The New Ultimate Seating Thread, version deux

[dhuey]

Mike, I've never flown NZ first before, but I will be on SFO-AKL on Jan. 9th. I don't suppose that's your departure date?

[mbflyflyaway]

Originally Posted by dhuey

Mike, I've never flown NZ first before, but I will be on SFO-AKL on Jan. 9th. I don't suppose that's your departure date?

Nope, we are headed out on UA on Jan. 8th. Not returning until the end of the month on AirNZ. Anyone got an answer for me? I booked 2JK for now but all three rows are open on my flight.

-Mike

[Kiwi Flyer]

They are all fine with a heap of space. Row 1 is like being in own plane but angle means cant see out and storage not quite as good. Row 3 is closest to galley. Row 2 is happy medium.

[mbflyflyaway]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

They are all fine with a heap of space. Row 1 is like being in own plane but angle means cant see out and storage not quite as good. Row 3 is closest to galley. Row 2 is happy medium.

Kiwi Flyer - thanks a heap for the response. We love the views when flying and will probably have a lot of luggage/carry-on so I think we'll stick with Row 2!

Thanks again!

-Mike

[TRRed]

Is there a seatmap out for the revamped 747's, etc. (with the Virgin-type beds in business, etc.)? If not, any idea when one will be released?

[Kiwi Flyer]

Hopefully not too many more months, but could be May?

I guess if you have booked a flight (and class) which may have the new seats then advance seat selection may be tricky and a case of keeping a close eye on a/c and a/c substitutions (how do we do this for NZ?).

[ozstamps]

Useful resource - thanks!

Suggestion - one weakness is that you do not indicate seating CONFIGURATION for widebodies.

I am flying a 767 next week and had flown on a lot of airlines where seating is not always 2-2-2

Have even see it 1-3-2 on some carriers.

Your present data does not show this, and it will only take a moment to update it hopefully. The beasuty of something like www.seatguru.com is it has a seat map AND comments applicable to each of them, but sadly they never got around to doing NZ.

Right now I have no idea HOW the 24 seats are configured. I ASSUME they are 4 rows of 2-2-2?

To amend this present note:

Business Class
* 24 Seats

to say this

Business Class
* 24 Seats (2-2-2)

Makes things much clearer for example for anyone not familiar with NZ fleet.

---------------------

Boeing 767-300 (code: 763)

Configuration: 24J / 206Y

Business Class
* 24 Seats
* Seat Pitch: 127cm (50")
* Seat Recline: 60 degrees
* Seat Width: 45.7cm (18")
* Toilets: 2 forward of cabin
* Laptop Power: None
* Bassinets: Row 1
* IFE: Personal fold-out video screen with nine channels of entertainment, and Mainscreen projection screen

*Best/Worst Seats:
Row 1:Bulkhead and bassinet. If in 01EF, your feet come near to touching bulkhead.
Row 3: Seats A/B will receive meal service second (after 04AB)
Row 4: Last row - recline may be slightly less. Meal service usually starts from 04AB and 04JK is last.

--------------------------

For instance for someone who has never flown a 747 I'd suggest this chart below makes no sense WHATEVER. Every carrier on earth configures Business and First separately. Where are Exits upstairs? Where are Exits DOWNSTAIRS for that matter? Row 11 you say is an exit but where is it? How many seats upstairs? Where does the Biz numbering start? United starts upstairs, others start 1st row downstairs etc. Are the 12 x First like United in 1 2 - 1 config or like Thai and 2-2 ... etc. Adding a little more summary detail would assist a lot for folks who do not regularly fly NZ.

If Air NZ does offer seat maps on its website why not add the applicable direct link to them and all this will be moot.

Boeing 747-400 (code: 744)

Configuration: 12F / 56J / 324Y

Eight of these in the fleet, mainly operating
services to LHR, LAX, SFO, TYO, BNE. They're planned to stay around for a long time yet.

First Class
* 12 Seats
* Legroom: 135cm (53")
* Seat Pitch: 203cm (80")
* Seat Recline: 70 degrees (57cm)
* Seat Width: 54.5cm (21.5")
* Cabin Crew: 2
* Toilets: 2 at rear of cabin
* Laptop Power: None
* Bassinets: Row 1
* IFE: In-seat television screen with 7 visual and 11 audio channels. Personal Video Walkman on request with choice of 20 movies.

** Note: One 747 (registered ZK-SUJ) has different configuration - the First Class seats are lie flat and various other minor differences.

*Best/Worst Seats: Row 3 - increased privacy, but near galley.

__________________________________________

Business Class
* 56 Seats
* Seat Pitch: 127cm (50")
* Seat Recline: 60 degrees
* Seat Width: 49.5cm (19.5")
* Toilets: 2 forward of lower cabin, 2 rear of upper cabin
* Laptop Power: None
* Bassinets: Row 16
* IFE: Personal fold-out video screen with nine channels of entertainment, and Mainscreen projection screen

*Best/Worst Seats:
Row 7: Very private, but cockpit door opening/closing during flight may distract.
Row 11: Exit Row - increased seat pitch. 11A's window is set quite far back, which obstructs vision.
Row 13/14: Near toilet and galley, limited recline in 14.
Row 15: Bulkhead downstairs, but near toilets.
Row 19: Limited recline.

___________________________________________

[Kiwi Flyer]

2-2-2. See NZ 767 seatmap and NZ seatmaps all a/c - links are on airnzboy's posts.

[ozstamps]

Ah! got it ... makes far more sense now .. thanks! Apologies to airnzboy

I find the blue "hot links" on FT often just look like normal text as in your links above. I asked once in Tech Form if hot link colour cold be a bright blue or red or green or something but can't remember what their reply was.

Right now I often miss them as the blue on a very brightly lit monitor as mine is with windows on 3 sides and a skylight does look like text colour unless at night.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by ozstamps

I find the blue "hot links" on FT often just look like normal text as in your links above. I asked once in Tech Form if hot link colour cold be a bright blue or red or green or something but can't remember what their reply was.

That would be useful as dark blue against black is not a big contrast.

[ozstamps]

Not in bright sunlight for sure.

Maybe start a thread in "Suggestions" and they may take notice this time around?

Hotlinks in orange or in red no-one will ever miss, that's for sure!

[melbtraveller]

I am travelling to SFO in late Jul and noticed when booking that the 747 seat request map did not match that shown on the Air NZ website (exit rows on this flight shown as 31 and 43 not 35 and 45).

Does anyone know why this is? Does this indicate a newly reconfigured 747 will operate this route?

[Kiwi Flyer]

Welcome to FT melbtraveller

I have found the seatmaps on NZ website match those you use at time of booking to select seats. However, NZ is starting to refurbish 747s from mid this year - expecting the first route to operate will be AKL-SFO vv. So its possible the booking system already has updated seatmaps loaded, and you are the first to report that. Nice if it is the newly refurbished - not only new seats but also much improved IFE. See other threads in this forum for more info if you're interested.

Be aware though there are no guarantees - with such a small 747 fleet that is highly utilised, a/c substitution can occur.

[ntddevsys]

Welcome to FlyerTalk melbtraveller, [well to posting on it anyway]

I pulled up the seatmap for Y on ITN for the 22nd of July NZ8 and indeed I noticed this. But AFAIK the 74R config doesn't change the layout in Y class ?. The J seatmap seems to be in order as the current configuration.

Perhaps one of the 747 Y regulars can explain ...

[Fliar]

I hope so! That would mean my little plan worked (I re-routed from AKL-LAX to AKL-SFO in the hope that this would happen).