. The mattress pad is luxurious, the cabin isn't too tight, and the staff are amazing! Air New Zealand every time.
Hi Dan. I really like to watch your videos. Lately, though, there is a tendency towards very negative headlines on your videos (Worst seat ever, rip off, regret, disgraceful, strangest, what happened, avoid this, enough...). I know that you fly a lot and have high expectations, but maybe they have gotten too high, or is it just the airline industry that has fallen so much behind in general, or perhaps you are just unlucky and hit the wrong flights. Any thoughts on that?
I flew Air New Zealand Business Class in March 2023 from Chicago to Auckland in B787. It was one of the best flight experience of my flight around the world. The Business Class on the B787 is better than in the B777 because there is a 1 -1 -1 configuration. If you choose a seat on the left site of the plane you don't look to another person. At my flight the crew was amazing. The food was great and the bed was super confortable
Its midly better if you are in the first row that faces the back of the second row. But as for the seat, they have placed the walls closer togehter so elbow room is worse off than the 777 version, which itself felt narrower than the 747 variant before it. You can see the guy at 13.36 who is overhanging the walls. Singapore airlines A350 seats, or their older A380/777 variants are waaaay better. Even China Eastern has a wider seat.
Air New Zealand are replacing those seats in 2024. Their premium economy seats are good. I agree about the lounge at Auckland Airport, I have never used it but have heard a lot of complaints about crowding. I always enjoy chilling in the the main terminal area before boarding there are lots of good seating area to enjoy a drink, and to watch the airplane movements.
A 2nd International lounge has been planned in the new departure gates pier but was put on hold due to the SARS-cov-2 pandemic. Air New Zealand is now looking at the new 2nd lounge again with a view to have it ready from 2024. Air New Zealand Auckland international lounge is for all Star Alliance Gold and partner airlines to use hence it is always full.
I have been lucky enough to fly Air NZ business class 6 times and I tell you it never gets old!! Hot towel, champagne and nuts before you’ve even taken off! The seats are so comfy, love that they have a little seat so your partner can join you for a visit 😂. Staff are so lovely and the food!!! Food is next level and I always leave with a full belly! World class and I’m proud to be from New Zealand! 🇳🇿 ❤
I had so many reservations when I boarded ANZ business class from Auckland to Singapore…I was grumpy, beating myself that I had not booked Singapore Airlines instead…lack of privacy, claustrophobic and practically no storage space…first impressions were awful. AND THEN…my bed was made by the cabin crew…and that mattress…OMG. The best sleep I have EVER had onboard of a plane!!! Slept like a baby, had to be woken up 😊. So is this business class weird and lacking privacy? Absolutely? But is it all bad? Definitely not! I would fly it again!
As someone who is 6'4" I truly appreciate the open ended lie-flat bed. I flew Business Class with Air NZ on a Wamos Air operated flight. There was more privacy, but the bed was not great. I'd have preferred the Economy Sky Couch to be honest.
As a Kiwi, thank you for flying and reviewing my national airline for your channel as a long haul product. It's a shame that the Boeing 777-300ER's in the Air New Zealand's fleet are as outdated as they are, though they aren't staying in the fleet for much longer (approx 2-4 years). It would be interesting to see and hear what you think about our 787-9 Dreamliner's on a long haul flight, as they've got our newer product onboard. Thanks again, great video and I look forward to the next one.
The 777 actually has a better product onboard than the 787, in Business Premier anyway (and leaving aside the more comfortable humidity levels in the 787). The Dreamliner version of this seat is noticeably narrower and more awkward than the 777 version - it just doesn't fit well in the narrower 787 fuselage. It's also not very space efficient with the 3 across layout so why AirNZ didn't switch to one of the reverse herringbone seats like the Super Diamond (which is nicer, more comfortable, more private AND still works 4 across on a Dreamliner) when they introduced the 787 into the fleet is entirely beyond me.
@@AlF-d9q I have flown ANZ on their 747 (top floor), 777, and 787, in the business class. The 787 is 100% narrower. Not the seat itself but the walls. They cheaped out with the 787 structure. I have also flown the premium economy, and that was worse than singapore airlines economy.
I LOVED my seat on Air New Zealand. In the reverse herringbone seats my legs are too confined when lying flat, making it very claustrophobic. On ANZ I could move my legs easily. Got a solid 6 hours of sleep LAX to Auckland.
Awww I'm a Kiwi and I have no idea why Air NZ went for this seating arrangement in Business class, I feel bad that this wasn't a great experience for you. All the best with your future flights xx
At the time when the B777-200ers were delivered in 2005, the seats were the latest in Business Class experience. The reason this seats were fitted on the B777-330ers and the B787-9s is something to do with a licencing agreement with Virgin Atlantic. The licencing agreement has expired hence the new Business Premier seats and layout from 2024.
1:58 IDK, George Santos did land that plane in the Hudson River in 2009, so maybe he knows a thing or two about the best airports. After all, how else could he get down to Brazil so often 😉
I’ve flown so many trips on those seats. As Dan said they make the best business class bed. Your head is away from the aisle giving you privacy and your feet aren’t encumbered. I’ve only had a better sleep in Singapore first class. As most of Air New Zealand’s flights are over water who cares about the view? Their service and food is good and I would happily fly them again, long haul, tomorrow.
My dad says it’s the best airline he’s ever flown with,,,cheers for the video Dan,,,,peace and happiness on travels ❤❤❤ I’d like to see how you get points for flying,,,
I flew economy on the air nz 777 back in 2006. It was only half full from heathrow to la then only a handful of people got back on for the leg from la to Auckland. We all had whole rows to ourselves and the crew were great, if you wanted a glass of wine, they'd leave you the whole bottle and pretty much dine on demand. I remember the food was pretty good for economy. It was the start of the best 4 months of my life
Flew ANZ 8 times during our trip recently. Including business class from Auckland to Houston. Despite the weird setup, I didn't really have many legit complaints about the business class flight. Slept well and I enjoyed the food. Entertainment options were limited, but that's my only real complaint. Although I, my wife, and our kids all had seats right by the galley so we didn't have to look at other people the whole time. So, I can understand how our experience is unlike a lot of people's
We live in Auckland and fly regularly with Air NZ. Our last flight (Auckland to Melbourne), we walked through business class on our way to sit in premium economy and have to say I was VERY PLEASED I was in premium economy instead! Introverts like me would loathe sitting there looking at other people for hours on end ;)
Air New Zealand is upgrading there seats next year. Including the new SkyNest, the new economy, new premium economy, new business premier and new business premier lux suite. Dan, I would recommend flying Air NZ next year on air nz and hopefully there will be a better experience.
"Just because you have access to a lounge, doesn't mean you should go nowadays" preach 🙌 especially post pandemic. Travel isn't the same great experience, it once was😓
a certain kind of person thinks free food- even bad buffet food in a crowded cafeteria- is better than buying food, even when they paid 4 grand for the flight.
The food are mostly average especially at the buffet counter. Once I just stored my bag in the locker room at Etihad's Business Lounge and went out to have Burger King instead. Same goes to Emirates and Qatar buffet. You'll find good food at Emirates First Class A-La-Carte menu.
the airline alliance status access and credit cards should be banned from lounges! It's making them so crowded and unpleasant for those who are actually flying business class on the airline that owns the lounge
Kiwi here. I work hard so I can fly business class. But I will never pay for the current NZ Business Class. In fact, if I could get away without having to use AirNZ at all, I would. I used to work there briefly and some people I worked with really put me off this airline completely.
I flew on the same Air New Zealand flight that you took from Houston to Auckland back in February to go to Melbourne and my flight was delayed too because of security checks and we landed so late that we had to board off via bus too at least the weather was nice though. 14:55 Felt so bad for you man. 15:01
I know that we don't have the best seats or best planes, But we have the worlds most friendly crew and flight attendants. Thats what counts to have a good flight. Also bro, IS IT THE AIRLINES FAILT THAT YOU HAD A BREAKFAST BEFORE FLIGHT?!
@@thomascoffin3273 most people ain't in business class though, sure might be more leg room than short haul flights but on a flight like that for 19 hours it aint going to be a great sleep, better just to stick through it and sleep for a few hours when you land
I think the hype for Air New Zealand is their economy with their sky couches and the bunk beds they are planning on releasing. Their premium economy was also revolutionary with a 2-2-2 configuration, but ended up failing
I got back a week ago from a month-long trip to New Zealand. I flew from Chicago to Auckland on Air New Zealand's economy skycouch, which I thought was amazing. You essentially get a lie-flat bed in the economy cabin, and when you're not sleeping you get the privacy of an entire row to yourself. On the return flight I flew in premium economy, which I found superior to that cabin on other airlines=-though not as worth the price as the skycouch was. It intrigued me that your business class amenity kit was identical to what I got in premium economy.. I also got a laugh out of your mention of getting multiple breakfasts. On the AKL - ORD flight the entire flight was on Auckland time, so we were served breakfast shortly before landing in Chicago in the evening.
I can understand that, vs more modern business class seats, there isn’t as much privacy in the Air NZ equivalent. But honestly, I‘ve never had any stress about privacy when travelling Air NZ Business Class. It’s private enough. Agree the mattress topper is great. And I’m also slightly obsessed with that window in the toilet! Best view for lightening the load 😁 The food did not look great on your flights - not necessarily been my experience, but in any event hopefully their new menu will address that. And the #1 reason to fly with Air NZ remains the same - their cabin crew are always excellent - friendly and helpful.
Honestly those seats are a dealbreaker for me. I would either try a different airline or do premium economy, since its probably not much worse. Good service doesn't make up for a bad seat.
Thanks for a great overview. I booked an Air New Zealand business class seat from SFO to AKL later this year and am excited about the trip. I thought about trying their SkyCouch(TM) option (buy a row of economy seats for yourself), but I'm a tall guy (73" / 185 cm) and didn't think that would be suitable for a 13-hour flight.
When I flew out of Auckland in 2017, we had to make a fuel stop in Melbourne because somebody digging with a backhoe in a field near the airport ruptured the only fuel line going into Auckland Airport! It was just buried like a regular pipe and not even marked or fenced up!
Im constantly left wondering how many "approvals" did these herringbone business configs go through before final production decision. How on earth was there not ONE decision maker who said BAD IDEA. I will fly 12 hours out of my way to avoid these seats. Awful.
I fly air NZ and premium econo regularly to the states. Whilst the herringbone is outdated, I find it comfortable and given the deals that pop up for business for cash fares I don’t mind at all.
We live in NZ and used to use Air New Zealand exclusively. But my wife and I never fly Air New Zealand any more since the devalued our airpoints twice in 12 months. To add insult to injury the notification letters claimed they were making the changes due to "customer feedback." We live in NZ and now use Singapore, Emirates or Qatar for international travel. That ridiculous ANZ business class seating arrangement simply reinforces our decision.
The UK, NZ (whose airline was known as the Ritz of the Skies back in the 1980s) and Australia used to have brilliant national airlines until some bunch of moronic politicians decide to privatise them. The result? No one who has a choice flies their (once) national airlines because they are no longer our national airlines and their customer service is rubbish. BA, Qantas and Air NZ still seem to think they'll get by with the loyalty of their "old" customers. Thing is, I'm pushing 70 and I would have to be desperate to fly either BA or Qantas.
Maybe the breakfast thing has something to do with the LOTR connection in New Zealand…”yes we had one but why about second breakfast?” “I don’t think he knows about second breakfast Pippin.”
I just love Air NZ. I have flown Virgin, Singapore and Emirates to NZ and was not that impressed with them, particularly Emirates. The bed, food and entertainment are really impressive on Air NZ, but above all the cabin crew are simply the best. Who cares about the lack of privacy: it’s a lot better than many airlines.
@honeymcdonald9120 I've experienced amazing, helpful crew members on every flight I've been on, on Air NZ (definitely can't say the same for Air Canada) - so friendly and lovely. That's over hundreds of domestic and international flights - can't think of a single one where the service was bad 🫤
I personally am not a big fan of a huge amount of privacy on business class seats, I love the feel of enjoying the often restaurant like atmosphere and service in business class with other people who can see each other compared to sitting in little box all by yourself, but I do know I have quite a unique opinion in this regard.
20 year old seat is not worth paying for this product and even spending with points it would be only as a last resort. Also typical 1-2 hour delay for AirNZ longhaul flight
I don’t mind these seats at all. I understand paying this amount you expect more privacy, but times have changed more people are like to keep to themselves now more than ever. I met one of my best clients in a business class seating arrangement such as this
I don't believe you're a "random" dude even though I know "random" entered the English slangworld via some spillover from mathematics. I am very ill, but improving every day. I found you accidentally because of Noël Phillips in my notifications. I found him accidentally too. Just popped. Up. I started with Travel Geek. Now, I follow many. I also do ASMR WEEKLY. These programs on my phones & iPad & tablet help me. You're entertaining, beautiful and extra smart. Thank you. Mille Grazie.
Might not be the best airline in the world, but it definitely holds a special place in my heart as it was the first airline I ever flew when I was seven months old.
Flew AirNZ to Shanghai Business in Feb. Flying Hong Kong to Auckland in Business next week...i hate hate the configuration. Thank goodness they are chsnging it.
2:58 “New Zealand was mine and Oscar’s 100th country… and we fell in love on our trip last December.” It took 100 countries? I thought they were in love well before that! 🤔
1:47 cut to the plane clipping the perimeter fence and taking out a couple of runway lights before finally struggling aloft because air New Zealand doesn’t count the weight properly 🤣
Almost nobody calculates their weight and balance "properly". When was the last time you were weighed before yo got on a flight? Calling out Air New Zealand for this is questionable. So, there you go.
I like in NZ and have flown Air NZ plenty of times. It is an amazing carrier with friendly staff. Cool to see your POV from business cabin. I would love to try Business Class.
Just heard Air New Zealand is going to start weighing passengers for the weight distribution of the plane. So I guess moving forward seat selection won’t exist with them. Anyone know what that’s about?
It’s just a survey, like a census, which will run for about a month. Nobody actually sees your weight including yourself, and it’s not compulsory. It is done every five years so they can work out the average passenger weight to use for flight calculations
I honk it depends on the jingoism of the airline involved. I heard Singapore Air are the best airline in the world. I would believe that before I believe Air New Zealand.
The attraction of lounges is often the only place to sit and relax and eat something before a 12 hour flight in Economy. Not always a business class travelers domain. Love your vlogs though my friend.
