as srb has said before imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

""Direct aisle access for all passengers made possible by unique herring bone layout."

[Pete]

That isn't just a replication, that has to be a licensing deal - it *is* the UCS. Wow. Hope VS have made a tidy sum out of that one.

Pix

The only thing that is different is the colour!! There's even the stowaway armrest!

Bet they don't get the great service you get with VS staff though :D

Shaz

I'm not entirely sure I could cope with a trans pacific flight with those orange economy seats though!

Alex

This begs the question: who has paid for the R&D for UCS?

I heard on a flight that the seats are made by Britax (the project was known as BFB - Britax flat bed), but was Britax only working with / for VS, or are we likely to see other airlines adopting them either under licence or because they also paid Britax...

[Pete]

Delving a little deeper into the ANZ site, I found this quote;

"The new seat, which transforms to create the only truly lie-flat bed flying into, or out of, New Zealand at a business class price, is being supplied by United Kingdom manufacturer Contour Premium Aircraft Seating."

Hmmm... Wonder if Virgin have any money in that company. They certainly hold the patents to the UCS.

Pix

Contour is a trading name of Britax http://www.contour.aero/. I thought they only made baby seats and buggies!!!;)

Interesting to find out the story behind how Air NZ got to use
the design though!

Alex

The patent documentation has VS as the applicant which I take to mean that they are the patent owners. Must be some kind of licensing deal. I bet they let ANZ do it because they don't really compete against each other...maybe ANZ has some rights to drop people of at LAX but that would be about it.

Obviously a commercial licensing deal. Mind you, VS have to be careful that they do not dilute their proposition.

BC

no duvet with ANZ though, just a blanket!

Actually, ANZ does compete directly with VS on the nonstop LAX-LHR route. In fact, ANZ and VS often use adjacent gates at both LAX Terminal 2 and LHR Terminal 3. As an economy flyer, I can prefer ANZ with its 34-inch seat-pitch, and better in-flight service. The ANZ drawback has been no economy in-seat IFE, only cabin screens. Apparently, this will change by 2005-06, with a V-Port type IFE. Notice in the ANZ press release that ecomony will retain its 34-inch pitch, while a new super economy has a 39-40 inch pitch.

Hmmm, there's also ANZ's partner airline status with VS (see here for the FC miles earning). I wonder - FC mileage partner, UCS (under licence?), "Super Economy" (PE)....[?]

Cheers

Michael

[Bazz]

HERE IS THE LATEST:
*******************

I have just been speaking to Graham Ballard and Peter Jones both Sales Managers at Contour Premium Aircraft Seating, Peter is responsible for the Air New Zealand (ANZ) account.

After the development team at Contour took VA's detailed concept for the suites and turned this into a prototype and then a full product VA gave Contour permission to show the Suite to other airlines to illustrate Contour's capability.

One such airline was ANZ, who expressed interest in operating the product themselves. A detailed triparthied negotiation followed which resulted in ANZ being allowed under licence upon payment of a royalty to use the product, the colour scheme had to be different, naturally, to the VS UCS, but in virtually every other respect the product is identical.

It is reported that there are no negotiations underway with other airlines to take the Suite at this time.

Our thanks to Peter Jones for providing this information and for allowing it to be published on v-flyer.com.

****************************
ENDS

Bazz

Nice one, thanks for that info - does seem to be that ANZ are trying to be more like VS though eh? [8D]

Cheers

Michael

Aren't Air NZ in a bit of trouble financially?

Perhaps after Virgin America is set up SRB could turn his focus to NZ and merge Pacific Blue with Air NZ - how does 'Virgin Pacific' sound?

Alex

quote:Originally posted by 747sardine
The patent documentation has VS as the applicant which I take to mean that they are the patent owners.

FYI: Found a link to the patent document over at FlyerTalk:
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=GB2396103

Cheers

Michael

Yes thats true, and VS have made a pretty penny !

It will be interesting to see how the product fits in to the 777's which I understand ANZ is ordering.

Due to the narrower fuselage (compared to a 747), if it is a 1-2-1 config, then the seats would have to be "swept" forward at a shallower angle, which should, in theory give extra room.

Rich.

I think the aisle will be narrowed a bit, as far as i know, ten abrest seating is possible in y in 777s, so it'll be 1-2-1.

the 777 fuselage is 19'X" while the 747 fuse is 20' so there isn't that much difference

Do ANZ have the bar? don't know if that has been mentioned, can't see it on the Treview.

Thanks for the link mcuth.

There's some interesteing stuff there, esp on the mosaic section of the patent, including different variants of the seat design, and a 747 config with 84 Upper Class Suites!

I wonder if this was seriously considered?

Also there is a design for the upper class seats incorporating the J2000 design bar.

There is (alas) no A340-300 Upper Class seat plan on there though!

[Bazz]

That 84 UCS config is something else, certainly looks very impressive. I wonder if we will ever see it fly?

quote:Originally posted by Bazz
That 84 UCS config is something else, certainly looks very impressive. I wonder if we will ever see it fly?

Maybe we could charter it for a V-Flyer LAS social?

Cheers

Michael

quote:Originally posted by Bazz
That 84 UCS config is something else, certainly looks very impressive. I wonder if we will ever see it fly?

The best thing about that layout is the double bed in the front cabin. Well, not quite, but it would be great to have a paired solution for couples...

BC

[Bazz]

BC your mind (well, part of your anatomy ) is running away with you

Mcuth, that's a bloody good idea