Aircalin

AKL-NOU on A320 business class. The check-in and lounge in Auckland is very nice. The cabin is very clean and the seat is old but is comfortable. The pitch is good we only had a shared TV. During boarding the purser welcomed us and offered champagne or cocktails. We had appetizers followed by lunch.

NRT-NOU on new A332s economy class. Check-in in Narita is very fast and friendly. Boarded on time and there were 2 queues one for the hibiscus class customers and one for economy class customers. On board the cabin crew were friendly and professional. On my seat I had a pillow a blanket and amenity kit. The new seat is very comfortable and ergonomic the pitch is ok and the cabin is clean and pleasant. Just 30 minutes after take off the meals services start and only refreshment was served. The new entertainment system has a wide choice and we could connect a usb port to the screen the headphones had good quality. 1.5 hrs before landing a breakfast was served and during landing candy was distributed.

Brisbane - New Caledonia - Tahiti. First leg was in a bright clean new A330. Business cabin only half full. My e-ticket had said “cold meal” but I was served a full hot dinner with quality French wines for just a 2 hour flight. IFE was adequate but surprisingly had no classical music. Flight was 50 min late departing because of late arrival of the aircraft which I suspect was due ongoing issues at Brisbane airport. The fairly new international airport for New Caledonia was bright and welcoming. The business lounge was small but modern. Excellent canapés and miniature cremes brulées. The flight for the second leg was operated by Air Tahiti Nui. This was not a codeshare as Air Tahiti Nui do not offer the flight themselves. A bright clean new A340. I was served a full hot lunch with quality French wines. IFE was satisfactory by modern standards. Overall a very high standard of comfort and service.

NOU-SYD. Lacklustre crew with very few smiles. Food of mediocre quality for Business Class cabin too hot and not adjusted despite request. Not an experience to remember.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.