Selected NZ5/6 AKL-LAX from October 2018 now scheduled to be operated by EVA Air 777

6 replies

btaus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 15 Dec 2016

Total posts 171

My friend received an email from Air New Zealand said that her flight from AKL to LAX in October is now operated by dry leased EVA Air 777-300ER.


I've flown EVA Air twice before, and if you are on one of selected NZ5/6 operated by EVA Air hardware, here's the seat summary:

Business Premier: herringbone to reverse herringbone, which I considered it's a huge upgrade.

Premium Economy: same seat bone, different seat cover.

Economy: 3-4-3 31" pitch to 3-3-3 33" pitch, I didn't fly, but that definitely sounds better. NO Skycouch available.

IFE should be the usual Air NZ system, but I'm unsure if EVA Air's onboard wifi will be turned on and for purchase.

If you expect getting a Rimowa amenity kit, Krug or Veuve La Grande Dame served on your flight (no joke, those were standard amenities on EVA Air business), you'll be disappointed, crew, amenity, food and drinks will be the usual Air NZ standards.


Double check your inbox to see if Air NZ send you an email notice about the change.

henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 765

FYI it's not just NZ5/6 to see the EVA aircraft. Over the last few weeks, it's made a couple of trips to Sydney and will also make some trips to Hawaii. All this is because of the 787 engine issues which will probably cause NZ problems for the next 12 months (the EVA aircraft is staying until at least March next year). Currently, the IFE is the standard EVA version but they're apparently working on changing that to the Air NZ system sometime in the next month.


It's not all good news though as they've also leased two ex Singapore Airlines 777-200's (second one coming soon) which are also being used across their network. I had the chance to fly one back from Hawaii two months ago and it was a huge letdown. The SQ 777-200's are the same ones Singapore airlines operates from Brisbane to Singapore still and on the Wellington - Melbourne - Singapore route so some Aussie travelers would be familiar with them.

To say Air NZ has "wrecked" it would be an understatement... The IFE has been changed from SQ's on demand to ~80 looping movie channels (which you can at least pause/rewind) with the moving map gone. All Business Class bedding has gone and so has basically any service in Economy the snacks for a 10-hour flight were the same as a 60-minute domestic flight from Auckland to Christchurch.

sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

Member since 30 Nov 2015

Total posts 419

Not to mention the noise from those SIA 777-200's, deafening.

steveb

Member since 13 Feb 2018

Total posts 6

The SQ777 operated by NZ is a newer fit-out aircraft to that that operated on the WLG-MEL-SIN and (occasionally) the BNE to SIN route. The NZ aircraft has the 2006 J upgrade which means the same seat as most of their A380 aircraft have. Economy is the same on both.


If you're flying in economy on this aircraft it offers a huge comfort upgrade over the Dreamliner - the old school 3x3x3 seats are very comfy. I find it funny there aren't people complaining every day of the week about the SQ service, yet seem to complain when NZ fly the same aircraft!

steveb

Member since 13 Feb 2018

Total posts 6

It's also worth mentioning the Eva (and SQ) 777 schedules are on the Air NZ website and these are regularly updated.


henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 765

I find it funny there aren't people complaining every day of the week about the SQ service, yet seem to complain when NZ fly the same aircraft!


2 Reasons:


Booked Aircraft - many people paid good $$$ to fly on an Aircraft with comfortable bedding and IFE with the usual NZ service. On one flight I'd booked a Skycouch and had to chase up NZ for the correct refund amount.

Air NZ's changes they made - I've flown on the SQ 772 and the NZ 772 (ex SQ) and the product is vastly different to what SQ was offering.

The IFE isn't on demand on pause and rewind of 80 movies (it is on SQ with TV, music and map), bedding in business class is missing (simply a blanket offered), small things like cup holders that have stickers saying "do not use" and the announcements all starting with "Welcome to the 1980's".

Salyt141

Member since 06 Jan 2019

Total posts 1

We flew on EVA air on a “Air NZ” flight from Auckland to Honolulu. We paid Premium Economy and got below par seats and service. The plane was old and the seats were worst then regular economy seats on Air NZ regular international plane. Because we booked via a travel agent we were never notified of the change and it was a shocking let down on the trip we had such high expectations. Have tr

to get a respond back from Air NZ and all we get from them is “ sorry - not our issue .. the agent should have notifiey you of the aircraft change”. The reason why we are complaining is we paid for Premium Economy seats and we did get those no matter how “comparable” Air NZ claims EVA Air are. The plane we had was no where near comparable. Shame on Air NZ.

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