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Air New Zealand - Premium Economy, is it worth it?

Air New Zealand - Premium Economy, is it worth it?

Old Apr 6, 2017, 2:45 am
  #1  
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Air New Zealand - Premium Economy, is it worth it?

So I'm sure this has probably been posted before at some stage, I'm new here so was hoping one of you frequest flyers could help me.
​I'm off to Canada at the end of the year and Air NZ is having a sale at the moment ($829 one way from NZ!)
I see they also have Premium Economy on this flight AKL-YVR, ( on the 777-200) however I'm not sure if I want to pay like $700 more if all I'm getting is a bit of extra leg room.
Has anyone flown on the Air NZ B777-200 in Premium Economy and enjoyed it? What where the perks and the downfalls?
I know the 777-300 they use to LA has Premium Economy too and to be honest the seats look a bit nicer.... think they're called the space seats.
Should I maybe just go to LA instead and then take a different flight to Vancouver?

please note, Im also interested in the extra baggage with PE because I'll be moving to Canada. 😊
Sarah Horner is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 3:39 am
  #2  
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Sarah Horner Welcome to FT

If you are only going NZ to Canada best to avoid USA if you can, even if its costs you some $$., USA does not have “airside” transit., You will need a USA visa/visa waiver and need to go through USA immigration, with all your checked and carry on baggage. Then to the USA Canada flight.

On Air NZ space seats are not the same as premium economy.

Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Air Canada AC (YYR – SYD, BNE from Jun 2016) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR via AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX via Tahiti. Last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
- Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX HNL – BNE SYD BNE via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL – SYD BNE) (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ JQ (HNL – SYD BNE)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK DFW HNL YVR*– SYD BNE MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
- United UA (LAX SFO – SYD MEL) [Star Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – SYD BNE) (DL partner) MEL LAX restarting 4 April 2017
And others via Asia & Middle East

Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand are (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - AKL) from 23 June 2016 [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR - AKL)[Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX - AKL via Tahiti) (AA & DL partner)
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX HNL - AKL WLG CHC via Fiji) (QF AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL-AKL)(AA & VA partner)
- Qantas QF (via SYD BNE & MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- United UA (SFO - AKL) No flights 16 April 2017 and 28 October 2017
- Virgin Australia VA (via BNE & SYD) (DL partner)
And others via Australia, Asia & Middle East

This thread will get moved to the Air NZ forum
Mwenenzi is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 4:21 am
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The new PE is more than a few more inches of legroom...and there is the extra baggage..upgraded meals etc. BUT...only you can decide if its worth the money.

The Space seats are being replaced...with the more conventional new PE...but as already mentioned the LA transit would make that option fairly nasty...
trooper is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 10:15 am
  #4  
 
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10 inches more legroom, double the recline, better meals and a quieter cabin, with greater baggage allowance, and no seat is more than one away from the aisle. Bear in mind economy is a tight 10 abreast on the 777-200, and premium economy is 8 abreast, but as trooper said it's up to you what the extra width and legroom are worth, along with a small legrest/footrest and more recline.

The better meals and service are nice to have, but it's about the seat. You can also bid for an upgrade to business from premium economy, although that would be at least a few hundred dollars more and the odds of getting it probably are not high on this route.

I'd go direct to YVR over via LAX to Canada any day (although if you can get via LAX on premium economy for a lot less, the tradeoff may be worth it).

Another option is to look at premium economy on Air Canada via Sydney, which may be cheaper although a longer trip (and if you need the baggage allowance it means going PE to Sydney) and with inferior catering.

Last edited by libertyuk; Apr 6, 2017 at 10:30 am
libertyuk is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 4:56 pm
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If you're travelling at the end of the year, no point in looking at going via LAX/SFO to get the Spaceseat as refurbishment of the 773's are due to be completed by November, meaning all 772, 773, and 789 will have the more conventional Zodiac seat.

I personally think PE is worth the extra $700 due to the points mentioned previously.
AviationNZ is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 5:26 pm
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Entirely personal

I believe the choice is entirely personal. What is worth it for an older couple on a trip of a lifetime, which perhaps does not indent into their personal finances significantly, is simply not worth it for a backpacker on their first venture to North America or Europe (it will cost them 10 days of holiday).

My 2c. If I fly for business, the company believes it's worth me having a good nights sleep so I can arrive and work the next day - and they put me closer to the front. If I fly alone or with family, I never, ever pay beyond economy. I simply have other things I do with the money, better restaurants or experiences etc. Perhaps when I get into my later years I'll pay the premium, but at the moment, I don't know how people who are young and able bodied justify it! And yes, i'm well over 6 foot tall, and flying in economy hurts.

Lastly - for freight - consider unaccompanied if you have lots, also consider other airlines who may possibly be more generous (though I love flying AirNZ up to YVR - I've been in the nose a few times!)
GeorgieNZ is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 7:47 pm
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I've gone overnight in the 777-200 (to Houston from Auckland) in premium economy. It depends how much value you put on sleep and what the cost would be to freight the rest of your things over.

With the overnight flights in PE, I'd watch a movie, eat the meal, then sleep till lights came up before breakfast. Best flight sleep ever! But, that being said, I got to the same place at the same time (just better rested and possibly better fed).

When I've done similar flights in economy, it's been more a case of dozing on and off all night but never getting restful sleep.
Shelleybgood is offline  
Old Apr 7, 2017, 1:17 am
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Premium Economy is worth it.

If you get stuck with the Spaceseat, you'll survive.

Premium Economy on AirNZ, I would highly recommend! Comfortable and the service was great!
MattJ is offline  
Old Apr 7, 2017, 4:19 pm
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Originally Posted by MattJ
Premium Economy is worth it.

If you get stuck with the Spaceseat, you'll survive.

Premium Economy on AirNZ, I would highly recommend! Comfortable and the service was great!
If it's a -200, the Spaceseat is gone. Which is a pity sine in my experience it was a heck of a lot easier to sleep in that than the new premium economy which is a terrible sleeping experience. I arrived at my destination feeling tired and sore instead of refreshed and energised.

Personally, I don't think PE is worth it. It's worth a premium certainly, but not as much of a premium as Air NZ charges. And I told them as much in the post-flight survey.
kyanar is offline  
Old Apr 7, 2017, 5:13 pm
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Well worth it IMO, great good, a lot more space and a seat that is basically what business class was 10-15 years ago.

perfect in-between product IMO.
NZDavid is offline  
Old Apr 7, 2017, 7:54 pm
  #11  
 
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I would say, what can you afford? If you can afford PE it is better than economy. If you're not sure if it's good enough value, consider:
+how well you can sleep in economy class--since both flights are overnights
+whether you want to be able to do whatever you want (work, sleep, eat, watch media) without having to worry about the persons in front or behind you?
+are you a "get me off this thing ASAP" traveller?
+are there any value-extra seats (bulkhead or similar), where even a $100 surcharge will get you much more leg room (though the TV screen will be in the arm of your seat, making it slightly more narrow)?

I'm short (1,68m) and normally can sleep in Y class with a bit of chemical assistance. But the PE experience on AKL YVR is excellent. It is NOT business class; it is much nicer than economy. But I can sometimes upgrade using my status upgrades.

Definitely the non-stop flight is worth up to $400 extra each away, to avoid LAX and US immigration crap.
jawnbc is offline  
Old Apr 8, 2017, 1:31 am
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Originally Posted by kyanar
If it's a -200, the Spaceseat is gone. Which is a pity sine in my experience it was a heck of a lot easier to sleep in that than the new premium economy which is a terrible sleeping experience. I arrived at my destination feeling tired and sore instead of refreshed and energised.

Personally, I don't think PE is worth it. It's worth a premium certainly, but not as much of a premium as Air NZ charges. And I told them as much in the post-flight survey.
tbf, I wouldn't travel PE on any airline expecting to arrive at my (longhaul) destination feeling "refreshed and energised". That's what business class is for.
brenrox is offline  
Old Apr 8, 2017, 8:57 am
  #13  
 
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I got my Perth to LAX via Auckland Premium RT ticket for $2300. I saw it at $1700 but dawdled and missed out. Worth $2300 if Economy with VA was $1600...
MattJ is offline  
Old Apr 8, 2017, 7:49 pm
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Originally Posted by brenrox
tbf, I wouldn't travel PE on any airline expecting to arrive at my (longhaul) destination feeling "refreshed and energised". That's what business class is for.
Completely agree. PE makes Economy more bearable, Business Class fundamentally improves your physical and mental wellbeing for your arrival.
GeorgieNZ is offline  
Old Apr 9, 2017, 4:06 am
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Originally Posted by GeorgieNZ
Completely agree. PE makes Economy more bearable, Business Class fundamentally improves your physical and mental wellbeing for your arrival.
That's it. I regard PE is about making flying tolerable, not feeling crammed in, less queuing for toilets, reducing the risk of either not having to get two people to get up so you can go to the bathroom, or two people asking you to do the same (yes it can be one, but when seats in front aren't reclined it can be possible to slip past the aisle seat), more shoulder and leg room, sufficient room for your hand luggage and better catering. Priority check in and extra baggage is helpful too if you don't have it from status.

Business makes it comfortable by giving you sufficient personal space to rest, work, sleep on a flat surface, freedom to move around the cabin without needing to ask others to move (or them asking you), even less queuing for toilets, reasonable quality catering and (if you don't already have it) lounge access as well making the airport experience much more relaxed and pleasant.

Business class is not luxury though, it's just how to travel to arrive being able to be as functional as you can be.

Luxury is not seen on Air NZ, but is seen in some of the First Class products available, with escorts to and from the plane, lounges with 5* restaurants and spas with pre-booked treatments, much more private seats/suites, vintage champagne, dine on demand (and yes I know some business classes have some of these too)
libertyuk is offline  

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