Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand punches well above its weight for an airline from a country of five million people. It operates a tight long-haul network out of Auckland, connecting New Zealand to North America, Asia, and the Pacific Islands using a fleet dominated by 787-9 Dreamliners. The signature herringbone business class (Business Premier) gives every seat direct aisle access in a 1-1-1 layout, which is unusually spacious for an airline this size. They also run an extensive domestic network with A320s and A321neos linking Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and regional airports, plus turboprop ATR 72-600s for the smaller towns. The Airpoints loyalty program is straightforward -- you earn dollars, you spend dollars -- and status tiers unlock lounge access and upgrade priority.

What's genuinely set Air New Zealand apart recently is the Skynest: six sleep pods available to economy passengers on ultra-long-haul 787-9 flights. It was a world first when it launched, and while it's not a replacement for business class, it gives economy passengers a chance to lie flat for a few hours on 13+ hour flights to places like New York or Chicago. The airline also introduced the Economy Skynest fare class to bundle pod access with the ticket. It's the kind of innovation that comes from a smaller airline that needs to differentiate rather than just add more seats.

The 787-9 Dreamliner is the backbone of Air New Zealand's international operation, with 14 aircraft in the fleet. These fly the long-haul routes to Houston, New York (via a stop), Chicago, Tokyo, Shanghai, and across the Tasman to Australian cities. The business class configuration uses a custom herringbone 1-1-1 layout with lie-flat seats measuring 6'7.5" when fully extended. Each seat has direct aisle access, a 11.6-inch touchscreen, USB and AC power, and noise-cancelling headphones. The cabin seats 27 in Business Premier. Premium Economy adds another 33 seats with 41 inches of pitch in a 2-3-2 layout -- one of the more generous premium economy products flying.

The domestic and short-haul fleet is A320s, A321neos, and ATR 72-600 turboprops. The A321neo is the newest addition, flying trunk routes like Auckland-Queenstown and across the Tasman with 214 seats in an all-economy layout at 30-31 inches of pitch. The ATR turboprops handle regional routes with 68 seats and are perfectly adequate for 45-minute hops between smaller New Zealand cities. Air New Zealand has also ordered eight 787-10s (the larger Dreamliner variant) for delivery from 2028, which will expand capacity on high-demand routes to North America and Asia without adding frequency.

Business Premier on the 787 is where Air New Zealand competes with carriers three times its size. The 1-1-1 layout means every seat is a window or an aisle (alternating rows), and each one converts to a fully flat bed with a mattress pad, full-size pillow, and duvet. The dining programme rotates seasonally with menus designed by New Zealand chefs -- expect lamb, seafood, and local wines rather than generic international airline food. The New Zealand wine list is a genuine highlight; the Central Otago Pinot Noirs and Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs are selected with care. Amenity kits are modest but practical.

Premium Economy on the 787 is arguably the sweet spot for value. At 41 inches of pitch in a 2-3-2 layout, you get a wider seat than most competitors' premium economy, plus a footrest, enhanced meal service, and priority boarding. The Skynest pods are in a separate cabin section on equipped aircraft -- six individual sleeping pods stacked in two rows of three, each with a mattress, pillow, blanket, and privacy curtain. You book four-hour sleep sessions during the flight. Economy is 31 inches of pitch in a 3-3-3 layout on the 787, which is industry standard. The crew is consistently friendly in a genuine way that doesn't feel performative -- it's a cultural thing that passengers notice.

On the 787-9 Business Premier, the alternating 1-1-1 layout means odd rows have window seats on the left and aisle seats on the right, with even rows reversed. If you want a window with maximum privacy, rows 2 or 4 on the left side place you against the fuselage with the seat angled away from the aisle. The cabin is small enough (27 seats) that there's no dramatic difference between front and back, though rows 1-2 deplane fastest.

Premium Economy rows 10-14 on the 787 are worth selecting early -- the 2-3-2 layout means window pairs and aisle-middle-aisle triples. If you're travelling as a couple, the window pair is the obvious choice. For economy, the Skynest-equipped 787s have the pod cabin between premium economy and economy, roughly around rows 15-16. Exit rows on the 787 offer 36 inches and are worth the NZ$50-80 upgrade on flights over 8 hours. Domestically on the A320, the front half of the cabin deplanes noticeably faster -- relevant if you have a tight connection at Auckland or Christchurch.