Air New Zealand

Napier-Auckland-Napier . Two smooth on time flights with the ATR 72 offering more comfort than many short haul jets. Service friendly and professional. Water/coffee/tea and biscuit offered as is the norm for short haul flights within NZ. Some readers bemoan this but would you get similar on a bus or train trip of one hour? Air NZ still offers boiled sweets prior to landing which is a simple but nice touch. Luggage delivered promptly at both ends and check-in efficient too whether assisted (Napier) or through automated machine (Auckland). Auckland Airport domestic terminal is a little tired and dull but it still works.

Flew from BNE-AKL-LAX on the 777-300 for both legs. Paid extra for the paired seats which Air New Zealand sells as 'Preferred' seats. Sat in 35a through to Auckland which was alright. Good to be towards the front of the plane for disembarking but the seats are quite narrow and cramped. Sat in 57k onto LA which was slightly better. Missed out on preferred meal but only because I was right down the end. Food was the best I've had in a long time. Entertainment was great and the ability to order drinks from your screen is very handy. It also means no bells going off through the flight for service. Flight attendants were pretty average. Not great but not rude. I drank a lot of Sauvignon Blanc which was delicious and from New Zealand. All in all or was an average flight. Don't know how I would have felt in the middle section of 4 seats. It clearly isn't comfortable for such a long flight so I don't understand why more airlines are installing this seating pattern.

Flew B777-300 from Brisbane-AKL. Seat service food and were exemplary. Could not fault any point of the service. While I did not get to fully experience the flat-bed that Air New Zealand offers when I had the seat fully reclined I nearly fell asleep. This is a first. Did not use IFE although by the looks of things it was modern with a great selection of movies/TV shows.

Flew on a B767-300 Short Haul. The food drink and service was substantially better than Economy with Air NZ which was excellent as I would rate Air NZ economy service highly. Great selection of modern movies and shows with IFE. The seat while dated was sufficiently comfortable for my 6'3 build. However people who have a slightly larger girth may struggle with the seat. Moving past another passenger from the window seat was also a tricky situation. However overall a very pleasant experience would certainly recommend.

My first trip to NZ what a disappointment. Our economy seats were cramped indeed claustrophobic as the passengers in front insisted on having their seats fully reclined for the majority of both legs of the journey to Auckland effectively preventing use of the inflight entertainment system. The cabin temperature was very cool and we were advised by staff that this was ongoing problem with this particular aircraft. The food quality was at best average comparable to budget airlines servicing Europe. That said the selection of wines offered is very good. The first leg of the return journey was made more bearable by purchasing a Skycouch option but should one have to do this on an ultra long distance flight? Reluctantly we will have to consider other carriers for our next trip.

SYD-RAR NZ60 with a purchased one up. Being an old 767 seats were comfortable enough but nothing to write home about. Generally overall disappointing and have had better seats food and service in Y+ on 773. There was no amenity pack supplied and I had to ask for a toothbrush. That said staff themselves were friendly enough if not overtly taking the initiative with food and drinks!

NZ745 RAR-AKL then NZ709 AKL-SYD both in Y. Full-ish flights and friendly enough crews. F&B were good as far as they went but service was slow with an apparent reluctance to offer more than 1 drink with the works. Seats were bog standard Y for 320 but it does seem that seats on all airlines in Y get smaller as I get older! As a use of Airpoints this was good value for money.

Bought the upgrade for the Premium Economy seats on the 300 Series plane from Auckland to LAX and was ill from the heat. Flight attendants shared that these planes continually have issues with heat - and our video screen had messages from the "pilot" apologizing throughout the flight. I walked the length of the plane and found that some areas were okay but my guesstimate of 84+ degrees F in the area I was seated was not the only one getting cooked. I reached overhead for my laptop and one point and discovered that the storage area was significantly hotter than that! Miserable flight.

MEL-CHC-WLG on A320. Booked and paid for Exit Row seats on the Works and it was fantastic. Seats were ok but extra legroom a real advantage. Water offered after take off and then given a choice of a frittata with bacon and sausages or a healthy fruit breakfast. The flight team were great and had a laugh with the passengers. Movies were also great to watch and the inflight system with movies and map a gem. Arrived in Christchurch on time and went through customs etc. Collected bag and walked to domestic terminal for flight to Wellington. Lounge in Christchurch was great. Excellent choice of food and drinks. Boarded flight to Wellington on an old 737-300 which was in pristine condition. Crew were great on what turned out to be a 25 min flight. Overall a great flight with an excellent team. Just hope they can get rid of the "self" check in arrangements at most airports. Go back to some personalised service.

NZ90 777-200 from Japan to Auckland. Business class. Plane was almost on time departing. Food was dreadful - in the last 18 months the food on AIR NZ has taken a serious nosedive - dinner so poor that I didn't bother with breakfast. Service was the usual indifference. Entertainment system is a joke and the plane is grubby. Only good thing is the lie flat bed - best approach when flying on the 777-200 is to eat at the airport then lie down and sleep the whole flight!