Seat Reviews

Reviews by Karen Walker, Marion Hume, Murray Bevan and Mikhail Gherman

First Class

Air Tahiti Nuie

The planes feel a little tired but up the front there are only 6 seats and the cabin crew have a little change of outfit which is amusing. Not that they change in front of you, it’s just that they all disappear and then reappear in long, bright yellow or pink cotton gowns with hibiscus print. The holiday starts here. The seats are wide and comfy and, though they don’t go flat and are out of date, there’s something cozy about them. I wouldn’t make it my first choice, nor would I want to go around the world on them, but for a mid length flight, it could be a lot worse.
KW - 7/10

Emirates

Emirates’ first class seats aren’t called seats. They’re called suites. Each one can be closed in so you’re completely private. The bed’s totally flat and large and the television is enormous with 500 well selected channels - the best bit being that you can start watching before the doors are shut and keep watching until the seat belt sign turns off at the other end. Pre-take-off treats are fresh carrot juice and dates with almonds that are amazing. The cabin is small and every time we’ve flown there have been more cabin crew than passengers so the service is beyond attentive. They also provide a very nice car service to pick you up and drop you off which makes the whole experience even easier. Best surprise: the ceiling’s covered in little stars so at nighttime it’s kind of dreamy.
KW - 10/10

Business Class

Air New Zealand long haul

Air New Zealand’s new planes (beware the old ones) have the best business class we’ve ever experienced. The flat bed you’d expect from business class (none of the annoying tilt that Cathay, Quantas and others sneak in on you) with loads of width and extra room by your pillow for handbag, magazines and all those other bits and pieces you like to keep handy. Plenty of thought’s gone into other details too including a large dining tray that another party can join you at as though you’re in a restaurant and a layout that has all the seats angled so you’re not having to climb out over anyone (like on those now rather tired British Airways flat beds). On the down side when it comes time to make the bed you have to get up and allow the steward to do it for you as there’s a complicated flip thing to be done with the seat back but this is rather charming in it’s own way - pretend you’re traveling in a zeppelin or a train in the 30’s - and take the opportunity to brush your teeth and put your night face on. The movie selection is limited and visually the seats have borrowed very heavily from Apple’s white shiny curves but we’ll forgive them that and overall rate Air New Zealand’s new seats as being superb and, there’s no first class on Air New Zealand so it doesn’t get any better.
KW - 9.5/10

Air Tahiti Nuie

Air Tahiti Nuie are doing a good job of flying into the best of the major metropolises (New York, Paris, Tokyo, etc.) and linking them up at a pretty good price. They’re not new planes and they’re not great seats by any means but usually an old seat in business is better than a new seat in economy. For the price it’s not bad value for money.
KW - 6/10

Austrian Airways

I’ve only done short flights with Austrian. On most of these flights I’ve struck planes with really quite large and luxurious seats. They’re not totally up to date or flat bed but for short haul flights they’re great. Quite cozy and luxurious and they don’t scrimp on the blankets – instead, you get nice big duvets. For short hauls, pretty good.
KW - 7.5/10

British Airways

The new British Airways Club World seat, which is just being rolled out across the fleet? Thank you, but I’m sticking to my vote that Qantas has the most comfortable and LOGICAL seat in the air. What I don’t like about the BA seat - this sitting opposite someone stuff - it’s WAY too intimate (far better the Marc Newson designed “pram hooded” seats where you don’t need to see anyone). On a flight from New York to London on BA, I could see the tonsils of the guy next to me. Also, the privacy screen (very nice when it’s up) but it’s kept down for meal service exactly when you don’t want to be staring right at a stranger. Worse, I woke for breakfast and my “neighbour,” who had requested the kosher vegetarian dinner option the night before, was rudely awoken as my bacon breakfast roll was passed over inches from his nose. Plus, my foot rest at first didn’t go down (the air steward gave it a muscular tug) and then self-righted in the middle of the night - surprising me but shocking the woman in the seat in front as it banged against the back of her sleeping head causing her to leap up in alarm, twice. Teething problems perhaps, but I’m sticking with The Flying Kangaroo where possible, even if, flying business not first, I haven’t yet had a look at the new Marc Newson designed first class lounges.
MH - 5/10

British Airways long haul

Sure, they were the first ones to introduce lie-flat beds and they were pretty amazing when they first came in. A decade later though they’re a bit beaten up and a little less comfortable. Plus, with the Yin Yang seat configuration, there’s that awkward thing of having to clamber over the feet of the person next to you if you’re by a window and the inevitable catching of the eye of the person facing you. Also, beware the cabin crew - twice traveling with my husband I’ve caught the stewardesses tucking him in and calling him ‘darling’ and on my last trip a stewardess who was old enough to know better was getting about with gold sparkly eye shadow on and flirting like crazy with the guy in front of me, “Oh Doug, I dooooo look forward to seeing you again.”
KW - 7.5/10

British Airways short haul

On a recent flight from Moscow to London there were 170 business class seats and 30 economy class seats and, from what I saw of business class, I’d say back in economy they must have been sitting on wooden benches. Cramped seats, surly, even rude, stewards. Thank God the flight was only 3 hours long. On the up side, we landed safely, which is perhaps more than might have been expected from the alternative: Aeroflot.
KW - 2/10

Cathay Pacific long haul

Well they’re not lying when they tell you it’s flat but they just don’t mention that it’s on a tilt so the entire night you’re sliding down towards your feet. Not a good way to sleep at all. On the up side, flying Cathay usually means transiting in Hong Kong and the Cathay lounges in Hong Kong airport are amazing. See if you can sneak into the first class one. It’s life changing.
KW - 6 / 10

Emirates short haul

Emirates short haul flights don’t have flat beds but the television is a decent size and the movie selection is large and well considered. The service is pretty good too.
MG - 7.5/10

Qantas

I’m a fan of the Marc Newson beds. I’m 6′2″ so appreciate all the stretch out space I can get, and I can sleep (without pills) from Sydney to Singapore on the Newson bed. Although it would be even better to fly first because then you get to check out the Marc Newson lounges and, on board, the new Akira Isogawa designed pajamas and eye masks. Collette Dinnigan has done the latest amenities kit for Qantas. Also I really like the easy friendliness of Qantas staff. I’m always pleased to hear I’ll be taking a flying kangaroo.
MH - 8/10The new Mark Newson designed seats came with a lot of fan fare and there are some snazzy little details such as a place to put your spectacles but why go to all the expense on the new seats and then scrimp on that extra bit of space that allows it to be completely horizontal instead of on an incline? Not a great way to spend a night.
KW - 6/10

Economy

Emirates
One of the better experiences you can have down the back. Surprisingly roomy, comfortable seats and on demand movies with over 100 to pick from. Stars in the ceiling are a nice touch too for night flights.
MG - 8/10

For those of us still languishing in the realms of lama-class travel Emirates is the best of them all. The most noticeable point is that us English-speaking folk are jostled out of first position in all of the public announcements. It’s refreshing to hear the announcements in Arabic first, then sometimes in Japanese or Korean before we hear the English version. The seats are comfy and roomy and the food still resembles a meal, not a pre-portioned, plastic-wrapped, just-add-water snack.
MB - 10/10