Air NZ cabin query
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Air NZ cabin query
Hi everyone,
I have a question for anyone who cares to offer advice/opinion. Here is my situation: I am a PhD student, and therefore rather poor. A paper I submitted to a conference got accepted (hurrah!) but the conference is in New Zealand, and I am in London. Suddenly, I have a rush of euphoria... and then I saw flight times and prices from LHR-WLG.
I have only checked Air NZ for prices, mind, so perhaps other airlines (someone on another thread recommended Emirates?) will be less expensive than the £700 economy/£1700 prem econ/£2800 business fares. The conference is 3-5 July, and I am flexible for dates.
My query is: do you reckon it's worth it to buy the business seat, as flight time is so long? I am totally happy sitting in economy when I go home to DTW, but LHR-WLG is quite a bit longer in an aircraft than LHR-DTW, and I do not think I could realistically deal with sitting in economy for so long.
Any opinions would be welcome. At the moment I am leaning toward Prem Econ, but find myself thinking hmm, those lie-flat beds in Business sure would be good for those loooong flights...
I have a question for anyone who cares to offer advice/opinion. Here is my situation: I am a PhD student, and therefore rather poor. A paper I submitted to a conference got accepted (hurrah!) but the conference is in New Zealand, and I am in London. Suddenly, I have a rush of euphoria... and then I saw flight times and prices from LHR-WLG.
I have only checked Air NZ for prices, mind, so perhaps other airlines (someone on another thread recommended Emirates?) will be less expensive than the £700 economy/£1700 prem econ/£2800 business fares. The conference is 3-5 July, and I am flexible for dates.
My query is: do you reckon it's worth it to buy the business seat, as flight time is so long? I am totally happy sitting in economy when I go home to DTW, but LHR-WLG is quite a bit longer in an aircraft than LHR-DTW, and I do not think I could realistically deal with sitting in economy for so long.
Any opinions would be welcome. At the moment I am leaning toward Prem Econ, but find myself thinking hmm, those lie-flat beds in Business sure would be good for those loooong flights...
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Lie flats are great
Hi JF,
Come on down the waters lovely. I have had the pleasure of flying Business class to NZ 10 or so times in the last few years (I live in NZ). Air NZ Business has the full lie-flat bed invented by Virgin (on the diagonal). I am 6ft5' so it is important to me to get that comfort.
The trip via LA will be a little bit shorter than DUB, HK or BKK (read Emirates, Cathay or Thai) and so worth chosing AirNZ or BA/Qantas (Flight time is faster to the East but time on the ground in LA is shorter going west). Also Emirates will have you arrive via Melbourne or Sydney adding another couple of hours to an already long flight. (count on it being about 30 hours check in to check out)
Premium Econonmy is seen as a smart move for anyone on a budget - the food is similar to Business and the seat pitch is a great deal better. You can also use the lounges I think (not 100%) which will be a bonus at LA.
July as you know will be smack in the middle of our winter so expect rain and cold when you pack - not quite as cold as blighty but certainly as wet.
J
Come on down the waters lovely. I have had the pleasure of flying Business class to NZ 10 or so times in the last few years (I live in NZ). Air NZ Business has the full lie-flat bed invented by Virgin (on the diagonal). I am 6ft5' so it is important to me to get that comfort.
The trip via LA will be a little bit shorter than DUB, HK or BKK (read Emirates, Cathay or Thai) and so worth chosing AirNZ or BA/Qantas (Flight time is faster to the East but time on the ground in LA is shorter going west). Also Emirates will have you arrive via Melbourne or Sydney adding another couple of hours to an already long flight. (count on it being about 30 hours check in to check out)
Premium Econonmy is seen as a smart move for anyone on a budget - the food is similar to Business and the seat pitch is a great deal better. You can also use the lounges I think (not 100%) which will be a bonus at LA.
July as you know will be smack in the middle of our winter so expect rain and cold when you pack - not quite as cold as blighty but certainly as wet.
J
"Premium Economy is seen as a smart move for anyone on a budget - the food is similar to Business and the seat pitch is a great deal better."
I'd go along with the first part of the sentence having used the BA product on several occasions. But the second part - I would have thought it should read "- the food is similar to *Economy* and the seat pitch is a great deal better."
As to whether to go via east or west I think you'll find the fare is the same so going round the world is a possibility. The flight is longer via Hong Kong but if you go via Los Angeles you have to go through US immigration I believe (even though you are not actually going to the US). I also think you'll find the fares allow a stop en route so you could get off for one night each way which might make a non-business option more palatable without too much extra cost.
I'd go along with the first part of the sentence having used the BA product on several occasions. But the second part - I would have thought it should read "- the food is similar to *Economy* and the seat pitch is a great deal better."
As to whether to go via east or west I think you'll find the fare is the same so going round the world is a possibility. The flight is longer via Hong Kong but if you go via Los Angeles you have to go through US immigration I believe (even though you are not actually going to the US). I also think you'll find the fares allow a stop en route so you could get off for one night each way which might make a non-business option more palatable without too much extra cost.
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The prices you quote look pretty good to me - you'd struggle to get a biz return to the US for that kind of money! By all means consider Premium Economy if the thought of 24 hrs in an economy seat disturbs you (ANZ used to have one of the best seat pitches in economy, but I think they've been 'squished up' to accommodate the new Premium Economy config). If it were my money, I'd rather extend my stay for a few days and spend it on high-living in NZ.
<PEDANT>
For flights to AKL, at least, it's a couple of hours quicker to travel LHR-AKL via HKG than LAX - coming back it's similarly quicker via LAX. I think the prevailing westerly winds account for the difference.
</PEDANT>
The big advantage of travelling via the far east is that you avoid transiting the US (even assuming you're a US citizen, it can still be a PITA).
<PEDANT>
For flights to AKL, at least, it's a couple of hours quicker to travel LHR-AKL via HKG than LAX - coming back it's similarly quicker via LAX. I think the prevailing westerly winds account for the difference.
</PEDANT>
The big advantage of travelling via the far east is that you avoid transiting the US (even assuming you're a US citizen, it can still be a PITA).
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baw667, Hartington, PB,
Many thanks for your insights. I am a US citizen but would prefer to avoid LAX and US TSA, so your thoughts on routing are especially helpful. I assume ANZ will inform me of my routing before I purchase the ticket (?).
The food isn't that much of a concern for me; more important is comfort. I am not a unique size (ie, I am fairly average height and weight), but I get cranky when squished into an unnatural position for several hours, a la economy cabin seating.
Pax, you have an excellent point (which I am sure others have made) about where best to spend money, on airfare or on the ground. I *highly* doubt I can secure funding for a Business class seat, and realistically, i don't think I could afford to purchase such a ticket on my own.
Premium Economy seems to be emerging as the most optimal choice. Many thanks again for your help; I'm open to more opinion and thoughts!
Many thanks for your insights. I am a US citizen but would prefer to avoid LAX and US TSA, so your thoughts on routing are especially helpful. I assume ANZ will inform me of my routing before I purchase the ticket (?).
The food isn't that much of a concern for me; more important is comfort. I am not a unique size (ie, I am fairly average height and weight), but I get cranky when squished into an unnatural position for several hours, a la economy cabin seating.
Pax, you have an excellent point (which I am sure others have made) about where best to spend money, on airfare or on the ground. I *highly* doubt I can secure funding for a Business class seat, and realistically, i don't think I could afford to purchase such a ticket on my own.
Premium Economy seems to be emerging as the most optimal choice. Many thanks again for your help; I'm open to more opinion and thoughts!
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Air NZ have daily flights on both routes - NZ1/2 via LAX and NZ38/39 via HKG (both currently 744s) - so you can take your pick (pricing may differ, of course)! Currently NZ1 leaves mid-afternoon and gets in at 6am, NZ38 leaves mid-evening and arrives mid-morning (however, these timings will be significantly different in July, with the 2-hour difference in daylight saving times).
There's also a good Cathay connection (90 mins in HKG), which is just as quick - CX250+CX117.
There's also a good Cathay connection (90 mins in HKG), which is just as quick - CX250+CX117.
