Air NZ skycouch
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Anybody used it? Any comments?
Basically we are home to NZ for Xmas, and not doing stopovers ... yep, that’s 24 hours with the wife, mr 7 and miss 5 ... kill me, kill me now.
Anyway, we’ve found flights for decent price, but are looking to spend s little more for comfort. Tossing up between some sky couches, or some legs in prem Econ (sing air or Cathay).
Any thoughts out there? Is the sky couch any good? Or better to just go prem?
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We had it last month with Mrs gt12 and baby gt12 (5 months). Was a pain and we couldn't all three lie down. But for you with two kids and the wife in one skycouch while you relax in premium economy, it would work well.
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@MajorRage - not used it but have had feedback that it is good for an adult and a kid but not two adults (as originally inferred from the cuddle class advertising)
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@gt12 cheers ... do you think need an extra seat? I.e can two kids lie down across two seats with one adult there snd another across the aisle?
Or need two extra seats? I’ve never even seen it so no real idea
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That would work. Not to name drop, but Elliot Dixon had his wife and two kids on one with his wife in that format, and he was across the aisle by himself.
Mrs gt12 and I used it once with just the two of us and it was great, but with the baby it's a bit too cramped for all three of us to lie down. So, she had to sit up.
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Btw, if you added two extra seats and paid for two skycouches (i.e., got two rows), then I'd say everyone could lie down).
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That was an option for two skycouch but it was bloody expensive - more than premium economy.
And then I was thinking prem would be better ...
And then Mrs MR disagreed ...
You know the rest.
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@MajorRage you got laid??
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Skycouch just doesn't work IMO.
OK, if you are two small people that want to sleep at the same time and stay deadly still then you may at least get to lie down but otherwise, if comfort is the key spring for better seats.
First Class Singapore Airlines is good. You get a hottie come and make your bed for you whenever you want.Long haul travel is only bearable if you have managed to accumulate status and can cash in on it.
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@Crucial said in Air NZ skycouch:
Skycouch just doesn't work IMO.
OK, if you are two small people that want to sleep at the same time and stay deadly still then you may at least get to lie down but otherwise, if comfort is the key spring for better seats.
First Class Singapore Airlines is good. You get a hottie come and make your bed for you whenever you want.Long haul travel is only bearable if you have managed to accumulate status and can cash in on it.
Or get great meds. It's cheaper
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In terms of Prem economy, I'd probably vouch for Singapore over Cathay, but not a lot in it. Most Singapore flights/seats have a leg rest which makes it a bit more comfy (even better if you're undertall). Plus on Singapore you can get book the chef meals which adds a nice touch too.
Qantas is the only other one I know about, they're a bit shit.
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I need a better job. I am just back from NZ with 3 kids We flew economy with the baby on the knee. If I ever needed a glimpse of hell I got it.
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@mooshld said in Air NZ skycouch:
I need a better job. I am just back from NZ with 3 kids We flew economy with the baby on the knee. If I ever needed a glimpse of hell I got it.
It's not going to be anytime soon I can afford to spring for anything above economy on a long haul - I've just been "lucky" enough to have work trips out to Aus last year - cheap bastards won't spring for more than Prem though.
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@mooshld said in Air NZ skycouch:
I need a better job. I am just back from NZ with 3 kids We flew economy with the baby on the knee. If I ever needed a glimpse of hell I got it.
I've been there many times in the past and will in the future too. This is a one-off, not a lifestyle change!
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Compromise reached and booked ...
Econ to Hk, skycouch to akl.
Singapore Prem Econ return30 % premium on economy fares.
Happy with.
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When I fly to Asia I usually fly on one of the airlines that lets you apply for three seats a few days before the flight leaves. It usually costs around $40. I generally take overnight flights so just sleep most of the trip.
On some of the flights there's sometimes already seats spare and I might not have to pay but better to cough up the cash for peace of mind and often to get in the quiet cabin at the front.
This doesn't really help families but others should look at it. Although I can't for the life of me remember the name of the scheme at the moment. -
@Crucial said in Air NZ skycouch:
OK, if you are two small people that want to sleep at the same time and stay deadly still then you may at least get to lie down but otherwise, if comfort is the key spring for better seats.
Agreed. I haven't done First Class, but ever since I was upgraded to business on a brand new A380, I've flown business OS (>3 hrs flight) ever since. The difference it makes is enormous.
Years back I was flying economy to Japan and identified a middle row of four seats just behind me that were empty. As soon as I could I was laying down across that row and promptly went to sleep.
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@Nepia Thanks - that's enormously helpful
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@dogmeat said in Air NZ skycouch:
@Nepia Thanks - that's enormously helpful
I've remembered what it's called - Optiontown, but I think I've used a similar site for other airlines.
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I don't remember the last time i flew on a plane that wasn't packed to the gills
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@mariner4life said in Air NZ skycouch:
I don't remember the last time i flew on a plane that wasn't packed to the gills
All I know is that the last time I went Long Haul, true love told me to pay the upgrade to London but I cheaped out and went via Doha on Qatar airways!!
NEVER AGAIN.
After a 19(?) hour flight to Doha and desperate for a beer (I tend not to drink on flights in cattle class), I could have wept openly when I saw I couldn't buy booze. Worst part was I knew I was doing the same but in reverse one the way home.
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@mariner4life said in Air NZ skycouch:
I don't remember the last time i flew on a plane that wasn't packed to the gills
I've found most night flights between Sydney and KL have not been full ... might just be the cheaper airlines (Air Asia etc) though I think I've done the three seats on some more established ones.
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Two cabin class innovations this century really shit me. 1 the introduction of Premium Economy which means an upgrade to Business is two upgrades 2. The auctioning off of spare seats. I have yet to win an auction but I did used to get complimentary upgrades as a regular customer.
the one person I know who did win a bid discovered that they couldn't choose their seat, lost the money they'd spent getting a better seat in economy and didn't get access to the lounge. So $800 for a bit bigger seat. Yeah nah.
The likes of Koru membership was good value in its early days but now .....
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@dogmeat said in Air NZ skycouch:
Two cabin class innovations this century really shit me. 1 the introduction of Premium Economy which means an upgrade to Business is two upgrades 2. The auctioning off of spare seats. I have yet to win an auction but I did used to get complimentary upgrades as a regular customer.
the one person I know who did win a bid discovered that they couldn't choose their seat, lost the money they'd spent getting a better seat in economy and didn't get access to the lounge. So $800 for a bit bigger seat. Yeah nah.
The likes of Koru membership was good value in its early days but now .....
I lost a bid for business flying from Perth to Sydney on Virgin - my two mates put their bid in and didn't tell me about it until the next morning. They won their seats. However, it worked out fine for me as it was dud business class, barely Air NZ premium economy level (Virgin have an awesome business on one plane and dud on the other - also we already had lounge access so wouldn't have got any benefit there). I get to my seat and find I have a whole row to myself so was very glad I saved the $$.
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@Nepia That optiontown site is pretty interesting - thanks!
I've flown on Malaysian Airlines several times since their crashes - I figured they're bound to be meticulous in their safety - however, if their ground staff service is anything to go by, this assumption might be mistaken.
Haven't been on a flight that has been close to full and they've been significantly cheaper out of Auckland than other options to Asia.
