Mike Yardley: Air New Zealand to the USA

Aside from Australia, no nation is better to connected to New Zealand, with so many ports, than the United States. Air New Zealand’s trusty Trans-Pacific flights connect Auckland non-stop with New York, Houston, Honolulu, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. 

I recently flew to Vancouver happily ensconced in Skycouch and home from New York on Air New Zealand’s direct services, experiencing the new Premium Economy product on one of the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. There are 14 in the fleet – the workhorses of Air New Zealand’s long-haul schedule. And the full fleet will be retrofitted with the enticing new cabin offering by year’s end. Both of my flights dutifully departed on time and arrived just ahead of schedule, after decent sleeps across the Pacific.  

Business Premier seats have a new angle and layout, geared at enhancing privacy and space with a sliding privacy screen and additional storage. Middle seats are equipped with a sliding door so you can share your space if you’re travelling with a companion. Guests are raving about the continuous recline from seat to bed mode. If you’re horizontal in bed mode, your headrest can raise up to 3 inches, making it decidedly more comfortable to finish that book or catch that movie on your 24-inch inflight entertainment screen. Air New Zealand is the world’s first airline to have this novelty.  

Air New Zealand's Business Premier class. Photo / Air NZ

For even greater pampering, Business Premier Luxe is the all-new airline offering, occupying the front row of the Business Premier cabin. Additional enhancements include a spacious seating area with an ottoman doubling as a guest seat, the extra-large tray table provides room for two to dine, the larger bed has unrestricted space at the end, and you have a full closing door for supreme privacy.  

On my homebound flight from New York to Auckland, I settled into the Premium Economy cabin, which I found surprisingly roomier than I envisaged.  My super-comfortable seat was equipped with generous armrests, a leg rest and extendable foot support. The cabin was chocka, but you’ll value the sense of personal space Premium accords. I’ve experienced Premium Economy with other carriers, but Air New Zealand’s offering is the best in class, with such generous recline and a seat pitch of 41 inches. The adjustable leg rest and foot support accentuates your ability to cosy up in your preferred position. What I really like about the new product is that the Premium Economy seats have a fixed outer shell, meaning your recline doesn’t have any encroaching impact on the person behind you, plus your seat is flanked with side wings to heighten your sense of privacy. You’ll also enjoy more storage space within easy reach.  

Premium Economy. Photo / Air NZ

The bi-fold tray table is a nice touch, giving you the flexibility to fully unfold it for a meal or partially extend it, if you just want to rest your drink. Before nodding off, I binged my way through a swag of new release movies, making full use of the 15.6-inch inflight screen. The new 4K HD screens feature throughout the aircraft, equipped with Bluetooth audio connectivity, so you can wear your own wireless headphones. Linking your phone to the screen turns your own device into a remote control, which is great fun too. In Premium Economy, you’ll enjoy a generous luggage allowance - two pieces of checked luggage, each weighing up to 23kg, and two pieces of carry-on totalling up to 14kg. Feel free to shop large on Fifth Ave! 

The alluring new cabin product hasn’t skimped on Economy, either. A slimmer seat gives you more personal space; the inflight entertainment screen is 50% larger and there’s more storage options like an elastic holder for your essentials and a small tray table that will house your phone. It all delivers an elevated Economy experience. Also new to the 787-9 aircraft is the Economy Stretch product (long haul) or Legroom (short haul), which offers 35-inch seat pitch. Plus, Sky Pantry is available on long haul flights, so you can happily snack when the mood takes you.  Don’t forget Skynest, the airline’s innovative new Economy product, where you’ll be able to book some lie-down time in a Skynest pod, can now be booked for New York flights towards year’s end. 

Economy Skynest. Photo / Air NZ

Across both flights, to and from North America, cabin service was casual, convivial and polished in that unmistakeable Kiwi way. I feasted heartily on some great meals. Portion sizes are well sized and mains included and a slow-cooked beef and salmon fillet. Bonus points for the Croque Monsieur which hit the spot at breakfast, along with a great mango smoothie. Another winning breakfast option is the Hotcakes with berry compote and custard. The beverage service was equally comprehensive and generous. As a general rule of thumb, I avoid consuming alcohol when I’m flying, but I did succumb to a couple of glasses of pinot noir, given Air New Zealand’s superb wine selections. For best fares and seats to suit, jump to airnewzealand.co.nz. 

Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard each week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.