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Breaking: Air New Zealand to offer lie-flat seats in transpacific economy cabins
After three years of waiting, the announcement is finally live: Air New Zealand will be reconfiguring their Boeing 777 cabins to incorporate lie flat seats in economy, a revolutionary change to transpacific travel and a godsend to long haul passengers. Traditionally, the comfort of lie-flat seats is only reserved for travelers in business or first class, but with these new configurations, even economy travelers will be able to stretch out for a good night's sleep.
Changes to premium economy and business class will also be redesigned for better space utilization.
Our own blogger Kent Wien is on the ground in Auckland as we type, collecting photos, videos and all of the fine details of the new cabin configurations. Stay tuned to Gadling over the course of this evening for real-time updates, videos, pictures and to take part in the the revolution of transpacific travel as we know it.
Gallery: Air New Zealand's new cabin configurations
UPDATE: Check out Kent's thorough profile and photos of the new seats here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sheila Jan 25th 2010 5:24PM
Nice! Wonder how quickly before implementation?
Voltronguy Jan 25th 2010 6:08PM
Not quite sure how this would work. You would have to pay for 3 seats to get any use of this. Unless they expect 3 strangers to bed down together!
Grant Martin Jan 25th 2010 6:10PM
According to ANZ, the third seat is half price.
Marshall Jan 25th 2010 6:28PM
Actually this is a reminder of a trip I had on an Air New Zealand DC8 series 50
going from Honolulu to Nandi,Fiji April l97l. It is a great concept to have their
Boeing 777s equipped with these kinds of seats. These over ocean flights are
very long in duration.
Russel Yeaman Jan 25th 2010 7:03PM
I would like to see them make the seats not lay back into the people behind them.
Annie Scott Jan 25th 2010 7:08PM
Yes, God. Yes.
BRian Jan 25th 2010 7:24PM
Now.. I just have to hope that there is a Good looking girl sitting next to me and she likes spooning!! What are the odds of that?? Better keep playing lotto!
Jeff Jan 25th 2010 7:47PM
This has to be one of the most stupid things i've heard of. Someone brought up the fact that it would be hard to utilize this because unless you have all three seats you are out of luck and I agree. And even if the third seat is half off it leaves the point that both partners are going to be sleeping very closely and and what if one isn't tired or they are on a different sleep pattern. This is an all or nothing package that doesn't give one individual the option to decide what they want independently. Is the size of this "bed" even larger then a twin? What about pillows, the photo doesn't make me think their necks are comfortable.
D. Jan 25th 2010 7:53PM
This will be great, if it actually works and is affordable. I travel internationally A LOT, and my biggest pet peeve is passengers who recline their seats fully the moment the plane lifts off. There I sit, pinned for the duration, forced to look at the top of someone's greasy, sometimes dandruff-ridden head. Once, a girl flipped her long hair over the back of her reclined seat into my plate of food, such as it was. I'd be happy if airlines would just limit the amount of recline allowed in seats so that those of us who choose not to inconvenience those behind us aren't tortured by the thoughtlessness of those in front of us.
Mike Jan 25th 2010 9:41PM
I've found that a loud, well timed "OWW!" embarrasses the person enough to "un-recline" the seat real quickly.
Snife Jan 26th 2010 7:25AM
I too hate people that recline for the full length of the flight (particularly during meal times) but I need the ability to recline, I think the whole point of the recline is to be able to change your position during the flight so I see no advantage in being fully reclined the whole time, Cathay Pacific have fixed the problem as you slide forward when you recline so the back of your chair doesn't move and you simply choose how to use your own space
Malaycobra Jan 26th 2010 11:15AM
@ Snife
I'm 6'-2" and my knees are jammed no matter what in economy class. What I want to know is which airline's seats recline far enough for you to see the person in front's head? Maybe in first/business, but then you have enough room to move about so that can't be it...
In my experience, the seats only recline just far enough for you to drool on your shoulder instead of the front to your shirt.
Sylvia Jan 26th 2010 12:35AM
Yeah...cool idea....but what DO u do if ur sitting next to strangers?
donnyhu Jan 26th 2010 8:56AM
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Sheila Jan 26th 2010 12:21PM
Would have been very nice during my trip to New Zealand a couple of weeks ago that left my ankles the size of watermelons because you were crushed into that chair like a sardine when someone put their chair back...
Sheila Jan 27th 2010 12:10PM
Additionally, the NZ flight attendant told the woman to put up her seat while she served the food since there was no room to put the tray all the way down and eat upright without hitting your head on the back of the chair.
When I was younger, flying was considered something nice, you dressed up a bit to go on a plane, you were treated well and it was exciting.
Nowadays, it is no better than a Greyhound bus with wings. Wait, I'm insulting Greyhound, they have better chairs and more legroom.