Seat width on Air NZ long haul--anti-customer
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MEL
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Seat width on Air NZ long haul--anti-customer
I thought this was interesting: Airbus have done some research on seats and found that people sleep significantly better in an 18" seat than a 17" seat. Seems to me there has to be some marginal benefit to airlines of people going to sleep and staying that way too, in terms of reduced food and beverage spend. Air NZ is going backward on this, especially for their long-haul product, and the article made me reconsider SG (if I have to travel Y, which I generally prefer to avoid).\
Also, seriously? Jetstar do better on this that Air NZ.
Also, seriously? Jetstar do better on this that Air NZ.
Last edited by Placebogirl; Oct 29, 2013 at 6:18 pm Reason: fix link
#2
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,095
My research says that regardless of the width of the seat you'll never sleep at all with a screaming kid.
In all seriousness my Air NZ 77W economy flight back from LAX a few weeks ago was a horrible experience. The back of the plane was like a zoo full of screaming kids and the world's most uncomfortable economy seat I've ever come across. I'd had better 1-2 hour sleeps on an A320 to Aussie.
In all seriousness my Air NZ 77W economy flight back from LAX a few weeks ago was a horrible experience. The back of the plane was like a zoo full of screaming kids and the world's most uncomfortable economy seat I've ever come across. I'd had better 1-2 hour sleeps on an A320 to Aussie.
#3
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Probably not much consolation Sbiddle, but I bet none of the parents were asleep either; short of flat out exhaustion I can't imagine falling asleep travelling with Placebomini because a) without supervision goodness only knows what he'd try to get up to (he's crawling and just starting to toddle) and b) because I'd rather he was happy and (mostly) quiet than unhappy and annoying the crap out of everyone including me.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2013
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The poor guy next to me was a GE who had his wife and 2 kids in a skycouch next to us. He'd planned on a RU to BP as some luxury to escape a week of screaming kids at theme parks but the flight was 100% full in PE and BP so he was stuck down the back like me!
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,934
Airbus is playing to their strengths with this study.
The A320 is marginally better than the B737.
Only the leisure outliers (eg Air Asia X) are putting 3x3x3 on an A333.
But an extra column seats is becoming too tempting among 787 and 777 operators...
The A320 is marginally better than the B737.
Only the leisure outliers (eg Air Asia X) are putting 3x3x3 on an A333.
But an extra column seats is becoming too tempting among 787 and 777 operators...
#7
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: NZ*E
Posts: 106
In view of the discussion about economy seat sizes, the following chart might help (made with the assistance of Seatguru.com). It seems the various Airbus models offer slightly wider seats (perhaps their planes are a little wider), but AirNZ seats are among the narrowest available and getting smaller.
Not much interest to those who fly in the front of the plane, but most of us are down the back!
Measurements in inches, and seat pitch is the distance between the seats
Airline Aircraft Seat width Seat Pitch
AirNZ Boeing 747 17.8 32 - 34
AirNZ Boeing 767 17.5 31 - 35
AirNZ Boeing 777-200 17.8 31 - 33
AirNZ Boeing 777-300 17.1 32 - 33
Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340 18.0 33
Cathay Pacific Airbus A340 17.8 32
China Airlines Airbus A330 18.0 32
China Southern Boeing 787 17.2 31 - 33
Emirates Boeing 777-300 17.0 32
Emirates Airbus 380 18.0 32 - 34
Korean Air Boeing 747 18.0 32 - 34
LAN Airbus A340 18.0 32 - 34
Malaysian Boeing 777-200 17.0 34
Qantas* Boeing 747 17.5 31
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 19 32
Thai Airlines Boeing 777-200 18 31 - 32
* From Sydney
Not much interest to those who fly in the front of the plane, but most of us are down the back!
Measurements in inches, and seat pitch is the distance between the seats
Airline Aircraft Seat width Seat Pitch
AirNZ Boeing 747 17.8 32 - 34
AirNZ Boeing 767 17.5 31 - 35
AirNZ Boeing 777-200 17.8 31 - 33
AirNZ Boeing 777-300 17.1 32 - 33
Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340 18.0 33
Cathay Pacific Airbus A340 17.8 32
China Airlines Airbus A330 18.0 32
China Southern Boeing 787 17.2 31 - 33
Emirates Boeing 777-300 17.0 32
Emirates Airbus 380 18.0 32 - 34
Korean Air Boeing 747 18.0 32 - 34
LAN Airbus A340 18.0 32 - 34
Malaysian Boeing 777-200 17.0 34
Qantas* Boeing 747 17.5 31
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 19 32
Thai Airlines Boeing 777-200 18 31 - 32
* From Sydney
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wellington
Programs: QFWP (LTSG), NZ (Jade), TG ROP (Forgotten), OZ (Silver), AA (Cardboard), EK (Lowest of the Low)
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Just remember that it is up to the airline on how they configure the aricraft not the OEM.
Seat width can also be manipulated, NZ 777-300ER, seats have narrower armrests and aisles and extra legroom can depend on seat thickness as well.
I will not travel long haul in economy on a 10 across 777 and a 9 across 787. Unfortunately Boeing's and selected airlines' offering are making this standard rather than the exception.
I would prefer a 10 across A380 or 747, 8 across 787, A330 or A340 and a 7 across 767 than a 10 across 777, 9 across 787 or A330 and accordingly book my travel.
Seat width can also be manipulated, NZ 777-300ER, seats have narrower armrests and aisles and extra legroom can depend on seat thickness as well.
I will not travel long haul in economy on a 10 across 777 and a 9 across 787. Unfortunately Boeing's and selected airlines' offering are making this standard rather than the exception.
I would prefer a 10 across A380 or 747, 8 across 787, A330 or A340 and a 7 across 767 than a 10 across 777, 9 across 787 or A330 and accordingly book my travel.
#9
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In view of the discussion about economy seat sizes, the following chart might help (made with the assistance of Seatguru.com). It seems the various Airbus models offer slightly wider seats (perhaps their planes are a little wider), but AirNZ seats are among the narrowest available and getting smaller.
Last edited by SeriouslyLost; Nov 3, 2013 at 10:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
Programs: NZ, EK, QF, SQ.
Posts: 776
All I can add is that, for flights NZ to UK, I now choose Emirates over Air NZ, simply because I appreciate the extra seat width on the Emirates A380. It makes a huge difference on a 12-hour flight.
NZ have almost lost me as a long-haul customer and I just use them for domestic flights.
NZ have almost lost me as a long-haul customer and I just use them for domestic flights.