Air New Zealand to charge $820 extra for Luxe suites
You’ll get more space and additional features over a standard business class seat, but you’ll have to pay for it…
By David Flynn, December 9 2024
Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand are among the latest airlines to adopt the ‘business plus’ concept, which transforms the first row of the business class cabin into an upgraded suite.
These ‘business plus’ suites give passengers more privacy, more space, more features, ranging from personal wardrobes to bigger video screens and dining for two.
Travellers have to pay for this privilege, of course, with airlines adding a special surcharge on top of the standard business class fare.
Air New Zealand’s approach is what it calls Business Premier Luxe, which will debut in early 2025 on its upgraded Boeing 787s and crown the new Business Premier cabin.
Air New Zealand's all-new 787 Business Premier cabin.
These Dreamliners will come with four Business Premier Luxe suites in row 1, which the airline says will offer:
- full privacy, with a sliding partition between the suite and the aisle
- additional space where passengers can stretch out
- a ‘buddy seat’ where a companion can sit and share a meal, a glass of wine or a game of cards
- a larger meal table, also made with companion dining in mind
- ‘exclusive’ accessories such as a Merino wool throw
The airline says while it considered Luxe suite options such as “a personal wardrobe or a mini-bar, the strong feedback we got was ‘just give us extra space’.”
Air New Zealand's 787 Business Premier Luxe suite.
The Kiwi carrier has now revealed how much it’ll charge passengers for this Luxe treatment.
Speaking at its annual investor day held on November 25, AirNZ’s international boss Jeremy O’Brien confirmed Business Premier Luxe “will sell as a buy-up product at NZ$820 for long-haul flight and NZ$250 for short-haul flight.”
Air New Zealand's 787 Business Premier Luxe suite.
Lufthansa is also rolling out its new Airbus A350 Allegris business class, which includes spacious front-row suites.
Lufthansa's A350 Allegris business class suite.
To reserve one of the four business class suites, travellers will pay ‘from €400’ extra.
However, these suites are just one variation within the Allegris business class cabin: there are also seats with an extra-long bed (2.2m), additional privacy or working space, priced from €100 extra.
Lufthansa's A350 offers several variations on Allegris business class.
Virgin Atlantic’s take on ‘business plus’ is what it calls the Retreat Suite on its A330neo jets.
Virgin Atlantic's A330neo Retreat Suite.
There are two Retreat Suites, each in the centre of row 1 – the window seats in that row are identical to the rest of Virgin’s A330neo Upper Class business class.
Each Retreat Suite combines a 2m bed with a 27” screen, massive legroom, additional storage space, and companion dining, all for an additional £200 on routes between London and the US.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1564
Perhaps this concept is better way than First because "real' First is something that SQ offering.
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 254
I suppose it depends on your definition and expectations of First. Most airlines doing 'business plus' don't have first class, eg Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand in this article, but Lufthansa does. This is just an interesting way to segment the cabin and the market. JetBlue has is on its A321LRs and I think Iberia has it on its A321XLR, American and United are also planning the same, so it'd be interesting to see if Qantas does this also.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 170
What will happen if Air New Zealand sells all the regular business class seats but n9t the suites? Will they fly them empty or would they go on sale as regular business priced seats in the last 72 hours or so?
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 254
No idea but they might just upgrade high-tier passengers already booked in normal business class as a bit of a treat and maybe to encourage them to pay the extra money in future, maybe even on the return trip, instead of 'discounting' the product.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Nov 2019
Total posts 88
All of these seats are way too narrow for a standard aussie bloke, more suited to Asian traveller. Length is not the issue when the width is just too narrow. All uncomfortable as hell.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jun 2017
Total posts 52
Do you mean a big fat alcoholic? I’m a standard Aussie bloke and I fit perfectly fine.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Air New Zealand to charge $820 extra for Luxe suites