Air New Zealand
 

NZ have unveiled there upgrades to the longhaul fleet of 747 and 777 aircraft.

Heres a rundown of the new cabins - All info taken from NZ's handout in this weeks TTG.

Business Premier
Luxurious leather armchair converts to a fully flat 6'7.5" bed.
Ottomon footrest doubles as a visitor's seat.
Every seat has direct acces to aisle.
Video and audio on demand on own high res 10.4" screen.
Inseat power in ever seat.

Pacific Premium Economy (This is a new cabin)
Largest seat pitch in its class at 39/40", seat width of 18.5" on 747's
Extra seat recline with full leg rest and foot bar.
Video and audio on demand on own high res 8.4" screen.
Inseat power point
Exclusive premium cabin.

Pacific Economy
34" seat pitch on 747's
New seats with adjustable headrest.
Video and audio on demand on own high res 8.4" screen.

Overall the new services are very similar to VS.

The new classes and seats etc will be avail from october between AKL & SFO, then LON to AKL via LAX, and on selected LAX flights from Nov 6.

Does this mean they are getting rid of First Class?

Yes it does, they will go to Business, Premium Econ and Econ. Which is not surprising given that most long-haul flying into NZ is of the leisure rather than the business variety.

Guess where the new flatbed seats came from.....They are licensed from Virgin Atlantics new Upper Class seats...

well given that air nz fitted the entertainment system to virgins last few 747's, youd think it would be similar if not the same

Air New Zealand to LGW
 

Has anybody else heard this one that Air New Zealand are planning to fly into LGW via SIN, BKK or Hongkong?

"unzed wun cleered too lund too sux leeft"

(My best kiwi accent:} )

Were did you hear this rumour?

It'd certainly be great to see them back here again. It must be 12 years or so since they shuffled off up the road to Hounslow Municipal.

Cheers,
TheOddOne

It's true. The route starts in September, LGW to Auckland via Hong Kong. My source tells me the primary reason for introducing it is complaints from pax about the appalling treatment they receive from US Immigration in LAX on the 2-hour stopover from LHR to Auckland. Apparently thousands of pax have written in saying they love AirNZ but will travel via the Far East, i.e. on a different airline, in future to avoid being treated like criminals by officious US Immigration staff.

Well Im assuming that this flight is merely in addition to the LHR ones via LAX as it would seem crazy to move out of LHR to LGW where they have no Star connections, especially considering BMI codeshare extensively out of LHR with them!

It is in addition to LHR-Auckland via LAX.

Excellent news for Crawley Internatioal. Will it be the new 777s I wonder?

I read somewhere this week that ANZ are to give up its route from Los Angeles to a city in New Zealand shortly.

LAX-CHC is being axed; I've heard the new LGW-HKG-NZ route will be a 744 service as well.

Good to see some decent long haul routes ex-LGW.

Word on the street at LGW is a daily 777 LGW-HKG-AKL from third quarter of this year; and this will complement the existing LHR-LAX-AKL 744 service.

Great news for Gatwick.

Aye, but from what I understand, if NZ can get some decent slots at LHR for the service then it will be quickly switched from LGW to LHR. :suspect:

Any info on what Terminal it will be using North or South?

Talking of LGW long-haul, I'm sure I've read that "Indonesia" may be on their way back to LGW aswell.

Air NZ East a bout to Kiwiland
 

Super news this & about time too. Well done Air New Zealand.

Continuing the thread of `V Mike's` post, having been subjected myself to the appaling treatment of bona fide passengers in transit through LAX, I vowed never again. My first taste of the US gestapo at LAX was well prior to the horrific events of Sept 11th. I was returning to the UK from NZ & in attempting to make a very quick connection at LAX, I could have well done with just a little help & consideration. Instead I was treated like dirt with no understanding whatsoever, that was it for me. Since then when travelling back home to Kiwiland, I would always have rather flown with Air NZ. The only reason why I have have until now not done this, was the thought of the transit stop in LAX

I for one will be booking on the east a bout route, hope it gets plenty of takers & the US authorities may just get the message, but then????

I don't think it's going to change much; unfortunately, unfocused security is part and parcel of "the new security arrangement". Someone once compared security to religion; good idea in principle, but the things done in its name ...

I suspect that the transit via HKG will gradually (even quickly) become more popular than LAX, in which case NZ will probably swap acft, putting a -400 on the HKG route and a 777 on the LAX-LHR route. Perhaps they could even swap airports and have the LAX route originating in LGW?

I doubt if the Americans will care that much one way or another and I doubt it will change their behaviour. The man hours spent in getting people to go through Immigration and jump through all the hoops when they're not entering the country is not just wasteful, it's irresponsible and ultimately, does absolutely nothing to improve security. In any case, doesn't ANZ have to provide lists of passengers, like any other airline, so if the US authorities have this, what exactly is the point of subjecting tired passengers to this rigmarole. Surely there are considerably more pressing and important duties to which these officers could be assigned? (No rude suggestions now ... well, not too many.;) )