Air NZ Y+

[munitalP]

has anyone experienced Y+ on Air NZ? In particular AKL/PVG?

 

[pauly7]

The new Y+? (not even sure if there was one before it...!).

I read a really thorough review on it recently, fairly lukewarm though - when I'm on a comp I'll try and find it for you.

 

[drmikki]

Just stepped off Y+ from LAX - the new spaceseat. Food, entertainment and service were absolutely excellent. I believe its J food - certainly not economy as had 3 courses, cutlery and crockery. The downside to this all is that dining takes a couple of hours, which is a bit of a hassle since the flight departs at 11pm (and in our case was 45 mins delay prior to takeoff due to cargo problems and then an extra long taxi as the wind changed whilst cargo was getting sorted). I'm sure there is some provision for a quick bite then sleep, but I didn't try it. (Paid for Y+ so determined to enjoy it!) There is a touch screen entertainment unit which has the menu for the entire flight (hello waffle 2-course breakfast! (no menucards given out) and I believe in the middle of the flight you could order snacks and drinks but I slept through this.

The new seat itself has been discussed a fair bit on here. We were against the windows, so didn't have the chance to try the 'sit together and eat' - after a week with a work colleague I was quite happy not to have to make more dinner small talk! The chairs are staggered, as well as angled towards the window. Despite the fact that there feels like much more legroom, you still have to get the aisle person to stand up to go to the toilet, and the design means that there's no way that you can stand on your own chair and jump into the aisle without waking them. (I don't recommend use of this technique, but hey, when you gotta go...)

The chair itself is a little bit hit and miss - not the most comfortable seat, but certainly not uncomfortable a la United/Tiger. Its a bit firm and the recline doesn't feel like you recline much at all. I found the controls somewhat awkward to use (levers for 'recline' and 'tilt' that seemed to do similar things) and couldn't quite get completely comfortable. It's certainly no Skybed! They provide a small beanbag for your feet so they aren't resting on the ground, but I imagine if you have bigger feet than mine (ladies 6.5) then your feet are going to be hitting the hard plastic shell of the seat in front when on the beanbag. Similarly, the leg room was far greater than Y but tall people may have trouble, since I found at times my knee was abutting the seat in front.

Finally, the blanket was thick and warm, the pillow was almost normal-pillow sized, and there were noise-cancelling headphones provided. I found the headphones hard to doze off in, although that may be me. Small amenities pack with lip balm, moisturiser, toothbrush&paste, earplugs, socks, eye mask. There was priority checkin at LAX and someone carried your bags to security for you (and even better for the US, disappeared to help someone else before I could tip him!). I am not sure if there is priority boarding as we were in the Air NZ Lounge (paid Red Carpet Club, not status) and when they did the boarding calls they escorted passengers downstairs and we followed the crowd. That said, it seemed like the other passengers in Y+ appeared shortly after that and before all the Y passengers - It felt like I'd made it 15 mins into 'The Girl who Kicked a Hornet's Nest' by that point.

As far as I know, the new Y+ product is only on AKL-LAX at this stage. This was a new plane, and the only one in service currently although CSM Simon told us that the 2nd 777 was delivered last week. As an aside, whilst in the lounge waiting, the CSM for this flight (and NZ1 45 mins earlier) introduced themselves via PA and then walked through the lounge answering questions etc, which I thought was a nice touch that I hadn't experienced before.

Not of the above applies to PVG flights as far as I know...

 

[RB]

Just stepped off Y+ from LAX - the new spaceseat. Food, entertainment and service were absolutely excellent. I believe its J food - certainly not economy as had 3 courses, cutlery and crockery. The downside to this all is that dining takes a couple of hours, which is a bit of a hassle since the flight departs at 11pm (and in our case was 45 mins delay prior to takeoff due to cargo problems and then an extra long taxi as the wind changed whilst cargo was getting sorted). I'm sure there is some provision for a quick bite then sleep, but I didn't try it. (Paid for Y+ so determined to enjoy it!) There is a touch screen entertainment unit which has the menu for the entire flight (hello waffle 2-course breakfast! (no menucards given out) and I believe in the middle of the flight you could order snacks and drinks but I slept through this.

The new seat itself has been discussed a fair bit on here. We were against the windows, so didn't have the chance to try the 'sit together and eat' - after a week with a work colleague I was quite happy not to have to make more dinner small talk! The chairs are staggered, as well as angled towards the window. Despite the fact that there feels like much more legroom, you still have to get the aisle person to stand up to go to the toilet, and the design means that there's no way that you can stand on your own chair and jump into the aisle without waking them. (I don't recommend use of this technique, but hey, when you gotta go...)

The chair itself is a little bit hit and miss - not the most comfortable seat, but certainly not uncomfortable a la United/Tiger. Its a bit firm and the recline doesn't feel like you recline much at all. I found the controls somewhat awkward to use (levers for 'recline' and 'tilt' that seemed to do similar things) and couldn't quite get completely comfortable. It's certainly no Skybed! They provide a small beanbag for your feet so they aren't resting on the ground, but I imagine if you have bigger feet than mine (ladies 6.5) then your feet are going to be hitting the hard plastic shell of the seat in front when on the beanbag. Similarly, the leg room was far greater than Y but tall people may have trouble, since I found at times my knee was abutting the seat in front.

Finally, the blanket was thick and warm, the pillow was almost normal-pillow sized, and there were noise-cancelling headphones provided. I found the headphones hard to doze off in, although that may be me. Small amenities pack with lip balm, moisturiser, toothbrush&paste, earplugs, socks, eye mask. There was priority checkin at LAX and someone carried your bags to security for you (and even better for the US, disappeared to help someone else before I could tip him!). I am not sure if there is priority boarding as we were in the Air NZ Lounge (paid Red Carpet Club, not status) and when they did the boarding calls they escorted passengers downstairs and we followed the crowd. That said, it seemed like the other passengers in Y+ appeared shortly after that and before all the Y passengers - It felt like I'd made it 15 mins into 'The Girl who Kicked a Hornet's Nest' by that point.

As far as I know, the new Y+ product is only on AKL-LAX at this stage. This was a new plane, and the only one in service currently although CSM Simon told us that the 2nd 777 was delivered last week. As an aside, whilst in the lounge waiting, the CSM for this flight (and NZ1 45 mins earlier) introduced themselves via PA and then walked through the lounge answering questions etc, which I thought was a nice touch that I hadn't experienced before.

Not of the above applies to PVG flights as far as I know...

Excellent mini trip report that gives me a lot of info-thanks!

 

[drmikki]

No probs - this thread appeared within an hour of the flight so was still fresh in my mind!

Other random things I forgot to mention:

• iPod and USB connectivity- you can borrow cable from crew or buy your own on the 'amenties' touch screen.
• You can also get a hypoallergenic pillow through this system.
• Pictures of chandelier on the wall in Y+ toilets (muchos fancy... although one seemed to be made up of pics of cutlery) (note: no gold-plated toilets here)

• Metal knives!

• No illuminated no smoking signs on the aircraft roof - instead there are permanent "No smoking" signs in the cabin, and next to the seatbelt sign there is a "no electronic devices" pictorial sign that illuminates on takeoff and landing.

Randomly, however, there was a device inside the toilet on the door that looked to be an ashtray. Next to the no-smoking sign!

• Y+ button seatbelts (like a car belt, not a plane seat one!) with extra padding for when you sleep.

Finally, the AirNZ safety video had my attention throughout (rare... QF only got my attention back for a couple of minutes when John Travola introduced it, then I went back to my book). For those that aren't familiar with it, AirNZ have a character called Rico, who seems to be a South American rodent, who has all sorts of dubious innuendo and a rather amusing safety video and series of ads, all of which are on AirNZ's YouTube channel. Maybe the novelty wears off after a few trips but still had me entertained! (Small things and small minds, right?)

 

[serfty]

In all cases service is excellent (although they have now done away with pre-flight drinks on the 773 ).

Air NZ Y+ on 744 has great PE seat! (grab it before they are phased out...)

On 772 plenty of leg room, but width is narrower as 9 across.

On 773 the seats can be very uncomfortable for anyone over 175cm, especially long haul.

Here a review by the Erudite "Kiwi Flyer": Air New Zealand new longhaul product – a mixed review - Musings of The Global Traveller

There's more reports on FlyerTalk. (Basically it seems the new PE seat, while innovative, is really not suitable for long haul)

See here:

• 777-300 ER mini-reviews - FlyerTalk Forums
• 777-300 AUK-LAX PE upgrade or not? - FlyerTalk Forums
• ANZ NEW Premium Economy seating review? - FlyerTalk Forums

Oh, and as for Rico ...

... Introducing Rico... NZ's frequent and furry flyer - FlyerTalk Forums