May 2, 2025, 4:45 am
Last edit by: NZbutterfly
787 RETROFIT
Expected timeline for completion, 7 by the end of 2025 and all 14 by end of 2026.
⌛️= working days to be completed, travel to/from Singapore excluded.
Completed:
2025
✅ ZK-NZH⌛️184d 🛬 Auckland 16 Apr 🛫 Brisbane 19 May ✨Inaugural✨
✅ ZK-NZI ⌛️75d 🛬 Auckland 13 Jun 🛫 Brisbane 18 Jun
✅ ZK-NZK⌛️76d 🛬 Auckland 23 Jul 🛫 Shanghai 2 Aug
✅ ZK-NZG⌛️56d 🛬 Auckland 19 Aug 🛫 Perth 21 Aug
✅ ZK-NZC⌛️74d 🛬 Auckland 10 Oct 🛫 Brisbane 11 Oct
✅ ZK-NZR⌛️98d 🛬 Auckland 20 Dec 🛫 Avarua 21 Dec
✅ ZK-NZE⌛️83d 🛬 Auckland 22 Jan 🛫 Melbourne 24 Jan
2026
In progress:
🔧 ZK-NZN arrived SIN 27 Feb
Pending:
V1 ⏳ ZK-NZD arrived Alice Springs storage/other reason 12 Sep / ZK-NZJ arrived ASP 3rd Oct
V1 ⏳ ZK-NZF
V2 ⏳ ZK-NZL / ZK-NZM / ZK-NZQ
Layout and features:
💺 aeroLOPA version
💺 Air New Zealand version
🎥 Stuff media walkthrough video of BP, PE, Y with IFE demonstration
📸 Air NZ media photos: BP, PE, and Y
📸 Individual photos: BP footwell & charging outlets, privacy slider middle seat & towards aisle, BP Luxe
💡Tip for finding completed retrofits, look for 787-9. Others are listed only as 787. See post #237
Scheduled routes LH YVR, SFO, PVG, HKG, TPE, DPS > HNL 🌏
Scheduled routes SH BNE, SYD, MEL & PER 🦘
Scheduled routes SH RAR > APW, PPT, NAN,TBU 🌴
✍️ Reviews:
J: P22 321, 333 P23 322, 331 P24 post 352, 354, 355, 356, 368, P26 post 377, P28 post 412 P30 post 450
📢 Post re:Unsold BP Luxe seat allocations (may be implemented when more refurbs have returned)
Expected timeline for completion, 7 by the end of 2025 and all 14 by end of 2026.
⌛️= working days to be completed, travel to/from Singapore excluded.
Completed:
2025
✅ ZK-NZH⌛️184d 🛬 Auckland 16 Apr 🛫 Brisbane 19 May ✨Inaugural✨
✅ ZK-NZI ⌛️75d 🛬 Auckland 13 Jun 🛫 Brisbane 18 Jun
✅ ZK-NZK⌛️76d 🛬 Auckland 23 Jul 🛫 Shanghai 2 Aug
✅ ZK-NZG⌛️56d 🛬 Auckland 19 Aug 🛫 Perth 21 Aug
✅ ZK-NZC⌛️74d 🛬 Auckland 10 Oct 🛫 Brisbane 11 Oct
✅ ZK-NZR⌛️98d 🛬 Auckland 20 Dec 🛫 Avarua 21 Dec
✅ ZK-NZE⌛️83d 🛬 Auckland 22 Jan 🛫 Melbourne 24 Jan
2026
In progress:
🔧 ZK-NZN arrived SIN 27 Feb
Pending:
V1 ⏳ ZK-NZD arrived Alice Springs storage/other reason 12 Sep / ZK-NZJ arrived ASP 3rd Oct
V1 ⏳ ZK-NZF
V2 ⏳ ZK-NZL / ZK-NZM / ZK-NZQ
Layout and features:
💺 aeroLOPA version
💺 Air New Zealand version
🎥 Stuff media walkthrough video of BP, PE, Y with IFE demonstration
📸 Air NZ media photos: BP, PE, and Y
📸 Individual photos: BP footwell & charging outlets, privacy slider middle seat & towards aisle, BP Luxe
💡Tip for finding completed retrofits, look for 787-9. Others are listed only as 787. See post #237
Scheduled routes LH YVR, SFO, PVG, HKG, TPE, DPS > HNL 🌏
Scheduled routes SH BNE, SYD, MEL & PER 🦘
Scheduled routes SH RAR > APW, PPT, NAN,TBU 🌴
✍️ Reviews:
J: P22 321, 333 P23 322, 331 P24 post 352, 354, 355, 356, 368, P26 post 377, P28 post 412 P30 post 450
📢 Post re:Unsold BP Luxe seat allocations (may be implemented when more refurbs have returned)
when is NZ's new Business starting [Retrofitted 787 aircraft]?
May 25, 2025 | 1:44 pm
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Plat
Posts: 12,706
Seat map for ZK-NZH flying YVR-AKL on 25 May (PDT) today, currently on its way to YVR.
Quite a light load in premium cabins (C4D4Z4J3 U7E7O7A0 Y7B7M7H7Q7V7W7T7L0S0G0X0K0P0)
Quite a light load in premium cabins (C4D4Z4J3 U7E7O7A0 Y7B7M7H7Q7V7W7T7L0S0G0X0K0P0)
May 25, 2025 | 2:53 pm
#332
Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 5
Additional thoughts from my overnight experience,
The table is smaller and when deployed the range of movement is less, which means it is difficult to leave your seat without stowing the table. I did enjoy being able to work with a laptop on the old table; being able to slide it forward to easily leave the seat without needing to stow.
We had quite a bit of turbulence for the first approx 2hrs of sleep, and stowed tables rattled a lot, similar to on take off.
The mattress topper is retained, it felt a little thicker than previous but that maybe due to being new. Very straightforward to put the seat into bed position with touch of button.
The bed appears wider but the footwell is quite narrow, which pinned my legs together tightly for sleeping, and Im only 510
A big plus in my view is the privacy - when everyone has their screen pulled and seat slightly reclined, you cannot see the person opposite across the aisle.
As mentioned prior the screen is big with great definition, and snappy response time from the OS.
The aisles are noticeably tighter and difficult for two people to pass but understandable since the cabin is four abreast instead of three.
Just from a cursory glance at the Luxe seats as I was walking past, Im not sure they offer much more than the standard seat, other than an additional forward privacy screen.
The table is smaller and when deployed the range of movement is less, which means it is difficult to leave your seat without stowing the table. I did enjoy being able to work with a laptop on the old table; being able to slide it forward to easily leave the seat without needing to stow.
We had quite a bit of turbulence for the first approx 2hrs of sleep, and stowed tables rattled a lot, similar to on take off.
The mattress topper is retained, it felt a little thicker than previous but that maybe due to being new. Very straightforward to put the seat into bed position with touch of button.
The bed appears wider but the footwell is quite narrow, which pinned my legs together tightly for sleeping, and Im only 510
A big plus in my view is the privacy - when everyone has their screen pulled and seat slightly reclined, you cannot see the person opposite across the aisle.
As mentioned prior the screen is big with great definition, and snappy response time from the OS.
The aisles are noticeably tighter and difficult for two people to pass but understandable since the cabin is four abreast instead of three.
Just from a cursory glance at the Luxe seats as I was walking past, Im not sure they offer much more than the standard seat, other than an additional forward privacy screen.
agree on the table - I also liked that about the old ones. Although you can have your feet in the footwell comfortably while dining, I couldnt do this previously.
overall I really like the additional nooks and crannies. Usually have multiple devices out and this wasnt very comfortable in the previous seats. Its nice to have a few spots you can put a drink/cuppa that isnt a super tiny little table right by your shoulder.
call bell is in a funny spot - very easy to accidentally bump with your elbow.
May 25, 2025 | 5:35 pm
#333
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 7,066
Were the 4 luxe seats full? If you're a gambler I definitely think the best strategy is going to be not selecting a seat in the hope of nabbing one for free when they allocate seats as if the cabin is full somebody has to be sitting there.
May 25, 2025 | 9:05 pm
#334
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 79
Yes the four luxe seats were full
May 26, 2025 | 12:16 am
#336
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Plat
Posts: 12,706
May 26, 2025 | 12:42 am
#337
Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 5
May 26, 2025 | 4:33 am
#338
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: NZ *E
Posts: 463
Wishful thinking, but Id hope they would bump up revenue passengers to those seats rather than just filling it with those who have upgraded from PE
May 26, 2025 | 4:34 am
#339
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: NZ *E
Posts: 463
Additional thoughts from my overnight experience,
The table is smaller and when deployed the range of movement is less, which means it is difficult to leave your seat without stowing the table. I did enjoy being able to work with a laptop on the old table; being able to slide it forward to easily leave the seat without needing to stow.
We had quite a bit of turbulence for the first approx 2hrs of sleep, and stowed tables rattled a lot, similar to on take off.
The mattress topper is retained, it felt a little thicker than previous but that maybe due to being new. Very straightforward to put the seat into bed position with touch of button.
The bed appears wider but the footwell is quite narrow, which pinned my legs together tightly for sleeping, and Im only 510
A big plus in my view is the privacy - when everyone has their screen pulled and seat slightly reclined, you cannot see the person opposite across the aisle.
As mentioned prior the screen is big with great definition, and snappy response time from the OS.
The aisles are noticeably tighter and difficult for two people to pass but understandable since the cabin is four abreast instead of three.
Just from a cursory glance at the Luxe seats as I was walking past, Im not sure they offer much more than the standard seat, other than an additional forward privacy screen.
The table is smaller and when deployed the range of movement is less, which means it is difficult to leave your seat without stowing the table. I did enjoy being able to work with a laptop on the old table; being able to slide it forward to easily leave the seat without needing to stow.
We had quite a bit of turbulence for the first approx 2hrs of sleep, and stowed tables rattled a lot, similar to on take off.
The mattress topper is retained, it felt a little thicker than previous but that maybe due to being new. Very straightforward to put the seat into bed position with touch of button.
The bed appears wider but the footwell is quite narrow, which pinned my legs together tightly for sleeping, and Im only 510
A big plus in my view is the privacy - when everyone has their screen pulled and seat slightly reclined, you cannot see the person opposite across the aisle.
As mentioned prior the screen is big with great definition, and snappy response time from the OS.
The aisles are noticeably tighter and difficult for two people to pass but understandable since the cabin is four abreast instead of three.
Just from a cursory glance at the Luxe seats as I was walking past, Im not sure they offer much more than the standard seat, other than an additional forward privacy screen.
May 26, 2025 | 7:50 am
#340
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 79
May 26, 2025 | 8:15 pm
#341
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 347
I'm planning to book AKL-DPS routes. it will be on 787 between 29 Oct 2025- 7 March 2026, it's safe to say if I book for march 2026, the 787 will get the new one? I believe by that time I expect half of their 787 fleet already got retrofitt
May 26, 2025 | 8:46 pm
#342
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,559
May 27, 2025 | 4:34 pm
#343
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: NZ GE, QF
Posts: 489
Great idea. It makes good economic sense to give it to the Elite revenue passenger rather than the upgrade. There should be advantages to being a revenue passenger, to encourage spending.
but things can change...
