Air New Zealand Air Points - Wishlist for revamped J/P class!

Topic says it all really..

If the NZ premium classes were updated, what would your wishlists be? (in order of importance!) Just thought it would be interesting to see what we all place priority on! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I find that substantial parts of the current product are excellent (check-in at AKL, Lounge, Food, Crews,) the only problem areas are IFE and the seats.

IFE - not comparable with SQ Wiseman/Studio CX etc, albeit not so bad in F with the greater range.

Seats - the new SQ Spacebed /VS Upper style seats leave me sliding down towards the floor all night. The best J class at the moment, despite the acrobatics required to climb over your neighbour, IMHO is the BA one.

Is there any chance that F will stay?

A few random thoughts:

Laptop power. I've never actually used it on planes that had it, but I travel everywhere with a laptop & one day I may just be relying on it being there.

Video on demand, with substantially larger screens. If that's not financially feasible, at least replace the rack of VCRs that deliver up the movies with DVD players. Tape noise sucks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Decent noise cancelling headphones. I've just splashed out on a pair of Bose, so this is no worry to me any more, but others will appreciate it. "Decent" means Bose (as provided by American Airlines) or similar, not ineffective ones such as UA's.

Flat bed seats with motorised adjustment. However, I sleep quite well in the existing seats - I'd by no means call them uncomfortable.

And, while I didn't know there had been any suggestion that a revamped C will mean the end of F, I'd certainly like to see F remain, also revamped to the standard of SQ or CX. Maybe someday I'll get to fly it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

justakiwi

For F: suites (only reason I fly QF instead)
For C: either BA style flat seats or UA style (daytime) seats.
Empower for the whole plane (at least part of Y).
Do something about the LAX terminal (it is a nightmare and must be costing business; once QF moves to T4 this will be a huge disadvantage).
Everything else about AirNZ is good enough (or more than good enough).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by justakiwi:
Decent noise cancelling headphones. I've just splashed out on a pair of Bose, so this is no worry to me any more, but others will appreciate it. "Decent" means Bose (as provided by American Airlines) or similar, not ineffective ones such as UA's.
</font>
Sony makes NC headphones that are every bit as effective as Bose, and lighter. Much better (due to the lighter weight) and significantly cheaper (half price?). I think Bose is so expensive because they offer a money-back guarantee and have a very high return rate in the US (people buy them for their vacation, use them and return the headphones to the store after the trip is over ... making the price higher for those who actually buy). I am quite happy with my Sony phones and see no difference in the Bose noise cancellation function. It makes a huge difference in enjoying a flight.

What works well
- Koru lounges (esp. SYD).
- *G checkin
- Cabin crew service (exceptional)
- wine list
- food selections
- seats - I still find the seats to be great!
- presentation of cabin
- in flight amenity kit
- sprays and soaps etc in the lavatory
- video selections, 12 films + economy is a great selection.

What I would fix
- IFE - larger screens, the ones on NZ are really just too small.
- video on demand.
- The menu's in C have reduced down to one page of paper and the wine list seems to be a we will have a selection of wines rather than individual bottles with descriptions. This is very notceable on trans-tasmans.
- Cheese selection - on trans tasmans all you get is a single piece of cling wrapped cheese. If you pay for a C dinner flight you should get the full C service. NB this was easily solved by taking cheese from the lounge! shhhhhhhhh

I have noticed that NZ still does very well with loads in the front cabin. I would look at perhaps increasing the number of C class seats. Even if there are more upgrades it is still revenue. NB NZ reduced the number of C seats on 747s about 5-6 years ago. But I am sure the yield people would argue.

Incidentally, I believe the BD C product is the best in the market at the moment.

As for first. It is a great service, but I think beds are now a necessity and the lack of beds is an issue, as shown by the posts on the NZ and UA sections of flyertalk.

And the larger lavs, ala QF! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

And the PJs! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Mark

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by number_6:
I think Bose is so expensive because they offer a money-back guarantee and have a very high return rate in the US (people buy them for their vacation, use them and return the headphones to the store after the trip is over</font>

BOSE = Bad Overpriced Stereo Equipment http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

The n/c 'phones are great (still overpriced though) but I wouldn't touch anything else they make. I bought the low-end model in their range of audio systems a few years back because I needed something unobtrusive for the office. I later noticed it was labelled "factory renewed" and when I queried it they swore black & blue that it was brand new. If so, why was that sticker there? 'nuff said.

justakiwi

I'll follow Koruflyer's example and start with what I think works well (in C class, I've never been in F):

- excellent on board setvice from the crew
- nicely presented food (especially the desert and cheese courses, wheeled around on the trolly)
- good wines (esp. the desert wine http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif), and good selection of drinks (good port, JD, Bailey's etc.)
- lounges are good, nice selection of drinks and snacks, and friendly and helpful staff. I especially like the fact that the lounges in Nadi, Rarotonga and Papeete have a nice selection of snacks, cheeses, sandwiches and drinks - you wouldn't really expect this at these small(er) airports, an it definately does not go unnoticed.
- cabin looks great, and is always spotlessly clean
- the J seats are comfy
- the check-in lounge at Auckland is great
- limo service at Heathrow
- amenity kits are really nice
- kumara (sp?) chips that are served with the drinks, much nicer than peanuts
- that certain something, again probably something to do with the crew's service, that just makes you enjoy the flight and time fly by

What I'd like to see updated (in order of preference)

- even better selection of wines. I think the wines have been slipping over the last year - I can remember having a few glasses of Wolf Blass Grey Label with my Dad in 2000 (amoung other excellent wines), but on my last flight (LAX-LHR in April) there was nothing that I couldn't get for £6.50 at Tesco's (eg. Montana 2000 Sauvignon Blanc). I would like to see even more excellent wines from smaller NZ vineyards.

- food: larger portions, maybe even on proper plates. I'd also love to see a few more exotic selections - currys, Thai, North African dishes, and Dim Sum for breakfast (I might be the only one, though http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif)

- improved in-flight entertainment, with video on demand. I really like what Virgin, SQ and Cathay have - a large selection of movies, but also lots of documentaries, shows, and news. I especially like the games that you can play against other passengers (general knowledge quizzes etc.). Internet would be great, too.

- seats - personally I think they're great, but with more and more airlines installing flat beds, I think that's the way AirNZ should go. The SQ and CX ones don't look too good though - I'd rather not have a flat bed than sleep on a slope. If AirNZ do go for flat beds, I really think they should follow the BA model.

- nicer washrooms

- better ground service at LA. The lounge is obviously a problem (too small), but I'm not sure how easy that would be to fix (some sandwiches would be nice, though). What should be delt with is the attitude of the ground staff. Only a handfull of them are friendly or helpful in any way. Customs and immigration also takes ages, maybe AirNZ should ask them to open up a few extra counters now that everyone on NZ1/2 has to go through.

- an on-board chef would be nice, as would book-the-cook, an inflight bar, in-flight snack service, freedom menu (you're probably all thinking that all I do is eat http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif) but these might be better suited to first class.

Well, that got a bit longer than I thought it would http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Cheers, Zac

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by justakiwi:

Decent noise cancelling headphones. I've just splashed out on a pair of Bose, so this is no worry to me any more, but others will appreciate it. "Decent" means Bose (as provided by American Airlines) or similar, not ineffective ones such as UA's.

justakiwi</font>

Why aren't any Kiwis mentioning Slab's active noise reduction headphones? Slab is after all based in Auckland. I've heard some nice things about their "Aria" headsets.

http://www.slabdsp.com/aircraft.html



[This message has been edited by Quokka (edited 08-05-2002).]

Zaco,

You will be pleased to know that on a recent PER/AKL flight they served a very nice Lamb Rogan Josh. So maybe curry is on its way in! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I agree with the wines. Some of the wines in C are what they used to provide in Y a couple of years ago.

Personally, I would prefer a more varied selection. It breaks my heart to get n board, sit down and look at the wine list and see 2001 Montana Savignon Blanc! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Yes part of teh excitement to me of flying is the wine list! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Also the Aussie wines have slipped, instead of being regional (e.g. Barossa, Eden, Yarra Valleye etc) they seem to have moved more towards "Victorian" or "South Australian" which is a shame.

But the champagne is excellent and the desert wines, cognacs, ports etc are also top notch.

BTW - what is the London limo service?

As for LAX. I am not sure they can do much there. Yes more customs officers as we all have to clear through. But I think they should (1) provide sandwiches and other snacks (chips is really not enough and (2) make sure the quality of offerings in the NW lounge and the Koru lounges are the same so that it does not look like you have been sent to the third world!

Did anyone else here manage to use the NZ temporary lounge which was a "house" between T1 and T2 which was used for about 6 months in 2000. It was easily one of the best lounegs I ave been in. Lots of space, outside seating, lots of showers with room. It was a great disapointment when they had to move back and we found the T2 lounge had actually become slightly smaller!

Mark

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Koru Flyer:
It breaks my heart to get n board, sit down and look at the wine list and see 2001 Montana Savignon Blanc! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif</font>
I rather like the Montana (sold in the US as Brancott ... I buy the Reserve by the case at USD18 a bottle). I gather it isn't the Reserve that is being served? Montana is a good example of having a good wine list without spending a lot of money.
As for LAX, it is a tricky problem to solve, and money is tight (AA has a structurally completed F/C lounge in T4 that is being kept empty for over a year due to lack of funds to finish the interior!). But QF is really putting the pressure on, between the better LAX facilities in T4 when they move there (next month?) and the AKL-DFW flight starting later this year. And that flight will have the newest (plushest) interior, including 14 inch TFT video screens ... Air NZ is caught in the untenable situation of having too good of a product to compete on price, and not good enough to compete on features.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Quokka:
Why aren't any Kiwis mentioning Slab's active noise reduction headphones? Slab is after all based in Auckland. I've heard some nice things about their "Aria" headsets.
</font>

The blurb says they are powered from a jackpoint in the seat. Great for airlines as it's less likely passengers will disappear with them at the end of the flight. However, units such as the Sony & Bose are probably better for the individual buyer as their battery power means they'll work anywhere there is noise that one wants to reduce.

justakiwi

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by justakiwi:
The blurb says they are powered from a jackpoint in the seat. Great for airlines as it's less likely passengers will disappear with them at the end of the flight.</font>

And wasn't this msg thread about people's wishlists for when Air New Zealand revamps its premium classes?

My list for NZ First Class, if it survives:

Proper suites in FC, to include a flat bed and better lighting.

The LAX NZ lounge is a disgrace. The situation there needs to be fixed.

Until those two major items are fixed, I'll probably be flying UA or QF when I fly FC between LAX and AKL or SYD. (Unless the people who pick up the tab insist on NZ.)

NC headphones, better wines and IFE would all be nice, but are way down on the list below the seats and lounge.

Quokka - can you elaborate on your wish for better lighting? Would be interested in specifics.

I think we all know the problems with the LAX lounge are, however http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by airnzboy:
Quokka - can you elaborate on your wish for better lighting? Would be interested in specifics.
</font>

The last few times I flew NZ in FC, I remember being greatly disappointed that the lighting made work and reading difficult enough to be unpleasant. I recall the individual seat lighting only consisted of a single overhead non-aimable area light. It was the same type of light you typically find in the panel above coach seats on many airlines ... though on some airlines/aircraft even the coach overhead lights can aimed, unlike the NZ FC ones.

Depending on how you, your seat, and reading items were positioned you could end up with poor lighting including shadows. For example, hold your newspaper up and it would cast shadows on itself.

The little individual directional gooseneck lamps commonly found on many other airlines J/P class seats could have prevented the problems. The better gooseneck lamps include adjustable brightness controls.

I also recall the IFE control was annoying to use once you reclined your seat since it was fixed inside the armrest. Over the course of a flight, you'd see some people repeatedly have sit up from their reclined seats and need to turn on the overhead light to operate the control. Others would just push buttons until they happened to get things right. Others seemed to commit the location and feel of the various controls to memory. If the control were on an extendable cord, pax would be able to place it where they could see, reach and operate it more easily.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Quokka:
And wasn't this msg thread about people's wishlists for when Air New Zealand revamps its premium classes?</font>

And do you ever find anything to be happy about?

justakiwi

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by justakiwi:
And do you ever find anything to be happy about?

justakiwi</font>

Your quote and comment seem to be a bit of a non sequitor, but if you mean do I ever find anything to be happy about NZ's product or services then the answer is Absolutely. [sorry AN fans http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ]For Business Class travel between the US and AU/NZ, I prefer NZ over UA. However, for First Class travel, I'll likely be flying UA or QF until NZ revamps its product.

For domestic travel in NZ, I never buy business class tickets, always coach. While I could get away with buying a business class ticket or any level of coach fares on the domestic flights, I usually end up being a good consumer (and businessperson) and buy the deepest discount tickets possible. There's no need to pay more than you have to.

Those domestic flights are at most an hour long and I really don't care if I'm served airline food or not. Strangely, I've often been approached in Koru Clubs and magically upgraded to Business Class on domestic flights anyway even though I was flying on dirt cheap tickets and hadn't even requested an upgrade.

[Now if anyone wonders why someone who travels internationally in business or first gives a hoot about such things as advertising all-inclusive prices on deep discount coach fares (see other thread) it certainly isn't about the money to me. It's because I am very skilled and very passionate about best business practices and problem solving -- that also happens to be how I make quite a happy living. I'd also like to see Air New Zealand stay in business without bankrupting New Zealand itself.]


[This message has been edited by Quokka (edited 08-06-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Koru Flyer:

BTW - what is the London limo service?

</font>

On C and A fares, AirNZ offer a limo pickup service within a 55 mile radius of LHR, and 100 miles on the F fare. It's basically the same as Virgin offer (except Virgin make a huge hoohaa about it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif). I think it's only for tickets ex UK, though. At the moment they're actually offering the 100 mile pickup/drop-off service on C,A and F classes, or free J connections to/from most UK airports on BD and, if you need it, a limo service to/from that airport too. Plus a case of Lindauer Special Reserve shipped to your door. Pretty good deal if you ask me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. Airpoints seem to have completely different marketing for the UK customers, including our own version of Highpoints and special offers (eg. double points on all flights from January to March this year, but I think New Zealand got that too). If you want, I'll post some of the better offers as they come up. Sounds great about the curry! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Cheers, Zac

P.S. I'm back off to Auckland on NZ1 in about 2 and a half weeks, I'll post the wine list when I arrive

Zaco

How do you retain your NZ membership with a UK address? I have kept my Auckland address to ensure NZ doesn't cancel my membership before I use my points and/or return permanently.

Also, how do you request the limo service from LHR? I will be flying C to Auckland early next year (on NZ1), with my wife on a companion ticket using airpoints, and would love to be collected rather than face a £60 taxi fare or the Heathrow Express.

Cheers.

Hi gratn

I had to do the same thing as you until a year ago (I used my Aunt's address in Auckland), but when I made Gold Elite I asked if I could have my address transferred and they said no problem. Airpoints membership is open to UK residents, but usually only if you can supply them with a F or J ticket and boarding pass. If you want to transfer your address to the UK, call (or email) airpoints and ask them if it's possible given that you'll be travelling in C to Auckland. They'll probably only do it once you have flown, but I'm sure it'll work.

About the limo, call the travel agent with whom you booked your ticket, the details are in the fare rules and they should be able to book it for you. If your travel agent can't do it call AirNZ reservations on 0800 028 4149 and I'm sure they'll be able to sort it out. Enjoy your flight http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Cheers, Zac

edited for sp

[This message has been edited by Zaco (edited 08-06-2002).]

Thanks Zac

When we fly to NZ we will be back there for good (no more weekends in Paris, Prague etc. Boo hoo) so won't need to change to a UK address. I will talk to our travel agent about the limo service.

Grant