Seatguru Air Nz
This Air New Zealand 777-200 Business Premier Review is from our 2017 flight from Auckland to Nadi, Fiji. You can also see my husband's underwhelming Air New Zealand Business Class Review, and all our posts tagged New Zealand.
On 3rd August, I got last minute upgrade at check-in on my flight to Papeete in Tahiti, marking my 100th country and the cabin crew were so nice and friendly. Your all-inclusive guide to Air New Zealand providing the most comprehensive resource on current aircraft, contact information, and airline partners. Air New Zealand Flight Information - SeatGuru Air New Zealand (NZ). Seatguru has reloaded the seat map for the 777-300, although I’ve noticed it has dropped the ER off the version. It does however seem to align with the seat map on the Air New Zealand link posted above by smudge99. It looks like all of the “User Comments” have been retained too.
Seat Guru Air Nz Airbus A320
Air New Zealand 777-200 Business Class Seat Map, Courtesy SeatGuru
Seatguru Air New Zealand 777-200
Air New Zealand 777-200 Business Premier Seat
The Air New Zealand Business Premier Seat is 22 inches wide in white leather, with an ottoman that can be used as a companion seat for tete a tete dining.
That said, I found the seat in its upright position incredibly uncomfortable, due to how straight it is, without much padding. Easily the most uncomfortable business class flat bed seat in its upright position that I've flown in, to date.
The seat controls enable you to adjust the seat and pop up your dining table:
Here's a video of the Air New Zealand 777-200 Business Premier Cabin and Seat:
Air New Zealand Business Premier Menu and Food
Prior to take-off we were offered a pre-flight drink. I chose orange juice, as I remembered how good it was last year in our Air New Zealand Premium Economy flight, and wasn't disappointed–it's still the best fresh squeezed orange juice I've had as a pre-flight drink on any flight, first class or business class.
Lunch was served on our flight from Auckland to Nadi. Here's the lunch menu for our flight, along with the wine list and drinks:
Soon after take-off we were given a hot towel:
Pre-meal drinks were served, but I just opted for hot tea.
I chose the Moroccan Spiced Chicken as my appetizer, prepared with butternut squash and coconut, and it was fantastic. This was a chef's selection, so I recommend sticking to those.
For my main I chose the Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks entree, but it was nothing special, and quite mediocre.
The dessert, which sounded good on paper, a Salted Caramel Cheesecake, was plain bad–something you might get at a cheap cafeteria. I took one bite and asked for the ice cream instead. The flight attendant didn't look too pleased (perhaps he was counting on eating ice cream for his dessert?) but brought it to me. Weirdly, even though by that point I was sitting across from my son for my meal, the flight attendant insisted on putting the cheesecake and ice cream on the table I'd previously been sitting at, so I had to get up both times to bring it to where I'd moved to. Strange.
The ice cream was definitely the better dessert:
Air New Zealand Business Premier Flat Bed
The tall seat back flips over to join with the ottoman to form a 6 foot 7 inch flat bed. On the 777-200 there's a duvet and pillow, but not a memory foam mattress as there apparently is on the 787-9 Dreamliner. A flat bed is a must in any business class product these days, and I do give points for the length of the bed, which is definitely longer than Singapore Airlines Business Class. It was way too firm for my taste though, so on any long flight I'd have wanted to use a Therm-a-rest mattress pad.
The Verdict
While I was glad to try Air New Zealand Business Premier on our relatively short flight from Auckland to Nadi, I found the seat in its upright position incredibly uncomfortable. It's great that it turns into a flat bed, but that's really the only way I'd want to fly in it, and ideally with a Therm-a-rest mattress pad to make it more comfortable. The cabin looks very modern, but that doesn't make up for uncomfortable seats. I do like that there's a grill set up to prevent passengers from losing their phones and small electronics in the space between the seat and window.
Service was ok, apart from the weird incident of putting my desserts at my old seat and not where I was actually sitting, although honestly the flight attendants on our flight the prior year in Premium Economy were friendlier. In terms of dining, Air New Zealand serves the best fresh squeezed orange juice as a pre-flight beverage of any airline (first class and business class) that I've flown, so full points for that. The Moroccan spiced chicken appetizer was also delicious, but it was the highlight of the meal. The main course was mediocre, and the cheesecake was downright bad. I don't usually take just one bite of dessert in business class or first class, but I was so disappointed I asked for the ice cream.
If you've flown Air New Zealand Business Class, what was your experience?
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Checked in at 8am for NZ135 to Brisbane @ 9'35am departure, used Air NZ Premium Check-in area, then used self service terminal and dropped bags off, all done in 5min, used the private lift to Customs and security area,(this is for premium passengers only) through very quickly no waiting all done in around in 10 minutes! Entered a very busy Air NZ Lounge for B/fast and coffee, Standard cold breakfast items but disappointed in hot food items, only 2 Hot items one being Spicy Beans!? (I don't think spicy beans is good in the morning before long flights!) the other was a quiche not 'standard B/fast fare' Enjoyed a great flat white coffee from the dedicated coffee barista . Wondered down to gate early but all flights are called in lounge, as we entered the gate area the flight had started to board, only 1 other going through priority boarding so very quick to board, shown to our seat, Jackets taken, newspapers offered also Champagne, fresh orange juice and water , Flight departed on time. Flight supervisor went to every passenger introduced himself welcomed us on board etc, a nice touch! Menu's handed out, To start, Fruit Smoothie or Fresh Juice, A selection of cereals, Fresh Fruit & yoghurts, we were then offered from the basket Warm Croissants, Danish selection, fruit and Vogel’s Toast with fruit Conserve. Next we had our Hot choices, Chive and Cheddar Scrambled eggs with grilled Chicken sausage, mushroom ragout and roasted cherry tomatoes OR Corned beef and root vegetable cakes with grilled field mushrooms, creamed leaf spinach, slow roasted tomato and tarragon mustard mayonnaise. I had the scrambled eggs and they were excellent I especially loved the mushroom ragout! To finish Coffee/Tea selection and hot Chocolate. leather Seat is very comfortable and although for a short 3hr flight I didn't use the bed with a push of a button it goes to a 6ft 6'Flat bed and is 22' wide! 10.4' personal Screen with everything you would need! We landed on time, crew were very friendly and efficient Mark and the team looked after us very well. All other passengers were held back until Business class had all left, Brisbane customs not busy at all and went through very quickly, waited only a couple on minutes for our luggage and through customs and leaving airport all in around 25 minutes! all in all a great flight with very good friendly crew and all areas very efficient from Auckland Airport to Brisbane Airport.