Plane Types, Seats, Entertainment Systems etc

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nzkiwiman

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# 207612 5-Jan-2017 09:01

I have been looking more into a potential trip to Japan around September/October and have started looking around to see what I can expect flights to cost and to see just how feasible it is to come home via another country. Been using various websites like Webjet and Skyscanner to find the flights, and then I have been using SeatGuru to find out about the plane .. and based on my findings, I don't think I want to fly to Asia at the moment.

Auckland to Japan on Air New Zealand seems to be on a 787, which people say have narrow seats, hard sets and is very hot or cold depending on the side of the plane you sit on

Coming back to New Zealand via Singapore and/or Australia, all the choices I have so far found seem to be using old planes that have entertainment units under the seats (limiting the ability to stretch), old entertainment setups and narrow/hard seats. Only one flight (Singapore Airlines) seems to use a 777-200ER (or maybe a 300ER) and that gets good reviews, however it does not fly each day ... (note, I have avoided looking at cheaper options like Jetstar because I do not trust them)

Just wondering - anyone else do this type of research before heading overseas and are there other websites out there that may be better?

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Biddle Corp

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# 1698698 5-Jan-2017 09:11

I wouldn't necessarily trust a lot of the information you see on various sites.

As for the 787 seats? As I assume you're talking about economy they're not really any different to any economy seats on Air NZ. The economy experience is what it is on any airline these days - cramped and not particularly comfortable. Economy on the 787 isn't any different from flying in economy on any other Air NZ plane (with the exception of the 763 which is now only on Trans Tasman services).

As for the plane being "hot on one side and cold on the other" this is nothing to do with the plane but all to do with the fact it's a day flight on NZ from Auckland to Japan (a route I've flown a number of times) which means the sun shines into the plane the entire way making one side warmer than the other. IMHO the tinted windows on the 787 are awesome but don't necessarily block out heat like a window shade can.

I don't research because I fly enough to know the answers to most questions I have. :p

Dunnersfella

3594 posts

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# 1698729 5-Jan-2017 09:32

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You don't want to fly to Asia because of the seats and entertainment systems?

I suggest visiting a doctor and discussing sleeping pills.

Jase2985

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# 1698737 5-Jan-2017 09:39

I flew a 789 to perth in september and i had no issues with the economy seats. Im 6'2 and i had enough room, i was in in the left hand seat of the center row but the middle seat was empty so i could put my stuff on it. I had a major knee operation about 2 years ago so my knee gets stiff if in the same place for a while so there was enough room for me to streach it out under the seat infront, which is not normally the case on a 737 or 767.

The entertainment system was good and responsive, and had a wide range of movies and tv shows. no complaints there. I didnt even need to break out my tablet.

Overall it was much better than the Virgin A330 and the Air NZ 763 on the way back

Jedsdad

120 posts

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# 1698759 5-Jan-2017 10:45

I prefer to fly on Airbus as they generally have slightly wider seats in Economy, it makes all the difference on long flights.

18 inches as opposed to 17 inches on Boeing.

See if you can find an airline using these aircraft from NZ to Asia

See this link about the A350, I must try it soon.

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/02/05/best-plane-787-a350/

sbiddle

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# 1698766 5-Jan-2017 10:53

Jase2985:

I flew a 789 to perth in september and i had no issues with the economy seats. Im 6'2 and i had enough room, i was in in the left hand seat of the center row but the middle seat was empty so i could put my stuff on it. I had a major knee operation about 2 years ago so my knee gets stiff if in the same place for a while so there was enough room for me to streach it out under the seat infront, which is not normally the case on a 737 or 767.

The entertainment system was good and responsive, and had a wide range of movies and tv shows. no complaints there. I didnt even need to break out my tablet.

Overall it was much better than the Virgin A330 and the Air NZ 763 on the way back

While the 763 is now very old IMHO it's the most comfortable economy experience across the entire Air NZ fleet. The seat pitch and 18.5" seat width are amazing as well as the benefit of 2-3-2 seating. Yes it doesn't have the newer eX3 IFE but most people wouldn't even notice that. It does suck if you've paid to be up the front though for a night flight with those retro seats. :p

sbiddle

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# 1698767 5-Jan-2017 10:55

Just a few questions for the OP - are you wanting to fly via Asia just because you don't want to fly in a 789 or are you wanting to stop off somewhere? If it's simply to avoid the 789 then you're making the wrong decision, even somebody like me who love flying wouldn't fly from Japan to NZ via Asia when there are non stop options.

Jase2985

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# 1698785 5-Jan-2017 11:14

sbiddle:

Jase2985:

I flew a 789 to perth in september and i had no issues with the economy seats. Im 6'2 and i had enough room, i was in in the left hand seat of the center row but the middle seat was empty so i could put my stuff on it. I had a major knee operation about 2 years ago so my knee gets stiff if in the same place for a while so there was enough room for me to streach it out under the seat infront, which is not normally the case on a 737 or 767.

The entertainment system was good and responsive, and had a wide range of movies and tv shows. no complaints there. I didnt even need to break out my tablet.

Overall it was much better than the Virgin A330 and the Air NZ 763 on the way back

While the 763 is now very old IMHO it's the most comfortable economy experience across the entire Air NZ fleet. The seat pitch and 18.5" seat width are amazing as well as the benefit of 2-3-2 seating. Yes it doesn't have the newer eX3 IFE but most people wouldn't even notice that. It does suck if you've paid to be up the front though for a night flight with those retro seats. :p

for me leg room is more important being tall and IMO i felt more cramped on the 763 than on the 787, + the touch controls on the screen were useless.

i dont generally get a choice of which class i fly in being defence its usually the cheapest.

dafman

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# 1698793 5-Jan-2017 11:21

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I don't bother with IFE nowadays. My tablet has a larger and better resolution than the behind seat options provided by airlines.

nzkiwiman

2258 posts

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# 1698799 5-Jan-2017 11:27

Should have mentioned, economy all the way for this traveler (can't afford Premium Economy and don't have sponsorship deals for business or first class)

Going to Japan, my only choice is the 789 as I prefer direct when heading somewhere (if direct is an option)
However as direct on the way back on Air NZ costs $500 more than going there, I thought I would look at going somewhere else on the way back (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia are all on the wish list), but it would ultimately depend if it was a) affordable and b) easy to book

For a few years now I have struggled with soreness/numbness on my right side when sitting for too long, so an extra inch of seat width/pitch etc etc all helps
When I went to Hong Kong last year I specifically choose a Cathay Pacific flight over the Air New Zealand flight due to comments about the seats ..

One of the Qantas flights I found was on an A380, and based on reviews things have changed since 2010 when I flew an A380 to Singapore and love the comfort ...

sbiddle

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# 1698804 5-Jan-2017 11:36

What airport(s) are you planning to fly in and out of? Air NZ fly to Narita and Osaka at present but will also add Haneda as their 2nd Tokyo airport from the middle of next year. Flying back via HKG/SIN will cost significantly more than flying non stop.

I wouldn't be booking this far out anyway unless there was a sale on as prices to Japan are normally pretty good. You also do have to remember that the vast majority of the passengers on services to and from Japan are Japanese tour groups.

Are NZ do also fly the 777 to Japan as well at certain times of the year. Sep/Oct is a pretty quiet time for travel though.

nzkiwiman

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# 1698844 5-Jan-2017 13:40

sbiddle:

What airport(s) are you planning to fly in and out of? Air NZ fly to Narita and Osaka at present but will also add Haneda as their 2nd Tokyo airport from the middle of next year. Flying back via HKG/SIN will cost significantly more than flying non stop.

I wouldn't be booking this far out anyway unless there was a sale on as prices to Japan are normally pretty good. You also do have to remember that the vast majority of the passengers on services to and from Japan are Japanese tour groups.

Are NZ do also fly the 777 to Japan as well at certain times of the year. Sep/Oct is a pretty quiet time for travel though.

I've just been searching Tokyo, which for the majority of the flights have been leaving Narita
Haneda came up a few times, but generally seemed to be more expensive.

Must look into leaving from Osaka (or flying into) as it may give me another choice of plane.

At the moment I am just looking, getting prices etc - I know that AirNZ tend to have lots of sales throughout the year (used one back in 2013 for a trip to San Francisco, though from memory the coupon was only valid on return flights)

As for my travel dates - pretty locked in for mid September to early October, though flexible for a week either side (early September is out and don't want to be in Japan around late October)

nzkiwiman

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# 1698849 5-Jan-2017 13:45

^ Looks like Auckland to Osaka does not run past March for a direct flight

sbiddle

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# 1698859 5-Jan-2017 14:02

nzkiwiman:

^ Looks like Auckland to Osaka does not run past March for a direct flight

Yeah it's only seasonable for the tour group pax. I flew up there in Nov on the 3rd flight of the season. Plane was literally empty with only 4 pax in PE with me, I think 4 in BP and economy was only about 1/4 full.

Flying back the other way however it was chokka.

If the flight times suit you I would recommend flying into and out of Haneda, it's a lot closer to Tokyo and far easier and quicker to get into the city.