God Bless Air New Zealand

[MK1974]

I just flew Air NZ for the second time for a conference in Dallas. Work had book me economy to AUK and Premium Ecom to LAX with Air NZ. I love this airline as they seem to care more for Vel Plats than Virgin. I boarded the plane for the first flight at 11.15 as soon as I sat in my seat (46a) i noticed a fresh bottle of water and some Business class headphones in my seat pocket. Already impressed I was about to be blown away when the cabin manager came to my seat introduced himself and moved me to Premium with a smile on his faced and a thanks for flying with them. I was also given an upgrade in the lounge in AUK on my return trip! I have seen today some new on upgrades but when will Virgin really look after there top flyers just like Air NZ looked after me???

 

[kevrosmith]

Totally agree with these sentiments... I flew NZ last year and, as a Platinum Velocity member, was treated very well. Much better than any special treatment I get on my VA flights domestically lately. Might as well just be Red, and would hope for a touch more, given the money I spend with them each year.

 

[maninblack]

Flying up front they are my favorite airline bar none and always great crew.

 

[lovestotravel]

Air NZ is a great airline!

 

[ms1]

Agree with the OP. I always get treated much better flying as a VA Platinum on Air NZ than I do on VA trans tasman or domestic.

 

[serfty]

Get treated really well in flight as an NZ *E as well.

Shame they butchered their FF program.

 

[Rdarby]

I have also had preferential treatment as a Gold flying economy BNE to Wellington. Water, headphones and a tablet, and often a newspaper or part of a meal. They seem to single you out and be nice, and with a smile too. All that and I get the same points and credits anyway so why not fly with them?

 

[ywwol]

I did the VA1 and VA2 to and from LAX first and only time. I used the inflight feedback to say that their service is of lower standard relative to Air NZ and that I'd be using Air NZ for all my transpacific flights.

 

[maninblack]

I did the VA1 and VA2 to and from LAX first and only time. I used the inflight feedback to say that their service is of lower standard relative to Air NZ and that I'd be using Air NZ for all my transatlantic flights.

I don't know if you meant to say trans-pacific but yes NZ are now the only airline with a round the world service using their own aircraft.

 

[dajop]

I don't know if you meant to say trans-pacific but yes NZ are now the only airline with a round the world service using their own aircraft.

Not since they scrapped HKG-LHR flights.

One of VA's other part owners, SQ, is probably the only carrier that now comes close to a round the world service (albeit solely northern hemisphere and with a 30km gap between EWR and JFK, or round the world some days depending on conditions when EWR-SIN goes via EUrope instead of the polar route), but even that will end shortly.

 

[smit0847]

Not since they scrapped HKG-LHR flights.

One of VA's other part owners, SQ, is probably the only carrier that now comes close to a round the world service (albeit solely northern hemisphere and with a 30km gap between EWR and JFK, or round the world some days depending on conditions when EWR-SIN goes via EUrope instead of the polar route), but even that will end shortly.

Yes, when SQ scrap the SIN-EWR flight (which I think is this month?) no airline will fly RTW on their own metal. If anyone is to in future I'm predicting it will be EK (i.e. if they get transpac rights and could then fly DXB-SYD-LAX-DXB)

 

[maninblack]

Yes, when SQ scrap the SIN-EWR flight (which I think is this month?) no airline will fly RTW on their own metal. If anyone is to in future I'm predicting it will be EK (i.e. if they get transpac rights and could then fly DXB-SYD-LAX-DXB)

I think that might be stretching a very special friendship but yes they will cough all over Qantas if given half a chance,

 

[Travel Guru]

I found the same, just got back this morning from LAX.

As a VA Plat. was treated fantastically onboard, had J headphones waiting in my seat (flew with the family so was Y+ on longhaul and Y trans-tasman) and received a visit from the CSM on both BNE-AKL and AKL-BNE; not so much on AKL-LAX vv. but the crew were brilliant.

Have quite a few gripes with my ground staff experiences but can't fault the on-board experience.

My main gripe now is the fact even with Y+ onboard 777-300 aircraft BNE-AKL you can't book and ticket in Y+ all the way through which would be the only thing that would hold me back flying them again (and stops me from recommending them to clients), but that aside their Y+ product cr*ps all over VA's which although I love VA J, their Y+ product long haul really is pathetic, and not worth the money (especially with 4 across in the middle).

TG

 

[greenfish]

I take it you're all booking on NZ to get this treatment? My recent TT on NZ booked on the VA codeshare - no recognition at all, relatively cough seat (middle block of 3 a fair way back) , truly ordinary lounge in BNE. Whatever linkages there are between the NZ and VA systems seem to be getting worse.

Nice plane (772), but now the A380 is doing the BNE->AKL run, EK via QF will see most of my spend. Can't wait for the J return segment on the 380 on Friday....

 

[Deewhy]

I take it you're all booking on NZ to get this treatment?.

I got great treatment on the VA code share syd to zqn booked on VA. paper, headphones, welcome.

 

[greenfish]

I got great treatment on the VA code share syd to zqn booked on VA. paper, headphones, welcome.

Excellent. I was ignored. Row 45 on the 777, so not back, but not very flash either.

 

[anat0l]

... truly ordinary lounge in BNE. Whatever linkages there are between the NZ and VA systems seem to be getting worse.

I don't think you can pin the partnership on the ordinary lounge in BNE, though I thought that lounge was closed for a while (reopened now) to be renovated?

Kind of curious how all these VA elites are getting great service on NZ. I hope their NZ*E and NZ*G elites are not getting slighted in turn. Are we all VA WPs here or are there some other VA elites sharing the love?

 

[jetlagger]

I'll go against the grain of the thread & consider NZ to be mediocre at best.

Reasons for my evaluation:
The NZ lounge in BNE is nothing special, limited offerings & always very busy.
TT BNE/AKL flight in PE on the 773 Hard product = Great
Service = cough.
No menu in PE? No wine list & a very surly FA.
AKL NZ lounge.. This place was a zoo. A spacious lounge but far too busy for my likings.
Long haul AKL/LAX in Y is ridiculously cramped, once again cough service & rubbish food offerings.. no menu again.
LAX NZ lounge rather nice, though limited F&B.
PE on AKL/BNE 772 old config. is a joke, though the only sector out of 4 where I was recognised as being a *G & handed an express card.
Without giving any mentioning to the added very limited & clunky IFE on all sectors.
IME NZ used to be a much better all round airline.
IMO J is an only desired position on NZ, the rest of the experience is like a watered down version of cheap fruit juice in fancy packaging.
Just sharing my cynical & realistic viewpoint.

 

[Travel Guru]

I'll go against the grain of the thread & consider NZ to be mediocre at best.

Reasons for my evaluation:
The NZ lounge in BNE is nothing special, limited offerings & always very busy.
TT BNE/AKL flight in PE on the 773 Hard product = Great
Service = cough.
No menu in PE? No wine list & a very surly FA.
AKL NZ lounge.. This place was a zoo. A spacious lounge but far too busy for my likings.
Long haul AKL/LAX in Y is ridiculously cramped, once again cough service & rubbish food offerings.. no menu again.
LAX NZ lounge rather nice, though limited F&B.
PE on AKL/BNE 772 old config. is a joke, though the only sector out of 4 where I was recognised as being a *G & handed an express card.
Without giving any mentioning to the added very limited & clunky IFE on all sectors.
IME NZ used to be a much better all round airline.
IMO J is an only desired position on NZ, the rest of the experience is like a watered down version of cheap fruit juice in fancy packaging.
Just sharing my cynical & realistic viewpoint.

I found the service onboard to be excellent, which was a nice change to their ground staff which were terrible for the most part.

Lounges - agreed, mediocre at best including the AKL lounge which I wasn't a fan of and thought was a let down for a major hub.

Re Food, I received a menu on both Y+ sectors AKL-LAX and LAX-AKL so not sure what the go is with that.

I can't say I'd fly J on NZ but not through bad experience just a personal preference that I don't like the herringbone layout, prefer other carriers.

Overall I don't think I'd be in a hurry to fly them again, mostly because when not travelling with family I generally fly J and definitely not for poor onboard service, but their overall offering including some very average ground crew is enough to say thanks for the experience but will stick to other carriers in future.

TG