Air New Zealand Air Points - 772 refit status?

G'day

I'm contemplating flying the 772 AKL-YVR or heading on the 773 AKL-LAX-YVR/SEA in Y+. Given the differences in product, the longer 773 booking via LAX might just be the ticket.

I'd fly MEL-AKL on the 773 (do through-tickets to the US/Canada in PE get the PE seats on the TT leg?)

Does anyone have any idea when the announced (in 2010) 772/747 refit is to begin?

All I can find is this media release from 2010 (http://www.airnewzealand.com.au/press-release-2010-lie-down-in-economy-now-a-reality-with-airnz-26jan10).

Air New Zealand expects to also refit its fleet of eight Boeing 777-200 aircraft from mid next year, with all Asian, North American and UK services to have the new product by around 2012.

As I can't find any other references to that refit online, except some posts around that time, I assume this refit is postponed indefinitely.

FT/google search isn't much help. DOes anyone have any ideas on this one?

It was deferred in 2011 due to the financial state of the airline. I've not heard whether it is likely to be back on for 2012.

I'm flying on old BP from PEK-AKL in April. I'm certainly not holding my breath.

I found this most interesting.
I have raised this question with AirNZ middle of last year and the official response was they are it is not on their timeline.... used to travel to HKG frequently and was thinking if there were a refit, it would be those 772 first (some services do connect on to LHR)

but there is (1) no timeline and (2) no info as how the seats will be changed, that is,
a. change to BP
b. change to PE (if so, how many)
c. change to Y (with 10 abreast?)
d. change to Y (including SkyCoach)

100% that is not going to happen by April, lucky if it was for April 2013 (for the first 2).. they really need to take the aircraft out for a few days.. I remember they need to take an 773 out for 3 days last August when they remove a row from the PE cabin.

With QF pulling out from AKL - LAX from May, there is one/two 772 services into LAX from that time and they would not be able to offer SkyCoach or improved PE

Not going to happen for a while.
The 777-200ER that NZ have are installed with older insulation and interior walls. This mean the cabin is marginally narrower than the newer 777-300ER which prevents the new Space Seat, Skycouch and Space Minus (new 10 across Economy) from being installed.
This means the refit should co-incide with a major maintenance check.

In BP and Y, at least, the 772s are just fine as they are. A major overhaul at this point would be a waste of money.

IMO, all NZ needs to do is bring the IFE system up to date (could the seats be retrofitted with the screens from the new seats?) and refit the galleys to deliver the new style food service.

In BP and Y, at least, the 772s are just fine as they are. A major overhaul at this point would be a waste of money.
Agree that refitting C and Y class makes no sense on the 772, but U class is a significant problem. More than half their long-haul fleet either doesn't have U class, or has different U class. With the chopping-and-changing of metal on long haul routes to match demand it is difficult to guarantee the product you'll be receiving. Paying a premium U fare and receiving the 772 product would certainly annoy some.

Agree that refitting C and Y class makes no sense on the 772, but U class is a significant problem. More than half their long-haul fleet either doesn't have U class, or has different U class. With the chopping-and-changing of metal on long haul routes to match demand it is difficult to guarantee the product you'll be receiving. Paying a premium U fare and receiving the 772 product would certainly annoy some.

Indeed the possibility of a/c type switch between booking and travel is a reason I don't book premium economy on NZ unless I am reasonably confident a supported u/g will clear, and even then only if I think the a/c is unlikely to be 772 (in case the u/g doesn't clear).