Take a look inside Air New Zealand's unique cabin innovation laboratory
Air New Zealand is not the world's largest airline nor is it the world's most influential airline. However, as a carrier that operates a huge proportion of long-haul flights alongside a domestic network, it often has to be creative. This is why it has carved out an innovative niche among its peers.
The need for this creativity is driven by geography. Flights to New Zealand can be intimidatingly long for passengers, especially for the vast majority who travel in coach.
To try and make long flights more appealing, Air New Zealand has developed a few distinctive onboard products. Additionally, the airline has a dedicated high-performing team that designs these products at a unique studio.
Earlier this fall, following the airline's inaugural flight to Auckland from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), I had the opportunity to tour "Hangar 22," the airline's innovations lab.
Despite its name, Hangar 22 isn't really inside a hangar. Nestled away in an unassuming office building off a side street in downtown Auckland, a few blocks from the central business district, the lab sits behind locked doors and typically has strict protocols for visitors (the large "no photos" sign on the wall is telling).
Once you're inside, though, it's a casual, open-plan office with standard amenities and an excellent coffee machine (one that makes barista-quality flat whites, as I found out).
At Hangar 22, the airline designs everything from its new meal services — such as the menu items and types of plates and utensils — to its new business-class seats to totally unique, sleep-friendly hard products for its economy cabin.
The airline famously offers a "Skycouch" in coach, which allows passengers to buy an entire row of coach seats and raise a leg rest-type device to turn them into a couch that's perfect for napping or relaxing. Those seats cost extra, but they are still significantly less than a lie-flat business class seat would cost.
The Skycouch may sound obvious, but it's a fairly difficult idea to implement and one that has to take safety, economic, and fuel efficiency factors into consideration.
Air New Zealand's next economy product will be even more challenging to pull off — and even more innovative.
The airline unveiled designs for its "Skynest" — a six-bed compartment that can be placed at the back of the coach cabin — in early 2020. It will be small and tight, but it would allow for six passengers at a time to get a few hours of shut-eye. Once certified and installed, the plan is to offer it in four-hour chunks to six passengers at a time, for an additional fee.
While the airline first announced the plans for the Skynest two years ago, it wasn't until this year that the airline had a working prototype of the capsule.
Tucked into the back corner of Hangar 22, there's a small, subdivided room made from plywood, sheetrock and black curtains.
Inside that room, you'll find the first mockup of the new Air Zealand cabin, featuring scale replicas of its new business-class seats, along with a premium economy and coach cabin.
At the very back of the "cabin," next to the coach seats, sits the prototype Skynest.
For someone like me who can't fall asleep while sitting up, the value proposition here is immense. It also makes New Zealand a more viable destination. Otherwise, my options are to pay for business class (which I likely couldn't afford or find the award availability for) or stay awake for about 30 hours and hope I can take an early-afternoon nap on the other side.
It will likely be some time before the Skynest is available to fly. In the meantime, there's the mock-up in Hangar 22.
The office looks like what you might see at an architect's firm or an advertising agency. It has an open-concept design with a few desks and tables as well as renderings, charts and sketches adorning the walls. Overall, there's an informal, creative vibe.
Most airlines have product teams that focus on cabin design and service offerings — everything from seat material to in-flight entertainment to the meal service flow.
However, Air New Zealand's hangar is unique in its single-purpose design as well as its focus on customer experience — and that air of secrecy. This made touring the space all the more special.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.