Air New Zealand Air Points - Premium Economy - Worth It? Best Seats?

HI all, great to have discovered this forum, I'm an enthusiast, travel a bit (never enough of course) and just love planes.

I've been doing a lot of research before my wife and I embark on our SYD-AKL-HKG-LHR-LAX-AKL-SYD flight next year. (My first Europe trip.. ^ )

The big debates in my head are Economy vs Premium Economy and what seats to go for. I've got my sights set on PE, but it seems that the 777 PE is considered a waste of money, but the 747 not too bad at all. So I've chosen 747's for 3 out of the 4 big sectors (all but LHR-LAX) as the upstairs does appeal, I'm tall so the legroom is a bonus and I like good wine, so avoiding the cheap and nasty Economy wine selection is another plus. At the end of the day though, I'm just hoping I can get a better sleep!! (And no, we can't bring ourselves to pay for Business, but I'll be putting in for AP standby upgrades that's for sure, but don't like my chances in June!!)

I saw somewhere recently that the bulkhead seats on the 747 in PE have been renumbered and are now in row 22, not 23 as previously thought. I assume this is correct because I managed to get preseated in 22JK in my tentative booking. So if it didn't exist, I doubt I could have done that!!

My questions regarding Premium Economy to anyone who can answer.... Thanks in advance for your help!!

1) Is the bulkhead row really the best?? I'm concerned about losing some width and convenience due to the IFE system in the armrest and the tray table as well. Maybe going one row back is better?? (apart from the loss of some legroom of course).

2) Seatguru mentions it can get cold near the exit row?? Is this true?? My wife won't be happy if so, but I suspect I might like it a little cooler as I often find flights a bit warm and stuffy.

3) And possibly most important... If I'm in the bulkhead row upstairs on the right - 747 in PE (used to be 23JK, now called 22JK) - Can I see easily out of the window?????

4) A little bit OT, if I book an Economy Round The World fare with Star Alliance, anyone know what booking class that is??

Cheers everyone
TiggerK

Welcome to FT TiggerK
(My first Europe trip.. ^ )Enjoy!


1) Is the bulkhead row really the best?? I'm concerned about losing some width and convenience due to the IFE system in the armrest and the tray table as well. Maybe going one row back is better?? (apart from the loss of some legroom of course).I thought the IFE and tray table were in the armrest of every PE seat, but either way yes - the bulkhead row really is the best. And the JK side the pick of the bulkheads too.

2) Seatguru mentions it can get cold near the exit row?? Is this true?? My wife won't be happy if so, but I suspect I might like it a little cooler as I often find flights a bit warm and stuffy.I would say marginally colder, but nothing long sleeves and socks won't fix.

3) And possibly most important... If I'm in the bulkhead row upstairs on the right - 747 in PE (used to be 23JK, now called 22JK) - Can I see easily out of the window?????No, not really. You can see, but not easily, This because the nearest window is about level with the seatback so you have to turn your head through 90 degrees.

TiggerK, welcome to FF.

As you've probably noticed from the other thread on this topic, I am also looking at doing this trip next year, albeit starting from LHR. I have looked at so many possible routes and permutations that I feel quite dizzy. I was convinced for quite a while that ANZ PE was the way to go, and others on this forum persuaded me that flying LHR - LAX - AKL was the better route, partly because it continues to MEL, which is wjere I actually want to get to. Recently, however, I have been put off a bit by some not-so good reports. Some of them criticised the food as being same as economy, which is what is standard in PE anyway! My main concern is legroom. Again, many people here on FF have pointed out the superior width of the VS seat in PE. It is currently 20.5 inches (IIRC), and these are being replaced as I type for 21.5 inches. Now, I am 5' 10" and 75 kilos, so not really challenged in a horizontal manner at all, but 18.5 against 21.5 seems like quite a lot of difference, although it depends of course on how wide the armrests are. To sum up, I will only go ANZ if I can be guaranteed a 744, and an upstairs seat. Otherwise, I will be looking very hard at VS.
That's been my thoughts so far. Incidentally, looking at various fares, I notice they go up in July to 14th August, then drop from 15th August. I want to go end Aug/beginning Sept. Seemed a strange time for fares to drop.

Hmm, yes the drop in mid August could well be people avoiding Europe as many countries take a common holiday (Italy and France included, not sure about UK) then and the whole place is a nightmare.

I've just confirmed both directions in PE via HKG, as it's 747's all the way and O class via LAX were sold out anyway at the time we wanted to go. I've got the AirNZ airpoints, so wasn't going to try other airlines, but if you're free to choose, it looks like VS is worth a good look.

You do get a better baggage allowance though if any part of your trip goes via the US. I think it's 2 x 20kg as opposed to 20kg only via HKG. But we're trying to travel light, so not too fussed.

LHR to LAX are only 777, LAX to AKL can be 777 or 747, AKL to LHR are only 777. So if you want a 747 and therefore an upstairs seat, go via HKG. Could be a bit cheaper as well.

But it's also worth considering that LHR-AKL via HKG is 747, and the Economy class on 747 is 34" which is pretty good, especially since you're not 6'4". With the money you save, you could even consider AKL-MEL in Business, or look at staying in a nicer hotel!!!

Cheers
TiggerK

Oh, no..... not more permutations! I know that ANZ switches the 744 / 777 on the routes to AKL depending on demand and time of year; Personally I would prefer to avoid going via LAX at the moment. Now that you mention it, my wife and I would probably be comfortable in Y with 34" pitch, but my son, at 6' 2" is the one who needs a bit more legroom. Maybe we'll bung him upstairs! In that case, what are good seats in Y? (Another can of worms here...). We don't have any NZ miles or status, and my son is planning on going to MEL uni next year, so I'm hoping that between the three of us, we can generate enough miles on whatever airline we take now to pay for his following flight out!

Personally I would prefer to avoid going via LAX at the moment. Now that you mention it, my wife and I would probably be comfortable in Y with 34" pitch, but my son, at 6' 2" is the one who needs a bit more legroom. Maybe we'll bung him upstairs!

The showers in the Air NZ lounge at LAX are great. Access of course depends on your FF status. AFAIK, PE does not get you into the lounge. Upstairs PE is worth it on the 747, your son will appreciate it at 6'2" (I do at just over 6'). Seats on the right side of the plane are better as there are only 2 seats on that side. Not all that impressed with PE on the 777.

Thanks, Buzz. The general drift over the past few weeks has been that PE may only be a marginal benefit (taking into account the extra cost) on the 777, and possibly downstairs on the 744. Upstairs on the 744 is probably worthwhile, especially if you are going the whole hog LHR-MEL, and as you say, the right side of the upper deck is preferable, but avoid the last row or two if you have to sit on the left. Seems to sum it up.

My thinking for a planned LHR-AKL-LHR was that the marginal benefit for PE over Economy was not worth the difference in price, so "what the hell" and went for Business Premier instead, will get lots and lots of miles to burn for further business class flights (especially through BMI's cash + miles options).

My thinking for a planned LHR-AKL-LHR was that the marginal benefit for PE over Economy was not worth the difference in price, so "what the hell" and went for Business Premier instead, will get lots and lots of miles to burn for further business class flights (especially through BMI's cash + miles options).

Nice one, Redshift. Only wish I could afford to do that for 3 adults! The generated Miles certainly helps to offset the cost, if you know that you will be able to use them.
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