Air New Zealand

Seat Reviews


4 star Skytrax Rating
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing TV 12345
Customer rating from 74 reviews
5/10
4 star Skytrax Rating
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1/10

"the worst seats I've been in"

(Australia)

Had to be the worst seats I've been in. If the person in front of you reclines they are just inches from your face. Plus people who seem to feel the need to constantly push back in their seat makes your table shake making for an unpleasant dining experience. It was very difficult to get in and out of the seat and I was in an aisle seat. I have bruises on my legs and my right knee bruised from knee being up against the seat in front of me. The armrests do not go completely up so I can see the other passengers being bruises from banging against them every time they try to get in and out of their seats. Worst seating. I got off my flight bruised and with a very sore and stiff neck.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBOEING 777-200
Seat Layout3x3x3
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
no
8/10

"be prepared to eat off centre"

(United States)

The new space seat - pros and cons. I have travelled in both an inside and outside seat on the right and left of the two aisles and not the odd-looking away-facing pairs in the centre so my comments apply to the former. You sit at an angle of about 20 degrees to the aisle with the backs of the seat shells in front of you at the normal (right angle) to the aisle. This means that your TV (which can just about compensate for the off-centreness) and your tray table (which can't) are at a weird angle. The window seats have better leg room than the aisle ones but the down side is that getting out - particularly if the 'aisle' person has the TV out on its angled stilts and the tray table open (no rim glassholder or recess- beware!) is a mountaineering job - but at least using the shell in front as a lever will not disturb the occupants Air New zealand are obviously sensitive about it as on both flights the concierge were on the defensive (unsolicited on my last flight) - "We've taken one row of seats out" (Heaven knows what it was like before). But despite them being a bit hard one can get quite comfortable. Lovely big pillows and a 'bean bag' for you feet. Just be prepared to eat off centre.
Seat TypePremium Economy
Aircraft TypeBOEING 777-300
Seat Layout2x2x2
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
yes
7/10

"found there to be ample legroom"

(Australia)

Row 29 middle row-right aisle spaceseat. I'm 5' 10" (177cm) and found there to be ample legroom when seated and reclined. Before the flight I was concerned about the outward facing nature of the seat but that proved to be a non-issue. TV monitor and tray table are detachable/adjustable to compensate for the angle of your seat. I did find it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position and the jury is still out on "otto" the foot bean bag - in some positions it was great and in others didn't seem to be useful at all.
Seat TypePremium Economy
Aircraft TypeBOEING 777-300
Seat Layout2x2x2
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
yes
4/10

"poor seating provision"

(New Zealand)

Seat 46 A/B/C have fixed armrests between them not even a 45 degree lift! Passengers really are trapped in their seats. Seats in front recline brings the person in front into your face and body unless you recline your seat too - and I'm not a big person! Service etc. was excellent but poor seating provision makes this a no-go for long haul flights. Some economy seats had retractable armrests but most had minimal retraction - row 46 none! Passengers should be advised on seat maps - we booked months in advance and had the worst seats on the flight thanks to a check in clerk who moved us to supposedly 'better seats'. We travel this route regularly and will try to avoid Air New Zealand if they don't wake up and do better in future.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBOEING 777-200
Seat Layout3x3x3
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
no
3/10

"seats are hard"

(New Zealand)

This was on the brand new B777-300 (only the 5th flight!) sitting in the newly configured Premium Economy window. The seats on the sides are angled towards the outside. Leg room is worse than in the previous Premium Economy. All looks very fancy in white (why white? This is going to look grey and shabby very quickly!) but the seats are hard no squab not easy to recline and viewing position awful. Will avoid this class at all costs!
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 777-300
Seat Layout2x2x2
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
no
10/10

"good amount of room"

(United Kingdom)

It was a new plane the seat was in a shell - the recline didn't effect the seat behind good amount of room. 100% better than the 777-200
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 777-300
Seat Layout2x2x2
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
yes
1/10

"worst seat I have ever had"

(New Zealand)

The worst seat I have ever had on a trans Tasman flight. Arm rests do not fully retract up making it very hard to get in and out of your seat. If the seat next to you is empty the fact that the armrest will not fully retract makes it impossible to use the extra space! Seat was hard insufficient legroom seat to narrow.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeB777-200ER
Seat Layout3x3x3
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
no
8/10

"making it more bearable"

(United Kingdom)

The benefit of these 747's is the 34" seat pitch. 2" more than on the 777s. Having sat in the seat for some 24 hours it was getting uncomfortable towards the end of the journey but at least you are invited to stretch your legs by walking around the cabin. Seat recline is good and your leg space is not seriously compromised when the seat in front is reclined fully back. Economy is never going to be really comfortable but the seat pitch offered by Air New Zealand goes a long way to making it more bearable.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeB747-400
Seat Layout3x4x3
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
yes
6/10

"seat was comfortable enough"

(United Kingdom)

I had paid a fraction of the cost as part of an upgrade from London to Auckland. The 777s as noted before suffer from having the same layout as economy but the seats are better. The airline I gather is going to re-configure these aircraft during 2009 - not before time. The service and food made for a very good flight and the seat was comfortable enough for the flight from Tokyo. Those paying full rates for this service may feel it does not reach the required standards of seat comfort though
Seat TypePremium Economy
Aircraft TypeB777-200
Seat Layout3x3x3
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
yes
1/10

"awful seat pitch"

(New Zealand)

Worst long haul flight with Air New Zealand I have made. Added to the awful seat pitch was the fact that the armrests which usually recede completely into the seat backs no longer do so. So although the flight was only half full it was impossible to utilise the spare seats next to me. On a 13.5 hr flight from SFO to AKL this becomes very important. Food and service okay but if the seats are diabolical then everything else pales into insignificance.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeB777
Seat Layout3x3x3
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
no