For everyone who has done the long flight down to Auckland and planning another trip in the future - this may make it easier to decide!

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Air New Zealand has revamped its seating options, offering lie-flat choices for economy passengers, improved comfort for its high-end business travelers and completely new configurations for its premium economy flyers.

The airline unveiled a cabin mockup of prototypes of its new seats in Auckland on Tuesday.

The new seats and improvements, which took three years to develop, will be part of the new Boeing 777-300 fleet to be rolled out in November for the Auckland-Los Angeles route. The airline expects to start taking reservations for the new seats in April.

Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe said the new seating options should help boost its market share for long-haul flights out of the U.S, adding that many people simply don’t want to make that flight because it is so long.

"Part of the new product is to make [the flight] less intimidating," Fyfe said.

He said the seat changes are also meant to address complaints, concerns or wishes of the airline's largest flyer base: leisure passengers made up of families, couples and groups.

For example, the new economy "Skycouch" is a row of three seats that can be configured to create a lie-flat section across the row between seatbacks, providing a place for small kids to play or a flat surface for adults to relax and sleep. Air New Zealand is calling the lie-flat option "the holy grail of economy travel."
Flyers can buy two seats for the standard ticket price, and then the third seat is about half price.

Twenty-two sets of Skycouch seats, taking up the first 11 window rows in the economy-class cabin, will be available.

For its business-class passengers, Air New Zealand will be offering thicker bed foam, better lighting and more personal stowage.

Air New Zealand executives were particularly enthusiastic about the redesign of the airline’s premium economy seat.

The carrier calls the new configuration a "Spaceseat," and it does look like something out of "Star Trek." The seats feature hard-back shells that prevent the passenger in front from reclining into the personal space of the person behind. Instead, the passenger reclines the seat by sliding and angling up the base.

There are two Spaceseat configurations. The "inner space" center seats are angled outward from each other, forming a V configuration, placing the passengers close to one another so they can chat, share a meal or even cuddle.

The "outer space" window seats are angled toward the windows in a parallel formation, with the shells somewhat isolating the passengers.

Air New Zealand also has created a new, bean bag-style foot cushion called Otto, on which premium economy passengers can rest their legs and feet while sleeping.

The seats will be configured in a 2-2-2 layout, compared with the industry standard 3-3-3 in 777-200s.

"Already Boeing has indicated they’re interested in the seats as a business-class option for their 737 range," said Ed Sims, group general manager for international service.

The 340-seat 777-300 aircraft will be configured with 246 in economy, including 66 seats creating 22 Skycouch combinations; 50 in premium economy; and 44 in business.

Other changes across all cabins for the new aircraft include mood lighting, on-demand food and beverage options, a new in-flight entertainment system, wine tastings and destination seminars.

Wow just like an ad!

Gryph, where's your manners. Welcome to the Aussie and NZ forums Steve

Having survived the 35 transit hours from SA to Dallas, I can assure you that any improvement in economy seating is greatly welcome.

I was afraid the next step made by the airlines to "improve" economy travel was to pack us all in olive oil.