777-300 ER mini-reviews
#301
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Posts: 1,251
Also, the new ottoman is smaller than the old one and not really practical any more for "dining together". Tried it, but it was pretty uncomfortable for sitting.
But I agree that the new BP is, overall, a big improvement.
#302
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
The larger ottoman on the old design may be part of the reason for the feeling of less space. Re the dining option, we did actually use for dining 'a deux' and it was OK (I was the one sitting on the ottoman, so I should know). I never tried it in the old one so I can't compare to that.
#303
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SYD
Programs: DJ, QF, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 2,984
Loved the 773, hated the 744.
#304
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,984
Service flows were not slow at all, but the load was so incredibly light (only about 30%) that the staff's workload was hardly typical. The overall look of everything, from cabin to menu to crockery etc was much more coordinated looking. The new plates were a huge improvement - much larger, so the main courses didn't look like they would overflow them. The food itself seemed to have a much fresher edge in taste and presentation - it seemed much more like good food you'd eat on the ground, not airline food. I would have said this was due to convection ovens, but I gather they were removed, so NZ must be doing something else differently.
To be honest, I find the red wine and champagne glasses to be a bit funky. Prefer the more traditional glasses on other aircraft.
#305
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Programs: NZ*G, QF NB, UA 1K, AA ExecPlat, IHG PlatAmb, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, ZE1 PC
Posts: 2,636
The glasses will also skate off the Premium Economy tray tables with ease - but then the table surfaces are like teflon.
#306
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,984
The red wine glasses are designed to be self righting in the event they fall over, but if they fail to stay on the tray table, I guess that is of benefit to Business Premier only.Welcome to my world!
#307
Join Date: May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 96
#310
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
So, in the absence of the convection ovens, is there anything different about the way the food is prepared on the 773s compared to the 772/744 (besides the plates it's served on)? Our food on the 773 LAX-AKL was markedly superior to subsequent flights AKL-SYD (772) and AKL-SFO (744).
I agree with whoever posted that the older style seats do somehow feel smaller than the new 773 ones. I had a comfortable night's sleep on last night's NZ8 but it just felt less roomy and a bit less comfortable - as if there were a few more edges and obstructions or something. The mattress pads do help but for me the 773 BP product is now the clear favourite, and the much improved cabin ambience beats out the nostalgic charms and quietness/privacy of the nose of the 744 (though I'll be sad to see that go, too). I even thought the 773 Y+ product looked preferable to upper deck 744 Y+... though I say that as someone who only sat in the seat for a few minutes, and didn't try to sleep in it.
I agree with whoever posted that the older style seats do somehow feel smaller than the new 773 ones. I had a comfortable night's sleep on last night's NZ8 but it just felt less roomy and a bit less comfortable - as if there were a few more edges and obstructions or something. The mattress pads do help but for me the 773 BP product is now the clear favourite, and the much improved cabin ambience beats out the nostalgic charms and quietness/privacy of the nose of the 744 (though I'll be sad to see that go, too). I even thought the 773 Y+ product looked preferable to upper deck 744 Y+... though I say that as someone who only sat in the seat for a few minutes, and didn't try to sleep in it.
#311
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 366
So, in the absence of the convection ovens, is there anything different about the way the food is prepared on the 773s compared to the 772/744 (besides the plates it's served on)? Our food on the 773 LAX-AKL was markedly superior to subsequent flights AKL-SYD (772) and AKL-SFO (744).
Originally food would have been cooked from scratch, now it is reheated onboard and then plated.
The old product had meals reheated in casserole dishes, the new product has reheated food, however it is plated onboard for better presentation and quality (e.g. you don't have vegetables sitting in sauces for hours going soggy).
#312
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
Lying down in PE?
Some of the posts in this forum mention the ability to lie down across the two middle seats if one of the seats is unoccupied. Does anyone have any experience trying to lie down across the seats when flying with a partner? The NZ YouTube video shows that this is possible, but one never knows if these are real sized people in these promos.
Also, is there any way that two people traveling in the left and right seat pairs can have more space by sleeping on/against one another?
Also, is there any way that two people traveling in the left and right seat pairs can have more space by sleeping on/against one another?
#314
formerly kiwi_norway
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: A3*G, NZ*S, Avis PC
Posts: 390
Some of the posts in this forum mention the ability to lie down across the two middle seats if one of the seats is unoccupied. Does anyone have any experience trying to lie down across the seats when flying with a partner? The NZ YouTube video shows that this is possible, but one never knows if these are real sized people in these promos.
Also, is there any way that two people traveling in the left and right seat pairs can have more space by sleeping on/against one another?
Also, is there any way that two people traveling in the left and right seat pairs can have more space by sleeping on/against one another?
On the outer seats, no chance. The outer seats are angled in such a way as to keep each seat relatively private with a bit of a dividing wall, so there's really no option for making use of both.
#315
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE / EK*GOLD
Posts: 2,510
Flew AKL-LAX last week in PE (26A, window seat) and have to say the privacy was fantastic, also I managed to get very comfortable and got a solid 7 hours sleep - all other aspects of the flight were also great (crew, food and wine)