Newb to NZ PE with a few comments.....

[juddles]

Hi there all,

not sure if this thread should go here or in teh NZ Airpoints section - I put it here as it has nothing to do directly with their FF program....

Anyway, I am recently a bit jaded with QF, and am toying with the whole NZ alternative. Rather than my usual trans-pacific travel, this commentary is strictly shorter haul - AKL - RAR to be exact.

I write this as someone who is used to the QF J product, P1 status situation of travel.

A couple of days ago I travelled to NZ with my family on holiday. Did the trans-Tasman flight with QF, and was treated very nice, and due to selecting an A330 for our J redemption seats, was very flash. Travelled via BNE-xSYD-AKL, so family experienced J lounge in BNE and Flounge in SYD. Travelling with wife (partner platinum) and two non-status teenagers. And so all had access to lounges. Great trip to AKL.

After a couple of days then did AKL - RAR. This time in PE on a NZ 787. I hold Star Alliance Gold status. This is where it got interesting for me.

It is a long time since I checked in to an international flight with NZ at AKL. It was an early am flight, so once we got to the airport I suddenly felt a bit lost (totally strange for me). There was a massive "scrum" in progress at the self-checkin booths. I did not like that. But I got the family to stay put while I explored, and sure enough found the premium checkin area. We went in there, and got ushered into a checkin experience that IMHO bettered that which I get from Qantas travelling in First!! Beautiful, quiet area with great staff. I was truly impressed.

Finished that, then into the airside area. (BTW the customs staff were all very nice - felt like they were both proud and enjoyed their jobs - that is so refreshing)

As only I held Star Alliance status, I knew I could not get better half plus two daughters into lounge. But I went up and chatted to "lounge dragon" anyway. Not in the way that some do - I knew very clearly that by the rules I could take one guest in, and only one guest. The lady was very nice - she confirmed this, but said she would allow my youngest daughter in for free. A nice gesture.

I went back out and explained this to my wife, and obviously we decided not to leave the other daughter running free in the shop area all by herself. In a compromise of all factors I took my wife in (it was early and she needed a coffee - most would understand the inherent pressure/danger this entails) for a few minutes.

First time I have been in the NZ lounge in AKL for so so long. I really liked the decor / spaces / seating, etc. And the staff nice. But the food / beverages?? This hit me hard. Wonderful, world class checkin, nice staff all the way, beautiful lounge, but the food?? It was like a very mediocre Priority Pass lounge. This is their show piece lounge?? The coffee was described as "not even as good as Macca's" by my wife, who knows coffee. How can they get 80% so right, but then catastrophically fail on the last things?

Half an hour later, all aboard for the flight AKL to RAR. I have been spoilt in recent years, so PE is rare for me. Travelling with kids is different - they love everything which vanquishes my jaded views. This is a 4 hr flight, on a NZ 787. In my limited experience of PE, the seat pitch seemed very good, but the seats maybe narrow? I did not go into the J cabin, but those seats seemed to be very open / non private??

The staff we had were really good. Very good indeed - faultless. Maybe a fluke, but somehow the whole Kiwi system felt to me more like people enjoying their job, less bitter than many Australian equivalents?

In a couple of days fly back out of RAR, again on NZ PE, but will be on their 777.

So, in summary, this post is made as a frequent flyer used to high status, but has just experienced travel as an almost-nobody on NZ in PE.

Apart from the lounge aspects, which a PE flyer would not get, I rate the NZ PE experience as very sound. Hard product good, onboard food good, staff GREAT.

But no better than QF PE

 

[Milboo]

I’ve had a number of visits to the AKL lounge and have never found the food offering lacking - love their little kiwi treats like mini Afghan biscuits or lolly cake! Don’t recall a bad coffee there - and love their ordering app too.

 

[serfty]

The AKL lounge, even when I was Elite with Airpoints was never flash - last decade the MEL lounge seemed somewhat better but they began cutting F&B 5-6 years ago.

 

[RooFlyer]

While I enjoy my salt and pepper squid as much as anyone, I must say I don't mind the style of food in the ANZ lounges - a bit down to earth shall we say and something to be enjoyed rather than savoured.

Always enjoyed their staff and FAs, but found their B787 J product a bit like the old CX coffins.

 

[NZflygirl]

I just want to share a few things.

When I fly a new airline I feel like a complete newbie. I may have seen the seat on you tube but it's still different being there and pushing buttons. Even if you recognise the seat from a carrier you already use. The experience is still different.

I have come to the conclusion even though I have an idea of what I'm looking for and comparing, it still takes a while to get to know an airline or even a FFP. And sometimes you learn more when things go wrong, which is when you really appreciate help. My leisure mindset is a bit different from flying for work as well.

If you were to travel NZ transpacific I'm guessing you'll fly BNE-AKL-EZE? Meaning you won't get to see the premium check-in at Auckland unless you had separate tickets and checked in again in Auckland. Sounds risky for work. I use that check-in a reasonable amount and head straight for the kiosk because I feel like a sit down adds time and just want to get through security etc. I only stop there when I have a special request like checking bags through on separate tickets when I know it's not the done thing etc.

The Auckland lounge would be important as you'd be spending time in transit. Food varies on different days at any lounge. I really like the food at both BNE and AKL. I find breakfast is reasonable, and when breakfast is gone the other options are still appealing. When the main meal time is over at BNE I feel a little bit deserted from a food point of view with QF if I happen to rock up out of meal time.

I like the breakfast hatch although wish there were a few more options they rotated through. They have some good juices. I don't think you'll see the breakfast chef on the way to EZE given timings but you'll see them on the way back through to BNE and they can put out some good alternatives to what I think is already a good breakfast spread in NZ. The NZ cakes and desserts are good.

I love my NZ sav blanc and they have the villa Maria gold label in the lounge (vs the white label private bin? on board in Y). QF brought in an awful NZ sav blanc to their BNE international lounge. I prefer pinot noirs from NZ. Alcohol is always on offer in NZ. (I know QF domestic has time restrictions but from memory international is all day? 99% of the time I don't drink in the morning so can't recall QF int exactly). Probably any lounge you can ask them to mix you an alcoholic drink different to what's on the menu but I've done that with NZ.

I love Brian one of the workers in the BNE lounge. He's so sweet and you can have a joke with him. Staff like that totally make my day.

The coffee app which I actually just get hot chocolate is awesome. It remembers your order so even quicker next time and an alert shows up when it's ready to pick up. Barista at AKL and SYD. I dislike coffee so can't comment on the quality. I only drink it when I'm desperate!

I think NZ lounge Wifi is reasonable. You can get some nice views of the tarmac from both BNE and AKL lounges. AKL has the large media room, a play area for children in both BNE and AKL. I like the NZ showers at both spots. I think I've had one shower at BNE and was ok. I guess, I think food is personal and I may love stuff the next person does not but in general I prefer NZ lounge food.

I disagree NZ have 'catastrophically failed' on the food offerings, especially based on a limited number of visits. I have otherwise only used QF F lounges in SYD & MEL and Perth international - well let's not even go there. I've used NZ MEL prior to the refurb and haven't visited NZ Perth since opening.

You can still fly Air NZ but credit elsewhere, SQ maybe? or your current *A programme?

Regarding the 787 PE seat. I think it's awesome for day flights. I've only flown the night flight PE PER-AKL and it's still fine but it's a short flight home especially with meal time etc. Long haul I had the space seat which I loved for the space it offered and I could turn comfortably.

Haven't flown the ?zodiac seat long haul. I prefer 789 PE over 777 I think due to size of the cabin. 789 is a cosy size. The seats are the same but I swear there is some small difference I haven't put my finger on yet. The pitch is really good. I don't feel like the seats are narrow but there may be a touch of difference in width compared to QF 737 J. I haven't flown QF PE to make comparisons and have only seen pictures and maybe the odd youtube clip. I have often thought re:SYD-JNB I would fly PE instead because it's a day flight and save $$.

I'm happy dozing in PE..... I think. Air NZ are working on bringing Wifi to their planes as well and some pax are able to trial this now. Maybe end of year it might roll out? If that's important.

With regards to J, the timing of NZs flight mean if you're flying to the Americas you're going to be asleep and lying flat. So yes it is more open which people may not enjoy but as I say these flights go in the evenings so you'll be off to sleep soon enough. And that's when you need to compare the BED. The mattress is thick. You have 2 decent sized pillows!!

Dine on demand isn't offered but you can do that. I've done this on a few flights. When they ask for your order pick something but have them put it aside. I did have one FA say no they couldn't but I think he may have been junior as he later came back and said actually we can!

I find the NZ crew in general pretty approachable for a chat. I also wanted to steal a bunch of amenity kits because my partner wanted them for fishing gear and at the end of the flight they helped me collect them! Another FA sat down on the ottoman and we had a wee chat mid-flight. Another time I didn't actually fully recline and for some reason felt too tired to bother getting up and converting it to a bed, had the blanket over me but still a bit cold. I was in some half dream half awake state and couldn't be bothered asking for a blanket. Anyway this blanket magically appeared! Like the FA had ESP or something and he placed it over me.

Another time I didn't think I was allowed a hot drink prior to take off but FA asked if I wanted anything and I was dying for a hot chocolate and he went off and made me one in a cup with the top of course and winked and said 'don't tell anyone'.

Another time they gave me a drivers name in Asia to contact they thought might be helpful. It's stuff like that that I love. The 777s are a bit noisier, the 789s quieter. Few disrupts and reschedules at the moment while they sort their 789 engines out. Another TT A320 flight I was offered wine and I told the FA it wasn't included in my fare but he didn't mind. AND he came back to top it up! This was all totally uninvited. I only asked for ice that day and I ended up with wine! Another friend has a choice of carrier to Europe and flew CX (not sure how many times) but she missed the NZ crew so didn't go back to CX. Possibly cultural? Don't know.

I've flown a reasonable amount of QF but mainly TT and domestic. Longhaul J A380 etc looked like something to be avoided. I feel like I know the A330 and 737. Crew wise I just haven't experienced the same things on QF or VA. There are certainly nice crew and to be honest I don't normally interact that much with crew but I haven't seen any of the jokes or laughter that I do on NZ with QF or VA. It's not every flight by any stretch. But the frequency is noticeable. It's possibly related to less flying on QF and VA.

I'm guessing work pays for flights so may not be of any importance but in general I find Aussies get better deals transpacific than what we do departing NZ. I know the reverse is true when it comes to QF J transcon and departing AKL.

Even if you do shift some flying to NZ I'm sure you'd still retain status with QF which obviously would be useful for home flying or world flying. I haven't flown NZ out of BNE since the new machines came in. I need to sort my flying out because I miss NZ.

Just my 2 cents.