Interesting competing AirNZ offer v VAA UCS

This announced this morning from Air NZ - certainly worth considering at appx 1,650 return to Australasia compared to VAA UCS (routes aside!).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 480034.stm

Or maybe not ...

quote:Originally posted by inkiboo
Or maybe not ...




Doh, just re-read the pricing - NOT a bargain![B)] And you have to wonder where the 3rd passenger goes???[}:)]

Video showing preview of all three cabins at http://www.futuretakingflight.com/

The full launch of all three cabins will happen over the course of this week. The skycouch preview is the first taster of the new product being launched on the 777-300s.

The new PE seat appears to be incredibly good, except for that bloody awful reading light from the UCS making a comeback there.

The other potential downside as well, seems to be that they are packing Y at 3-4-3, which can feel a bit tight on the 777, unless something really clever has been done.

To me, it looks like ANZ have well and truly tried to leap ahead of the competition.

Mike

Those new PE seats do seem good!
They have found a way to make the centre seats more attractive than window!

Do not see any footrest on PE though - perhaps it would be too good and compete with the suite.

quote:Originally posted by vizbiz

Doh, just re-read the pricing - NOT a bargain![B)] And you have to wonder where the 3rd passenger goes???[}:)]


The article says

quote:
Passengers would need to buy the three seats together.


but
quote:
Passengers will pay the standard economy fare for two seats and receive the middle seat for about half price.

quote:Originally posted by inkiboo
Or maybe not ...




Brilliant idea but doesn't a done up seat belt have to be on view when your asleep !!!!

[mitchja]

...not so good though if you don't know the person sat next to you!!!

Regards

quote:Originally posted by mitchja
...not so good though if you don't know the person sat next to you!!!


depends.....[}:)]

And further improvements to their meals:
quote:Being able to order a steak, medium rare in Business Premier, a pizza for two in Premium Economy or a late night snack in Economy, whenever you want, will be a very cool experience,

New oven technology that will cook food from scratch rather than simply reheating and a new digital in-seat ordering service will make this truly the first time real food has been served at 35,000 feet.

quote:Originally posted by inkiboo
Or maybe not ...




Is it me, or are the seats they are lying on in the reclined position, but the others are upright - so if the row in front reclined the girl would be squished into even less space?

Crispin

quote:Originally posted by crispin
[quote]Originally posted by inkiboo
Or maybe not ...

Is it me, or are the seats they are lying on in the reclined position, but the others are upright - so if the row in front reclined the girl would be squished into even less space?

Crispin


She might not object to that looking at the chap she is with !

While I appreciate that these new 'sky couches' are supposed to be a vast improvement for Y passengers, I would dread it as a crew member. I can see now the amount of 'larger' couples trying to share that space and not being able to. I can already imagine the outrage and anger. Plus the amount of feet being hit with a trolly!

[Scrooge]

Very true.

I do like the look of those PE seats though, in fact all the cabins look fantastic.

I am wondering though, if you book the 2 1/2 seats needed to make the bed, do you get 2 1/2 times the miles and TP's, if so then this really is looking like a no brainer to me, it will still come in around 1/2 the price of a UC flight.

Frankly it looks a real innovation, if nothing else a fantastic PR grabber. The premium economy seats look light years ahead of competition. Oh the days when Virgin used to be the airline innovators, not the airline bean counters (bye bye in-flight treatments, a REAL freedom menu, a useful/valuable amenity kit)...

All I'll say is i thought Virgin were the innovators?

That's the sort of innovative approach that VS used to be famous for. Now all they seem interested in is cutting costs. By the time the world economy picks up airlines like NZ will be well placed to make the most of it while the likes of VS will be playing catch up. The bar has just been raised again chaps and I'm afraid you are now noticeably well below it.

One thing though, looking at all three cabins reminds me of the old First, Business and Economy classes, today they just have different names.

Miopyk[8D]

[Scrooge]

A good movie of the new seats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBg2oZ9q ... _embedded#

Thanks for the link to that movie Dave.

So many innovative features in all cabins. Some real thought gone into this.
ANZ are really setting the standard that everyone else must follow.

Virgin could do with Ed back! He has shown just what could have been for VS.

Time to put money where mouth is, SRB & SR, invest at the bottom of the market and see if you could come up with something better - or at least as good - and not just wait for the new aircraft. With this layout there simply is no competition; ANZ win every time if they are an option. There simply is no competition!

[Scrooge]

It's not even the bottom of the market, how long have we been complaining on here about the lack of padding in the UCS, well NZ had the same issue, so they added more padding to the seat AND a sleeping pad, ending up with an extra 2 1/2 inches of padding.

The only thing I think doesn't look right about ANZ's new interior is the use of lots of white surfaces:

a) it reflects light, making it hard to get a dim cabin at night if any reading lights are on.

b) it may well show up the dirt and look grubby very quickly, unless an appropriate cleaning regime is put in place.

I don't think these things have been properly considered in what otherwise looks like a good re-design.

(Was that eggs benedict that I saw a Biz Premier pax tucking into in the PR shots? [}:)])

Mike

[Scrooge]

If you watch the video they address that issue, every seat has been treated and there is a new cleaning routine, but I agree with you, it's not going to be easy.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
If you watch the video they address that issue, every seat has been treated and there is a new cleaning routine, but I agree with you, it's not going to be easy.


Hehe. I was in the office, so sound was turned down...

Still think it looks a fab product, especially those PE seats, something we could have expected from the VS of 'old', but it looks like ANZ have the steal on this one.

Mike

I think it's a great idea, and if the flight is not full what's to stop you using it without having to buy the extra half seat! PE seats look great too

quote:Originally posted by seanpep
.....if the flight is not full what's to stop you using it without having to buy the extra half seat! ....

afaik only certain seats have this facility