Air New Zealand is renowned for delivering an exceptional onboard experience, known for its friendly crew, comfortable cabins, and focus on hospitality from the moment you board. I had the pleasure of flying with them on a journey from Melbourne to Auckland, followed by a long-haul flight from Auckland to Los Angeles.
I was also given a lounge pass to the Air New Zealand Kora Lounge in Auckland many years ago and I will never forget the experience. It makes a great and unique gift to travellers.
While their service and dedication to passenger comfort were superb, Air New Zealand’s 777-300ER seating configurations did leave me a bit perplexed, particularly in Business Class. Understanding the Air New Zealand 777 300er seat map is essential because each configuration has a significant impact on the seating experience – especially if you find the secret first class cabin! Read on!
How many Boeing 777-300’s does Air New Zealand have?
Air New Zealand operates eight Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with three different configurations, two of which are ex-Cathay Pacific planes.
How many 777-300’s has Air New Zealand leased from Cathay Pacific?
Air New Zealand is leasing two Boeing 777-300ERs from Cathay Pacific, with the agreement set for three years. This decision came in response to Cathay’s lowered demand, freeing up the planes for Air New Zealand’s transpacific and regional routes. Air New Zealand has scheduled these 777-300ERs, which have a Cathay Pacific interior, on routes from Auckland to Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Sydney, starting in mid-November 2023.
These Cathay Pacific planes offer Air New Zealand an opportunity to expand its capacity without waiting for new aircraft deliveries. As you will see below on the air new zealand 777 300er seat map, despite having a Cathay cabin setup, these planes have been adapted slightly, including customized in-flight entertainment content by Air New Zealand.
Registration codes / tail numbers of the Air New Zealand Leased 777’s from Cathay Pacific.
Air New Zealand has leased two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Cathay Pacific, which are registered under tail numbers ZK-OKU and ZK-OKV.
These planes, originally part of Cathay’s fleet, are being utilized for routes such as Auckland to Los Angeles and select trans-Tasman routes to Melbourne and Sydney. The leases were arranged to supplement Air New Zealand’s capacity, especially during peak seasons, and will be in use under a three-year agreement.
To track the flights of Air New Zealand’s leased Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs, you can use FlightAware. Simply enter the aircraft’s registration number or tail number in the search bar to find detailed flight information and upcoming schedules.
Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER Seat Maps & Configuration Overview
Air New Zealand’s eight Boeing 777-300ERs are arranged in three distinct configurations, each offering unique features and layouts. The three configurations are:
- Original Air New Zealand Configuration – Features Business Premier, Premium Economy, and Economy, with Economy Skycouch options.
- Ex-Cathay Pacific (Boeing 777-367ER) – Named “Business Premier Preferred” with a slightly different Business Class configuration that includes a hidden gem: a “secret first class” experience for those booking Business Class.
- Ex-Cathay Pacific Version 2 (Boeing 777-367ER V2) – Similar to the first ex-Cathay Pacific configuration but with some variations in seating capacity across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.
1. Air New Zealand Original 777-300ER Configuration
Air New Zealand 777 300ER Business Premier
As you will see on the air new zealand 777 300er seat map, in the original 777-300ER layout, Air New Zealand’s Business Premier cabin has 44 seats configured in a 1-2-1 herringbone arrangement across rows 1 to 12.
This layout allows each passenger direct aisle access and a fully lie-flat bed, but the angled seats create an unusual experience. (No, the seats aren’t pink, its the ambience! a little like the virgin a350 upper class)
Passengers are oriented toward the aisle, making eye contact unavoidable, which can feel quite awkward with little privacy. Here’s a breakdown:
Seat Layout: 1-2-1 herringbone
Bed: Fully lie-flat
Privacy: Minimal; seats face out toward other passengers
Screen: 11” retractable HD touchscreen
Storage: Small compartment for personal items (phone, glasses, etc.)
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
Air New Zealand 777 300ER Premium Economy
Premium Economy in this configuration has 54 seats spread across rows 23 to 30 in a 2-4-2 layout.
Designed for added comfort, these seats are wider and have better recline than Economy, along with adjustable leg rests and footrests.
Seat Layout: 2-4-2
Seat Width: 19.3”
Pitch: 41.5”
Recline: Up to 8.7”
Screen: 11” HD touchscreen
Air New Zealand 777 300er Economy and Economy Skycouch
The Economy cabin features 244 seats across rows 34 to 60 in a 3-4-3 configuration. Air New Zealand also offers its unique Skycouch in Economy, a feature available in rows 39 to 46 (ABC and HJK) and rows 49 to 50 (ABC and HJK).
Skycouch seats have special footrests that fold up, creating a couch-like bed when booked as a block of three. The skycouch is great option for families and those travelling with kids.
Seat Layout: 3-4-3
Seat Width: 17.1”
Pitch: 32”
Recline: Up to 4.7”
Screen: 9” HD touchscreen
Power: USB sockets with shared AC power in the row
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
2. Boeing 777-367ER Ex-Cathay Pacific Configuration
The ex-Cathay Pacific 777-367ER, introduced by Air New Zealand, offers a unique Business Premier Preferred cabin with what some refer to as a “secret first class” experience. The design includes six exclusive suites across rows 1 and 2, which provide extra comfort and privacy.
Air New Zealand 777 367 ER Business Premier Preferred (Secret First Class)
This version of Business Premier features 6 suites in rows 1 to 2, configured in a 1-1-1 layout. Each suite has an exceptionally spacious 36” wide seat, which converts to an 81” long bed, perfect for a premium experience.
For an additional NZD 990 on top of a fare like NZD 3,598 from Auckland to Los Angeles, you can access a business class cabin that is closer to a first-class experience.
Seat Layout: 1-1-1
Bed: Fully lie-flat
Privacy: Suite
Screen: 18.5” touchscreen display
Storage: Small compartment, including a pocket beneath the display
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
Air New Zealand 777 367ER Business Premier (Standard)
In addition to the Business Premier Preferred section, this aircraft includes a 53-seat Business Premier section across rows 11 to 26. These seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration with Safran Cirrus II seats, allowing for direct aisle access and privacy for every passenger.
Seat Layout: 1-2-1
Seat Width: 20”
Bed Length: 6’7” fully flat
Screen: 16” touchscreen
Power: Universal AC and two USB sockets
Air New Zealand 777 367ER Premium Economy
Premium Economy in this configuration has 34 seats in rows 30 to 34, arranged in a 2-4-2 layout. It offers a comfortable experience with more space and an individual goose-neck reading light.
Seat Layout: 2-4-2
Seat Width: 19.5”
Pitch: 40”
Recline: 8”
Screen: 10.6” touchscreen
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
Air New Zealand 777 367ER Economy
The Economy cabin has 201 slimline seats arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration from rows 39 to 72. While the seat width is slightly larger than in the original configuration, some rows (HJK seats at rows 40 to 46) have a slightly reduced pitch of 31”.
Seat Layout: 3-4-3
Seat Width: 17.2”
Pitch: 32” (31” at some rows)
Recline: 6”
Screen: 12” touchscreen
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
3. Boeing 777-367ER V2 Ex-Cathay Pacific Configuration
The V2 configuration of the 777-367ER features some minor adjustments in seating capacities, particularly in Premium Economy and Economy. It does however maintain many of the other features found in the first ex-Cathay configuration.
Air New Zealand 777 367er V2 Business Premier
In the V2 configuration, the Business Premier cabin includes (as above) 40 Safran Cirrus II seats across rows 11 to 23, maintaining the 1-2-1 layout.
Seat Layout: 1-2-1
Seat Width: 20”
Bed Length: 6’7” fully flat
Screen: 16” touchscreen
Power: Universal AC and two USB sockets
Air New Zealand 777 367er V2 Premium Economy
With 32 seats arranged in a 2-4-2 layout from rows 30 to 33, the Premium Economy cabin in this V2 configuration provides a very similar experience to the initial ex-Cathay layout.
Seat Layout: 2-4-2
Seat Width: 19.5”
Pitch: 40”
Recline: 8”
Screen: 10.6” touchscreen
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
Air New Zealand 777 367er V2 Economy
The Economy cabin in the V2 configuration contains a larger 296 seats arranged in a 3-4-3 layout from rows 39 to 72. Despite the higher capacity, the seat comfort remains similar to other configurations.
Seat Layout: 3-4-3
Seat Width: 17.2”
Pitch: 32”
Recline: 6”
Screen: 12” touchscreen
Power: Universal AC and USB sockets
How do you know which configuration you are flying?
Air New Zealand operates three different configurations for their Boeing 777-300ERs, so it can be a bit tricky to determine which one will be on your flight. However, you can usually find this out in a few different ways:
Seat Map on Air New Zealand’s Website or Booking Page
When you book your flight on the Air New Zealand website, the seat map displayed during seat selection is often a good indicator of the aircraft’s configuration. Compare the layout with the descriptions provided. For instance:
If you see a unique “1-1-1” configuration in the business cabin, you’re on the ex-Cathay Pacific version with Business Premier Preferred seats.
If the business class shows a “1-2-1” herringbone configuration, it’s likely Air New Zealand’s original layout.
Checking with Air New Zealand Customer Support
For confirmation, you can contact Air New Zealand’s customer support. Their representatives can typically verify the aircraft type and configuration for your specific flight, especially as your departure date gets closer.
Flight Information Websites (e.g., Flightaware, ExpertFlyer)
Websites like flightaware and ExpertFlyer often list information or detailed seat maps for specific flights. By entering your flight number and date on expertflyer, you can see the exact layout planned for your journey. By entering the tail numbers into flightaware you can see the exact flights these aircrafts have taken and upcoming flights.
Booking Class and Cabin Layout During Check-In
If you missed these steps during booking, the check-in process (especially if done online 24 hours before departure) also provides access to the seat map, giving you another chance to compare it with known configurations.
While the exact layout can sometimes change due to last-minute operational adjustments, these methods give you a solid indication of what to expect on your upcoming flight.
Summing Up
Air New Zealand’s fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs offers a varied seating experience across three distinct configurations, each impacting comfort, layout, and amenities. These configurations include two planes leased from Cathay Pacific, whose interiors remain largely in their original form, creating a unique experience within the airline’s offerings. It’s so important to understand the air new zealand boeing 777-300ER seat map as it will ultimately affect your travel experience.
The main cabin classes—Business Premier, Premium Economy, and Economy—are spread across these configurations, each offering different levels of privacy, legroom, and amenities. The Business Premier cabin, though a fully lie-flat bed, faces privacy issues in the traditional Air New Zealand design but finds improvement in the more spacious “secret first class” option on the ex-Cathay Pacific aircraft, ideal for travelers seeking extra luxury on long-haul flights.
Premium Economy and Economy cabins across the configurations provide a comfortable travel experience with ample seat width, pitch, and access to entertainment and charging options, particularly in the redesigned Cathay configurations that feature enhanced screens and storage.
For those looking for a distinctive experience, the Economy SkyCouch remains a standout, turning economy seating into a couch-like bed for extra comfort. Travelers should check the seating layout at booking to confirm which configuration their specific flight will offer, especially on routes that frequently use the Cathay-leased planes. As you can see from the air new zealand 777 300Er Seat Map not all aircrafts offer the skycouch.
Overall, Air New Zealand’s diverse 777-300ER configurations cater to a range of travel needs, blending unique features and comfort enhancements. The airline’s focus on service and hospitality is felt throughout each cabin class, making Air New Zealand a top choice for transpacific and regional journeys.
I generally travel business and first class for free by using points. If you’re also a points collector, you probably know that when it’s time to redeem your miles for an airline ticket, it’s crucial to use a miles redemption calculator. This ensures you’re getting the best value for your points, and it’s something I do religiously.
Finally, if you need some packing tips, download this ultimate travel packing list for helpful suggestions you might not have thought of!
Happy travels!
