Best lay-flat seat to SYD/AKL from California
Jul 16, 2011, 7:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2
Best lay-flat seat to SYD/AKL from California
We're planning a trip to Australia and possibly NZ in Nov-Dec from San Jose, California. My primary consideration for choosing an airline is finding the most comfortable biz-class seat for the trip because of a chronic pain condition.
Air NZ has a flight SFO-AKL which is a shorter trip of 12 hours; this flight is on a 747-400 class (some good pictures here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12023217-post30.html).
V Australia LAX-SYD has a different type of seat on the Boeing 777 which apparently has a partial recline, some good pics here: http://www.theage.com.au/photogaller...0226-8ir2.html
Of course, using V Australia trip requires first traveling SJC-LAX, and then a 15-hour trip vs. 12, so this option adds about six hours to the total travel time.
Would appreciate any information on the two seat options and any other thoughts you might share.
Air NZ has a flight SFO-AKL which is a shorter trip of 12 hours; this flight is on a 747-400 class (some good pictures here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12023217-post30.html).
V Australia LAX-SYD has a different type of seat on the Boeing 777 which apparently has a partial recline, some good pics here: http://www.theage.com.au/photogaller...0226-8ir2.html
Of course, using V Australia trip requires first traveling SJC-LAX, and then a 15-hour trip vs. 12, so this option adds about six hours to the total travel time.
Would appreciate any information on the two seat options and any other thoughts you might share.
Jul 16, 2011, 7:45 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BNE
Programs: QF WP (LTG), AA, SPG Gold, IC Plat Amb, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold.
Posts: 804
Are you particularly excluding Qantas from your calculations? The A380 Skybed MkII is fully flat, and the 747 and A330 versions are good as well (slightly sloped but fully flat).
There is an A330 service LAX - AKL, and 747 and A380 services LAX-SYD.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...lass/global/en
There is an A330 service LAX - AKL, and 747 and A380 services LAX-SYD.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...lass/global/en
Jul 16, 2011, 8:33 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2
No, I don't mean to exclude Qantas. I think I got away from them because my travel agent, who is an "expert" in Australia, indicated that she thinks ANZ and Virgin are better airline choices. Thanks for that link - those Skybed seats look pretty good.
The 747-400 seats concern me a bit because from reading and photos, it seems that they don't recline much and have no footrest. I see pictures of people using the 'ottoman' side chair as a footrest, but that wouldn't be comfortable for me. Also you're either sitting upright in the seat, or you flip the seat forward to make a bed and nothing in between. I'd prefer the option to have a partial-recline, like watching TV in bed, which the Virgin 777 seats and also the Qantas Skybed appear to have. Wish I could get that type of seat on the shorter flight from SFO-AKL.
The 747-400 seats concern me a bit because from reading and photos, it seems that they don't recline much and have no footrest. I see pictures of people using the 'ottoman' side chair as a footrest, but that wouldn't be comfortable for me. Also you're either sitting upright in the seat, or you flip the seat forward to make a bed and nothing in between. I'd prefer the option to have a partial-recline, like watching TV in bed, which the Virgin 777 seats and also the Qantas Skybed appear to have. Wish I could get that type of seat on the shorter flight from SFO-AKL.
Jul 16, 2011, 10:42 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
Welcome to FT!
UA has great flat beds in C to SYD which are truly horizontal (unlike Qantas and V Australia) - not sure why your "expert" TA omitted them as well.
ANZ seats are fully horizontal as well but with herringbone configuration vs side by side on UA. For couples UA seating may be better but ANZ on average offers significantly better overall service. Obviously you have to route via AKL.
AFAIK all seats on all airlines mentioned allow all sorts of adjustable reclining seating position.
UA has great flat beds in C to SYD which are truly horizontal (unlike Qantas and V Australia) - not sure why your "expert" TA omitted them as well.
ANZ seats are fully horizontal as well but with herringbone configuration vs side by side on UA. For couples UA seating may be better but ANZ on average offers significantly better overall service. Obviously you have to route via AKL.
AFAIK all seats on all airlines mentioned allow all sorts of adjustable reclining seating position.
Jul 17, 2011, 9:05 pm
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
QF A380 J seats are truly horizontal and superior to the UA flat beds ... the QF 744 seats are previous generation and flat but not horizontal. All the transpac airlines offer J seats that are very comfy for partial recline (which is full recline compared to Y), the only one with an advantage is QF with a builtin massager (on both 744 and A380).