AIR NEW ZEALAND
Business premier is arranged 1-2-1 (A, B-J, K) so everyone has direct aisle access. There are 44 business class seats measuring 22 inches in width, and 79 inches when fully-flat (with 33 inches of shoulder room). The pods have low walls for a certain degree of privacy (more when lying down on the fully-flat bed).
There are USB and universal power sockets below the 11-inch touchscreen entertainment monitors, which also have a remote built in underneath. Large tables pop out of the side of the pod and smaller drinks trays fold out next to the screens. There is no wifi on board.
Once airborne, pre-ordered drinks arrived along with salted cashews and almonds. The order for my main course was taken not long after, while pre-plated starters were brought around on a trolley, along with wine and champagne, and a selection of fresh, warm bread.
The menu listed two starters (Sonoma county smoked duck, roasted heritage carrot salad with nigella seed and tahini orange yoghurt; and marinated baby mozzarella with asparagus and prosciutto) and four mains. These were slow-cooked beef in red wine and garlic with cremini mushrooms, potato mustard gratin, spinach, green olive and mint tapenade; wood roasted chicken with creamy red-skinned potato mash, fennel, celery and pomegranate salad; herb-roasted cod with grilled globe artichoke, broad beans, courgette and peas with romesco sauce; and tomato and smoked chipotle soup with roasted corn and Feta salsa. I chose the fish, which was moist and went well with the accompaniments.
To finish, there were desserts of cookie dough ice cream and warm chocolate ganache tart, plus a cheese plate with Cheddar, Brie and blue cheese with fig relish.
The dinner service was well paced and, by the time the final tables had been cleared, there were 7.5 hours left of the flight.
I asked a flight attendant to help make up my bed – a button releases the seat and flips it forward to create a flat surface. I was provided with thick, cotton-covered, memory foam mattress, two pillows and a cover. This was possibly the best business class bed I have ever experienced.
Frequent flyers will appreciate the supremely comfortable fully-flat beds in Air New Zealand’s business class, and the staff’s excellent service, which is professional, warm and cheerful.