Better seats for UK to Auckland early 2018?

knightstyle

Well we have flown to NZ three times to visit DD and family, we plan to go again early 2018. As we are not getting any younger DD has said she will help with fares so we are looking for best value/comfort in business or anything better than standard class, fully reclining seats perhaps.
we have used Air NZ, Malasia, Singapore in the past and they were all fine for us.
So looking for your ideas, experiences please.

richardw

Singapore Airlines is getting new A350 aircraft with Premium Economy which looks good http://www.singaporeair.com/microsite/a350/#/explore/PEY_01A

What did you dislike about your recent trip?

knightstyle

Thanks, we just want a more relaxed journey, over a day next to unsettled children did not help last time. I have had a quick look and Singapore seem to charge about £1k each extra for premium economy have you done this, was it worth it?
DW has had back surgery in the past and still suffers if sitting upright for long periods.

richardw

I have flown Premium Economy on very long sectors and it was definitely worth it on an extra cost per hour flight time basis.

Emirates have said they will introduce premium economy, so there should be more choice going east in the longer term.

I also find new aircraft types are better such as A380 and B787. I haven't been on an A350 yet.

Cathay Pacific are also getting more A350 aircraft and these will also have Premium Economy.

Contessa

I've flown on the Airbus 380 just twice (with BA) to Los Angeles, so not as far. I found it to be very comfortable in both PE and economy. On my last trip I booked an economy seat in a 2 rather than 3 row. As it happened there was no one next to me.

Anecdotally, another passenger was telling me that she regularly flies to NZ and in her experience, Emirates Business Class is the best, and least expensive.

PeacefulWaters

Qatar Airlines business class starting from Copenhagen or Paris is looking cheap at the moment.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1818553-premium-fare-deals-j-f-2017-edition-7.html

richardw

I wouldn't want to be on one of the worlds longest flights DOH-AKL, even in Business or First.

fifeken

You don't say where you would prefer to fly from in the UK, but for regional departures and only one stop, both Emirates and Qatar will fit the bill.
It really depend on your priorities regarding cost, time, number and length of stops, comfort level etc

zagfles

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks, we just want a more relaxed journey, over a day next to unsettled children did not help last time. I have had a quick look and Singapore seem to charge about £1k each extra for premium economy have you done this, was it worth it?
DW has had back surgery in the past and still suffers if sitting upright for long periods.

Don't make the mistake of thinking upgrading will avoid kids!

Have you considered a long changeover and the transit hotel in Singapore? Worked really well when we did it - booked the transit hotel for 9 hours (you book it by the hour so a daytime booking is no problem) and you'll get a quiet, dark, private room where you can get a proper night's (or day's) sleep. Bags checked through so no need to collect them or go through immigration.

knightstyle

Thanks, we are in North Lincolnshire so most airports are OK by train for us.
We did go to the Singapore airside hotel for a shower once and stayed a week in Singapore on the way back, so will look again at this.

richardw

knightstyle wrote: »

..we are in North Lincolnshire....

Btw a possible routing is from Humberside HUY airport via AMS and SIN.