Air New Zealand unveils new business-class seats, total cabin revamp for Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Air New Zealand is getting set to debut an all-new look on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners — including brand-new business-class suites.
The Auckland-based carrier this week announced the completion of the first cabin overhaul for one of its Dreamliners, which sports a redesigned business-class cabin. That includes four new extra-spacious pods at the front of the plane.
It's the first of 14 Air New Zealand 787s set to get a face-lift by the end of next year.
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Nose-to-tail upgrade
Arriving in Auckland after a 184-day retrofit in Singapore, the newly updated jet sports a nose-to-tail upgrade, the airline said — from new seats in every cabin to fresh carpet, curtains, lavatory wallpaper and inflight entertainment systems.
Business class
The headlining feature of its revamped Dreamliner cabin: new Business Premier Luxe seats at the front of the aircraft, which offer more space and an upgraded experience from the airline's baseline lie-flat business-class accommodations.
The airline shared images Thursday of the new Luxe business-class seats, which are equipped with a buddy seat that allows two travelers to dine together at the expansive tray table.
In all, Air New Zealand's newly retrofitted 787-9s will offer 26 business-class seats: four of the larger Luxe seats and 22 lie-flat pods.
Premium economy
In premium economy, its refurbished 787s will sport 33 recliners featuring winged headrests.
Economy
The main cabin has 213 economy seats in all — among them, the airline's Economy Skycouch option, which offers a way to get a better night's sleep in coach, as TPG's Summer Hull found a couple of years ago.
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Air New Zealand plans to ultimately refurbish all of its Dreamliner interiors. Seven of the jets should get refitted by the end of 2025, and the rest should be done by the end of 2026, the airline said this week.
"Seeing the first of our 14 Dreamliners to undergo this transformation arrive home is a huge moment for our people, our customers, and the future of Air New Zealand," Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy O'Brien said in a statement. "We're so proud to deliver this new experience for those who fly with us around the world."
How to book Air New Zealand with points and miles
If you're hoping to snag a seat on Air New Zealand with points and miles — from the Skycouch to business class — your best bet is generally going to be checking award availability through its partners.
Since it's a member of the Star Alliance, you can book Air New Zealand seats through partner loyalty programs such as United Airlines MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan. Last year, TPG's Eric Rosen transferred 75,000 Chase points to Air Canada to book a business-class seat from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Auckland Airport (AKL).
Read more: Who's eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred's 100,000-point bonus?
While Air New Zealand hasn't yet said where its first refurbished 787 will fly, the airline uses this aircraft type on a handful of U.S. routes.
This month alone, it'll fly from Auckland to four U.S. cities (Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York), according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
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