SPACESEAT wins another SKYTRAX Award- Air NZ to dump it, why

SPACESEAT wins another SKYTRAX Award- Air NZ to dump it, why

What are they replacing it with?

While they're not replacing them on the planes they're on (yet), the new 787s and the refurbed 777-200s have a new Premium Economy product which is a much more standard configuration. So the Spaceseat only exists on the 777-300s.

While I love it, it's a pretty polarising product - a lot of people really dislike it. Plus my understanding is that with the new Premium Economy seat they can fit a lot more in to the same sized cabin, so there's probably a pretty reasonable financial incentive to replace them. On that last point, the economics of the Spaceseat went out the window a bit when they had to pull out a row within months after widespread complaints about lack of legroom.

Firstly, it hasn't been confirm it's being ditched yet (although probably likely).

Secondly, they have two premium economy products, so who's to say it isn't the new black chair as well as the overall food/service which won the award?

Thirdly, the Spaceseat is loved by some and hated by others, so why would a CEO keep a product that has such split opinion?

For the record, I like the seat, but can understand the rationale for replacing it. Many will argue it is all about cost savings, which probably plays a part, but I think there are other reasons too.

Those two words again, 'Premium Economy', yuck.

The spaceseat is too heavy, uses too much space and does not command a premium over other Premium Economy products.

Whilst an attractive and innovative idea, it was probably doomed the moment NZ had to remove a row from its 77Ws to overcome legroom issues.  The elimination of the row meant that the economics of the seat were destroyed.  NZ telegraphed that the Spaceseat would be replaced when the 789 (for which the Spaceseat was allegedly designed) arrived with a conventional W class product.

NZ took a patent on the product but indicated it would be willing to onsell the seat to other airlines.  My understanding is no airline ever approached them.  It was a worthy try but the economics just didn't add up.

Seat density and weight of the space seats are two of the reasons I have heard.  The other was that AirNZ never saw people paying a consistent premium for the product, as such you can often get great deals on the spaceseat.    

Agree with the above its a very polarising product.  I personally love the personal space they afford and the little touches that really make it feel like business lite.  That said I find them awful for sleeping on.  The new PE is likely to be much better in that regard, and in long haul that counts for a lot. 

Didn't the NZ CEO state the spaceseat wouldn't be in the 787 because of the routes that the 787 was to be flown (Trans-tasman and Asian destinations) and they didn't feel there was much demand on these services for PE?

Very simple and practical reason the space seat did not make the 787... is they just don't fit. Where as they get 21 of the original Y+ seat configuration. Got to make the economics work.

For what it's worth -  I personally love the space seat, but like the growing rumours I believe their days are numbered.