Aircalin review by Paul Stevenson

13 May 2008   Customer Trip Rating :

SYD-NOU return. What a disappointment-after reading some of the good reviews, I was looking forward to the trip. The check in at SYD was a disaster-4 economy desks with only one manned until they could find one more as the economy queue got longer and longer Also the outward journey was delayed by 45 minutes with little explanation . Once onboard, the cabin crew were condescending if you spoke no French and the food was stale. The PTV was ok on the A330, but I returned on the A320 which only had limited audio. This flight was also late. There was hardly any legroom and to top it all off the bags didn't arrive at the carousel until at least 40 minutes later.

Aircalin review by Peter Sierwald

12 March 2008   Customer Trip Rating :

SYD-NOU Economy A330. Wonderful flight and service - especially compared to Qantas on the way back! Great food. Lovely wine and digestif..

Aircalin review by I Heim

20 December 2007   Customer Trip Rating :

SYD-NOU: We departed with an hour's delay and arrived late, not too bad though. The plane was super, very new and very clean, the staff attentive and the food great. It was a very French experience, their English could be improved.

Aircalin review by S Martin

22 May 2007   Customer Trip Rating : n/a

The planes are quite new A320 & 330, roomy and comfortable, featuring blue lagoon (fishes) seats. Nice PTVs (reliable and good quality screen and content) in A330. A320 have footrests, adjustable headrest and good pitch even in economy. Hibuscus business class seats on 320 & 330 are very good, especially for 2 or 3 hours flights. Meals are good, even on short flights (NOU-BNE, 1:35) you have a hot meal with choice of 2 dishes if the flight is on lunch or dinner time, if not, a snack or breakfast. On medium (PPT) to long haul flight (NRT & KIX), you have two meals. Wines, champagne in business class, liqueur after meals and aperitif. Overall good FA, although it can really depend : there are better and worse FA. The check-in is usually efficient, excepted during christmas holidays : additional flights and Noumea Tontouta's 12 check- in counters are not enough for 3 flight nearly at the same time. Boarding is quick, and flight rarely late.

Aircalin review by Bill Atkins

26 February 2007   Customer Trip Rating : n/a

SYD-NOU Business Class. Nice roomy A330 - very clean and well maintained. Friendly crew - nice champagne and wines but food not up to much. Pleasant relaxing and uneventful flight.

Aircalin review by Thierry Magnier

31 August 2005

NOU-NRT return. Almost new Airbus A330, good flight entertainment system but the crew wasn't nice and seem to be inexperienced and not very conscious about safety (customers walking in the cabin while the seatbelt sign was on). The meals were similar to low cost airlines and choice of drinks was also very poor. I wish I had the choice of another airlines between Noumea and Tokyo but unfortunately Air Calin is the only one on this destination.

Aircalin review by   Steven Morrow

2 December 2004

Brisbane-Noumea-Brisbane. The legroom on the A320 was great. The cabin service was ok. The entertainment program on both legs was very ordinary and the food abysmal - I am sure that the sandwiches and cake for the Sunday flight were prepared on Friday - they were extremely dry and the cucumber in the sandwiches had dried out and pickled itself. We did see a menu left behind from the previous segment from Auckland - it looked much better. The quality of food and entertainment really let the airline down.

Aircalin review by   Tony Burns

6 September 2004

As a regular traveller throughout the Pacific for over 30 years, I have found the Aircalin services especially good. The check in service is excellent and friendly, the staff helpful for those who don't speak French. The menus are always a surprise with generous meals and drinks presented in immaculate style. Their new planes are first class in comparison with the Qantas 767 Sunday afternoon flight from Noumea to Sydney, where old planes (200 series) and grumpy staff generally bring you back to earth with all of the finesse of a smack in the face.

Aircalin review by   Geoff Hudson

28 April 2004

Travelled SYD-NOU-SYD with Air Calin. The experience could only be described as brilliant. Take-off was on-time in both directions, food was very acceptable, in-flight service was impeccable with wine, drinks and quality French brandy offered to all in economy class. The aircraft was new and very clean. I would highly recommend them and would definitely fly with them again

Aircalin review by   Adrian Wiseman

25 April 2004

Air Calin AKL-NOU (originally also NOU-AKL as well - but they decided to go on strike). Apart from boarding the aircraft (a beautiful A330) and waiting around an hour for who knows what reason as all passengers were seated and ready for some tropical sunshine and French culture which awaited us 3 hours away, it was a pleasant and well done flight. My Kosher meal was bought to me before take off so I could "break the seal" and it could be heated up for me - the meal was nice but lacked presentation and creativity of everyone elses meals - which looked and smelt divine. The FA's all very well groomed and with mediocre manors were to some extent inhibited with their english skills which were good but just hidden behind shyness. The seats were very comfortable, excellent PTV entertainment with each movie in four languages and at least 6 options + games - too much for a less than 3 hour flight. The inflight mag was also good but there wasn't much in the way of newspapers. Very scenic approach to Noumea -  however I was a bit concerned about one of the stewardess' continuing a conversation with a passenger she obviously knew for half the flight (not actually doing any thing else after the meal was served) and continuing it until about 20 seconds to touch down - way after the announcement had been made to be seated. Tantouta airport is not made to handle a full A330 on a summer day, it felt like there was no air con and the lines were horrendous - made worse with another wait for our bags. Customs was very relaxed though...as was any laws regarding smoking. Coming home was a bit of a feat. We turned up at the airport at 5 am after being told that there was only one previously delayed flight going to AKL due to a flight attendant strike or something along those lines. We were put up in a rat hotel by the airport by Air Calin until 1am in the morning when we were all shuttled back to the airport to check in etc (more lines) and a few hours later find out that our rescue ride home hadn't even left NZ yet - more waiting in one of the least entertaining airports in the world. Finally our air NZ plane arrived (on which my boarding pass was labelled with KSML yet did I get one - pity as I was looking forward to the far more entertaining Air Calin to carry me home and end my French Fling in my favourite holiday destination with a French Flair and decent service!

Aircalin review by   Mark Thomson

12 February 2004

I recently travelled Aircalin BNE-NOU-BNE in economy class and cannot report with the same enthusiasm as other reviewers. The meal out of BNE was served immediately upon take-off and fell well short of the 'French-style cuisine' advertised on Aircalin's website, consisting of a stale bread roll, 4 slices of cold meat and a bland lettuce salad. The seat pitch in economy was reasonable and the PTV's on the A320 offered a good range of options, including movies, games and destination info. FA's were efficient, though it was obvious that French-speaking passengers were receiving preferential service. The return flight was delayed by 2 hours due to the crew needing a rest (bad scheduling?). Meal on the return flight on the smaller 737 was better, again served immediately upon takeoff. FA's were not to be seen for the rest of the flight once the meal service was over. No PTV's on the 737 and the entertainment on the main screens was only in French, with no subtitles. Generally, the experience was very average and I would not be in a hurry to fly Aircalin again.

Aircalin review by   Yohan Delathiere

22 October 2003

Aircalin NOU-SYD and it was a very pleasant flight. Check-in staff was friendly and helpful. The meal provided for this early morning flight was very good and plentiful. Got an omelette, with sausages, French bread, croissant, brioche, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cheese, tea and coffee. There was also a second round of warm bread and drinks. The cabin crew was very pleasant and smiling. The plane was their 737-300 and it was a bit run down, but Aircalin is replacing the aircraft with a brand new A320 in January. Well done Aircalin, you are doing New Caledonia proud.

Aircalin review by   D Tate

20 October 2003

SYD-NOU-BNE in coach and was pleasantly surprised by their product & service. The aircraft was a brand new A330, cool blue interior (seashell feature), each seat had its personal tv, reasonable seat pitch given that I'm 6.2ft tall. The check-in staff at NOU were very friendly & helpful given that I don't speak french!

Aircalin review by Stephane Le Junter

22 September 2003

I have just completed a round rip from Papeete to Osaka via Noumea with Aircalin. I was extremely surprised by the quality of service provided onboard and on the ground. I flew their Hibiscus Business class PPT to NOU then coach and I have to say that Aircalin beats several major airlines I have travelled with during the last few years. The plane used was a brand new A 330 aircraft and once onboard you can expect to be greeted with warm and friendly smiles from the flight attendants. The food was plentiful and varied. The entertainment system was tip top. All in all for very long flights a generally pleasant experience, would definitely consider flying Aircalin again.

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