Air New Zealand Complaint - A Seat Fit For Child

Complaint

Review by IanR on 2009-03-24

I don't know whether we paid for a child's fare or not but certainly the seats that my wife and I were allocated in the NZ2 flight from Los Angeles to London last week could only had fitted a child or a very small adult. Due to their position, at the rear of the middle cabin in Pacific Class, seats 47b and 47c were approximately 3 inches narrower than the other seats in the class. As they were at the rear of the cabin they also had very little recline on them so when the passengers in front reclined their seats we were, virtually, trapped for the entire 10 hour flight!! Do Air New Zealand have sympathetic cabin crew? not on this flight they didn't, the only comment we could solicit was "well you drew the short straw there".

I was under the impression that the airline with the worst customer care record was Ryan Air.. not so. When I contacted the Air New Zealand customer services department (via on-line procedures) they ignored the first 2 e-mails and on the 3rd try promised action within 48 hours and then (after not receiving a word from them) they said that my complaint had run out of time and was being classed as 'resolved'... Great customer relations!!

I guess the only recourse is to let others know of the problems that can occur and let them make judgment on whether to travel Air New Zealand

Comments (5)

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Comments:

Posted by Ben There on 2009-03-24:

Row 47 is the worst row on the entire plane. All aircraft have less desirable seats, so I suggest that you pre-assign your seats and check out seatguru.com to find the best seats... http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_New_Zealand/Air_New_Zealand_Boeing_777-200.php

Posted by littleyaya on 2009-03-24:

That's a good website Ben There. I used that as a resource a lot when I worked at Scareways

Posted by financiallyfit on 2009-03-24:

Yuck - I sympathize with you...At 6'1, I always feel like I'm sitting in airplane seats made for children, except when I fly the Asian airlines which have far more leg room. Definitely check the seat guru site and try to pre-book seats if you can - it will save you a really uncomfortable trip.

Posted by littleyaya on 2009-03-24:

I don't have a problem with leg room. Being short sometimes has its advantages

Posted by financiallyfit on 2009-03-24:

Every time I fly, I wish I were short, littleyaya!