Air New Zealand

Travelled business premier class from AKL to Honolulu. Although in row 2 were ignored until last for our meal service. Both times missed out on our choices can easily get over that but the order in which cabin crew served people was a mess made no sense and took forever to complete. Half the time crew didn't know who had served who and on a few occasions drink orders were forgotten and on asking another crew member to follow up they continued to leave it to the original crew member who had long forgotten. The order of service was not front to back back to front or side to side it was completely random. The rest of row 2 had been served even though we frantically tried to get the crews attention. Paid full fare tickets. Felt completely left out and almost felt like the crew were prejudice against us even though they were lovely chatting to us. Very strange and wouldn't put my money back there to risk being mistreated again.

NRT-CHC on 777-200 in premium economy. I knew the product would be inferior to the 777-300 and 747 ones but still it is a relief to have much more legroom and better catering. Check in at NRT was a breeze and the ANA lounge (as I have Air NZ Elite/Star Alliance Gold status) is pleasant quiet and comfortable with an adequate range of snacks and drinks. Boarding was a bit chaotic as the gate area has people scattered standing around making it difficult to get to priority boarding easily. Once on board service was efficient and helpful my Elite status was recognised by getting first requests for all meals for myself and my partner. Dinner was a reasonable fish dish and breakfast was poached eggs which were heated sufficiently and not too much. Wine drinks services always very good. Seats are tired and need replacing. 3-3-3 configuration for premium economy isn't good value for money especially since you lose an inch of seat width as the tray tables fold into the fixed armrests. The seats are quite hard and the leg rest useless for anyone my height or above (I'm 5'10"). Inflight entertainment system had an adequate selection but mine was buggy and needed rebooting. Luggage arrived quickly at Christchurch. Overall reasonable experience as the fare premium over economy was only about 22% but it wouldn't justify full fare.

Flight was delayed due to a mechanical error - perfectly fine with me. The crew were polite and tried to keep us updated while we were in New Zealand. The next flight to Gold Coast was shortly afterwards but due to whatever reasons no one from our flight was able to board this plane even though there were ten seats left. I feel apologetic for those with little ones to look after. We ended up flying on the next flight to Brisbane and expected to be able to coach straight to Coolangatta which the crew had promised. Unfortunately we had to wait an hour for our coach to arrive and by then everyone was shattered. People from our flight had arrived as early as 5am and we were expected to arrive at 9.30am Queensland time. We arrived back around 8pm. Wouldn't fly Air New Zealand again. I wasn't impressed.

Flight Perth - Auckland on 777-200. Very friendly lady at check in asked if I would like an aisle or window. Night flight went for the aisle also put me in a row that had an empty seat next to it. Works ticket very generous food portion including a warmed roll. Very pleased with that added touch. Water runs made quite frequently by the cabin staff. Seat back screens blurry plenty of legroom arrived at Auckland ahead of time everyone was off the plane quickly.

After 17 years of not flying with Air NZ we decided to try again and flew Auckland - Shanghai NZ 289 6th December. The flight was fine. A 4 hour delay before we left Auckland I felt this could have been dealt with a lot more efficiently at Shanghai airport where I had a connecting flight that had just left. First I was told I was to go via Amsterdam to my destination in Zurich then have the flight changed back to my original connecting flight with no directions to the transit desk. Great I thought when the flight was changed back to the original however the very poor English speaker at the transit desk proceeded to give me the wrong time as a consequence I missed my connecting flight. I was finally put on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt and arrived in Zurich 40 hours after I left home. Added to this my husband and daughter who have travelled separately have had the same delay from Auckland airport. I realize this is a Shanghai airport problem however from what I have since read from other reviewers it is not a one off occurrence. We have the prospect of this all occurring again when we fly back on 11th January 2014. We will go back to flying with either Singapore or Thai.

We were part of the 375 passengers upended by a flawed NZ7 flight from SFO to Auckland on Dec 12th. Scheduled time of departure 7.45pm PDT cancelled due to "refuelling issue" at 11.30pm. All of us were placed into surrounding hotels. Fax at front desk said to report to gate at 11.30am and we would then depart at 1pm and that our flight was now modified to go from SFO to Honolulu then to Nadi Fiji and finally Auckland. We didn't leave at 1 were delayed a few more hours due to "catering loading". Catering was messed up on the flight breakfast served at dinner timtams for breakfast and an attendant crew that was obviously on edge and running out of hours. To say the least any and all connecting flights were also impacted. My flight should have taken 12 hpurs this route took 19. I'm considering alternatives for next time.

Flew Sydney to Auckland in early December on 767. Very comfortable in the 2 seats. Didn't use their TV as had my iPad but crew were some of the best I have encountered. Very helpful friendly and seemed genuinely interested in passenger well being. On the return flight I asked about an upgrade as it was the 777-200 and was offered NZD$495 which I accepted. Lovely lounge in Auckland as you'd expect and great flight back. Very comfortable seat in business with lovely lunch service. Great value and would use again.

MEL-AKL-YVR. The new e-kiosk check in at Melbourne may be cheaper for Air NZ to operate than using human beings but it doesn't help passengers. I had only one bag (I'm allowed up to 3 in Business Class) which was 200g over the 23kg limit. Computer Says No. After moving a couple of items into my hand luggage (which isn't weighed) and some help from a harassed Air NZ human (who secretly admitted that she hates the new check-in system too) my bag was whisked away. An uneventful flight to Auckland then on to Vancouver on an elderly and rather tatty 777-200 followed. Inflight entertainment is adequate but the movie selection is poor with no major new releases available. Service was friendly and unintrusive and the food was OK. I don't expect fine dining on a plane. I have to make this trip fairly frequently and this airline/route is by far the best option but over time I have noticed that Air NZs cost cutting is becoming more obvious and the premium I pay for the Business Class "experience" isn't as worthwhile as it once was.

Appalling service at Sydney airport 12 December 2013 on NZ 104 (Sydney - Auckland). As a monopoly and price gouger Sydney Airport's reputation can't sink any lower but to put a 767 on an outside stand is just daft. Yes one of the planes at the airbridge was undergoing technical maintenance but I cannot believe in this day and age another airbridge was not available. However it was the resulting treatment of passengers that was the concern. A bus to the aircraft in over 30 degree heat - and then left locked in the bus (right alongside the aircraft) no windows or doors open for fifteen minutes. Most passengers have no seat and the temperatures were rapidly rising. Requests to open doors and windows went unheeded. Apparently the flight attendants had not been informed passengers were on their way. A lack of communication between aircraft and airport - not a good look for an airline at all!

LAX-LHR premium economy on 777-300 with space seats. This is an amazing product. Speedy check-in at separate counters at LAX. Efficient boarding. Seat is amazing - really comfortable with loads of personal space and leg room. Separate cabin makes in feel very business class like. Toilets designed like boutique hotel with library book wall and kept clean throughout the flight. Food top notch and large glasses of wine. Great cabin service. Arrival into LHR ahead of time despite fog and fast delivery of bags. Cannot ask for more. One annoyance - flight attendant had friends in cabin and kept stopping to chat whilst in service.