Air New Zealand UK - Blind Gate

Air New Zealand UK - Blind Gate

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Air New Zealand UK has launched a new initiative which uses its own flights to pair two strangers together on a blind date. Named 'Blind Gate', the campaign invites those looking for new love to sign up for a chance to compete in a blind date contest, with two lucky couples flying from London to Los Angeles on ANZ. With the initiative, ANZ aims to promote its London to LA route as well as its innovative Skycouch seat.

For Blind Gate, ANZ UK is collaborating with the Guardian newspaper, who had those interested in the contest sign up on their site. On Valentine's Day, ten shortlisted contestants will gather at a specially built TV studio at Heathrow's T1 to take part in the blind-date contest.

Each contestant will bring a passport and a packed suitcase, and the two lucky couples chosen, one gay and one straight, will board an ANZ flight to LA as soon as the winners are announced. The couples will be seated on Air New Zealand's Skycouch, often referred to as “cuddle class”. To see how they get on, a camera crew from the Guardian will also document and follow the couples' holiday to LA, including coverage of the flight on the Skycouch, for a fve-episode series on the campaign website and for a feature in the Guardian's Weekend edition.