Air New Zealand Air Points - J class questions: pyjamas etc

First time on NZ for LAX-AKL-MEL-AKL-SFO. Flying in J and wondering what exzperience is like compared to QF, CX, LH, BA etc. How is AVOD, food, etc. Also are pyjamas provided?

So much better that it is on another page to QF, LH & BA. Better than CX, but not in the dimension that it is better than the others.

Especially on the 777, which you will have LAX->AKL->MEL, the 747 which you will have from AKL->SFO has a similar business product, just not as good AVOD, which can be more than made up for if you're able to get a seat upstairs, or either of the 2 in the nose.

No PJ's on AirNZ, but just wear some Qantas ones, sending them a subtle hint, as I always do....

So much better that it is on another page to QF, LH & BA. Better than CX, but not in the dimension that it is better than the others.

Especially on the 777, which you will have LAX->AKL->MEL, the 747 which you will have from AKL->SFO has a similar business product, just not as good AVOD, which can be more than made up for if you're able to get a seat upstairs, or either of the 2 in the nose.

No PJ's on AirNZ, but just wear some Qantas ones, sending them a subtle hint, as I always do....

Thought AKL-SFO also on 773?

773's are only on the LAX route for long-haul

Thought AKL-SFO also on 773?

SFO is NZ sole 744 route

So much better that it is on another page to QF, LH & BA. Better than CX, but not in the dimension that it is better than the others. ....
Note that NZ sell their Front end product as "Business Premium" - being a Hybrid First/Business class product, so it really should be better than the "Business" product of other airlines in the region.

Note that NZ sell their Front end product as "Business Premium" - being a Hybrid First/Business class product, so it really should be better than the "Business" product of other airlines in the region.

The class name is actually "Business Premier". Premier is normally taken to mean "first", so it strongly does imply it is a hybrid of business / first class.

http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/business-premier

It also looks like the amenity box is no more and it's the container used for premium economy now.

earlier this month the BP Amenity kits long haul were in the same packet as shown in the picture as PE, although the contains may differ?

earlier this month the BP Amenity kits long haul were in the same packet as shown in the picture as PE, although the contains may differ?

Yep, it's in that poxy pseudo cotton envelope. I didn't think things could get much worse than the box, but yet again AirNZ manages to do the unimaginable.

They really cheapen their product with cr@p like this. Really, how much does a nice little make up bag, such as most other airlines use, cost. Especially in today's world with every mum & pop knock off shop in china able to produce these things for nix.

I found it really practical, and light. Much better than the box anyway!

I found it really practical, and light. Much better than the box anyway!

A plastic bag would be better than the box.
As if my space isn't valuable enough without having to find a space next to me for that stupid box.

As an aside, what's with the cotton tied edge to the PE pouch? You know, the part you have to tear open? Of course, I suppose it's cheaper to manufacture a stitch than a zip (or a button).

;)

Actually, why does AirNZ stop at the cotton pouches?
Why not just pop all the goodies into plastic ziplock bags?

:D

They did use zip-lock style semi-see-through plastic bags in Business for a while... it must have been more than five years ago now. I don't think the customers thought much of it.

They did use zip-lock style semi-see-through plastic bags in Business for a while... it must have been more than five years ago now. I don't think the customers thought much of it.

It looked a bit cheap, found this online.

http://www.harshbutfair.org/linked/airliners.net/ToSouthAmerica/03_amenities.jpg

They moved to a corduroy style drawstring back, I think around 2008?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VlGukQ-eF9w/SgAiCYcK3JI/AAAAAAAABEc/EaV-X-gw4x0/s320/AKL-NRT-ZRH+008.JPG

Personally I'm in favor of the box since it was easier to put in the rollerboard.

So much better that it is on another page to QF, LH & BA. Better than CX, but not in the dimension that it is better than the others. ....Note that NZ sell their Front end product as "Business Premium" - being a Hybrid First/Business class product, so it really should be better than the "Business" product of other airlines in the region.

The class name is actually "Business Premier". Premier is normally taken to mean "first", so it strongly does imply it is a hybrid of business / first class.

http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/business-premier

It also looks like the amenity box is no more and it's the container used for premium economy now.Well, after travelling last night on NZ5, the "Business Premier" Soft product is now indeed sub standard to that of other airlines in the region.

The personableness of the FA's in general is still way up there (aside from one FA last night who ran his cabin with smug Teutonic efficiency).

While the Hard Product in bed layout for sleeping is still the most comfortable I have come across, severe cutbacks in the catering since the fanfare of lasts years 773 product launch have reduced it to a mere shell, easily outdone by Qantas for example.

I was extremely disappointed and withdraw my comment in post #6 - there's nothing Premium or indeed premier about it at the moment.

It's all about opinions isn't it.

I've done AKL-LHR rtn twice and a trip to SFO in NZ and another AKL-SYD-LHR in QF in the last 2 months and I would take the NZ product over QF anytime. Problems on all sectors with QF. Aside one seriously crap 'light meal' on LHR-LAX NZ was fantastic. My Singapore flight last year was great and prob similar to NZ from my perspective but timings don't suit.

Well, after travelling last night on NZ5, the "Business Premier" Soft product is now indeed sub standard to that of other airlines in the region.

The personableness of the FA's in general is still way up there (aside from one FA last night who ran his cabin with smug Teutonic efficiency).

While the Hard Product in bed layout for sleeping is still the most comfortable I have come across, severe cutbacks in the catering since the fanfare of lasts years 773 product launch have reduced it to a mere shell, easily outdone by Qantas for example.

I was extremely disappointed and withdraw my comment in post #6 - there's nothing Premium or indeed premier about it at the moment.

The cooked meals have declined in quality somewhat (based on the fare in J last week/3 weeks ago).
While still very good (and much better than Y), they aren't to the same standard they were to this time last year. Whatever happened to freshly cooked steak to order?

SFO is NZ sole 744 route

i wanted to fly that but couldn't find award availbility in C :( i didn't feel like flying in coach or buying a C ticket


how is the 772 out of HKG?

I heard lots of postives about NZ business premier.... now i am becoming slightly concerned..

I have never flown NZ and was excited to try it.... however I am wreary by the fact that it appears the catering in C is the same as in the premium economy is this the case?


i used miles for the ticket i guess i could cancel or look for another option to get to NZ...

:confused: ..... i don't know what to think after reading this

The cooked meals have declined in quality somewhat (based on the fare in J last week/3 weeks ago).
While still very good (and much better than Y), they aren't to the same standard they were to this time last year. Whatever happened to freshly cooked steak to order?

Freshly cooked steak went away with the convection ovens, which were removed from the 773 galleys after the first few months of service - apparently due to reliability issues?

My last LHR-LAX-AKL BP r/t in Dec-Jan was 3 out of 4 for superb catering. The LHR-LAX leg in particular was amazing both for food & service quality. AKL-LAX was the only slight letdown with a delayed flight, full cabin, and some rather nasty scrambled eggs.

It would be disappointing if catering standards have declined since then!

Don't forget that the 772/744 have a different catering style to the 773. Are you comparing flights on the same aircraft type?

Freshly cooked steak went away with the convection ovens, which were removed from the 773 galleys after the first few months of service - apparently due to reliability issues?

My last LHR-LAX-AKL BP r/t in Dec-Jan was 3 out of 4 for superb catering. The LHR-LAX leg in particular was amazing both for food & service quality. AKL-LAX was the only slight letdown with a delayed flight, full cabin, and some rather nasty scrambled eggs.

It would be disappointing if catering standards have declined since then!

Don't forget that the 772/744 have a different catering style to the 773. Are you comparing flights on the same aircraft type?

Ahhh, well that would explain the missing steak - I'd been wondering where/why that went!

Our most recent flight was AKL-LAX-LHR return on the 773.
It was mostly excellent (the staff were extremely good, better than usual - I suspect they've had some customer service refreshers).
The food was also very good, but just not the excellent quality it was when the 773 product emerged. My husband noticed the same slight decline in cooked food quality.

...
The food was also very good, but just not the excellent quality it was when the 773 product emerged. My husband noticed the same slight decline in cooked food quality.I must admit the poached eggs on Monday morning were cooked perfectly.

However, there indeed has been a significant deterioration in what is available.

See this thread for a comparison between the original and current Supper menus (LAX-AKL):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-new-zealand-air-points/1341872-real-decline-business-premiere-catering-773-since-introduced.html#post18496509

I heard lots of postives about NZ business premier.... now i am becoming slightly concerned..

I liked my experience on NZ in C. Probably not as good soft product as CX but definitely great hard product on 777. The 747 upstairs was a bit disappointing but I just slept a lot...

We had the 777 on 3 out of 4 routes-BNE-AKL, AKL-RAR and RAR-AKL which was awesome-lie flat seats, very comfy!

The last flight was a 767-reminded me more of a glorified exit row economy than a real J class.

The last flight was a 767-reminded me more of a glorified exit row economy than a real J class.Are you being deliberately flippant? The 767 Business seat is by far and away better than any economy seat I have ever heard of. Although I admit I prefer to have two seats when flying it. I also tend to find the service is better on services operated by the 767 than other longhaul NZ aircraft.