New Zealand is one of the most important international destinations for Qantas. Competing with Air New Zealand on many routes, Qantas currently offers 182 trans-Tasman flights per week using a mix of Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 aircraft.
While Air New Zealand is effectively a low-cost carrier across the ditch, charging extra for things like checked bags, meals and movies, Qantas offers a full-service product.
So, how is the Qantas Economy Class service and is it worth the extra price over other airlines? I recently found out by flying from Melbourne to Christchurch on a Qantas Boeing 737-800. This flight took place in October 2022.
Contents
Flight Details
| Flight number | QF133 |
| Route | Melbourne (MEL) to Christchurch (CHC) |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737-800 |
| Class of travel | Economy |
| Seat number | 4F |
| On-time performance | We arrived 15 minutes late |
| Star rating |  |
The route
Flight Cost
Being the end of school holidays in New Zealand and with much less capacity now on trans-Tasman routes compared to pre-COVID times, I paid around $550 for a one-way Economy Saver ticket from Sydney to Christchurch via Melbourne. (I flew from Sydney to Melbourne the previous evening and stayed overnight in Melbourne before taking this morning flight to Christchurch.)
It is possible to request a Classic Upgrade Reward from an Economy Saver fare, which I did, but my upgrade request was unsuccessful because Business Class was full.
Airport Experience
There wasn’t much of a queue to check-in when I arrived at Melbourne Airport at 5am and I was promptly checked in with a smile. The staff member made sure I had applied for a New Zealand Traveller Pass. (This is still a requirement for travel to New Zealand, even though most other COVID-19 restrictions have been removed by the New Zealand government.)
It took just a few minutes to clear security and immigration through the smart gates.
As I happened to be travelling with a Oneworld Emerald frequent flyer, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Qantas international First Lounge in Melbourne before this flight.
Lounge access is not a standard inclusion with a Qantas Economy Class ticket, and even Business Class passengers can normally only access the Qantas Business Lounge – which is nowhere near as nice as the First Lounge – so I won’t factor in the First Lounge experience in my rating for the airport experience. But you can use this lounge if you’re a Qantas Platinum, Platinum One or Oneworld Emerald member (or are guested in by one).
The a la carte breakfast menu was extensive and champagne was available on request.
I enjoyed a nice serve of eggs Benedict with corn fritters on the side.
The First Lounge was great as always, with excellent service. All too quickly, it was time to board the flight to Christchurch.
The Hard Product
Economy Class on the Qantas Boeing 737-800 is nothing particularly special. The seats are configured in the same standard 3-3 layout used by every other airline and there is a standard 30 inches of seat pitch at most seats. The seats are covered in a black cloth material and there’s an adjustable headrest, making them comfortable enough for a 3-hour flight.
This was a newer Boeing 737 with a Boeing Sky Interior (BSI), meaning the aircraft had mood lighting, larger overhead lockers and windows that appear larger than on the older-generation 737-800s.
I was sitting in row 4 which has the most legroom of any row in Economy, being located directly behind Business Class.
Row 4 is normally reserved for Qantas Platinum One members, but anyone can choose these seats (usually for free) if they are still available 80 hours before departure.
On this particular aircraft, seatback in-flight entertainment screens were available in Economy Class. A disadvantage of sitting in row 4 is that the TV screen folds out from underneath the armrest and cannot be used during takeoff and landing. The tray table is also stored in the armrest, making the seat slightly more narrow.
There was a selection of TV shows and new-release movies available on the in-flight entertainment system. To be honest, I found the range of content a bit limited and there were no games or music available.
Although this aircraft was wifi-enabled, Qantas’ free wifi service is not available on international flights.
When flying across the Tasman, I would generally choose to fly on an A330 if available as I find this a bit more spacious. Being a twin-aisle aircraft, your access to the bathrooms on the A330 is also not blocked when there is a trolley in the aisle.
The Soft Product
The pilots and cabin crew on this flight were all “Jetconnect” crew based in New Zealand. While some AFF members have commented that the Jetconnect service hasn’t been as good lately as it was before the pandemic, I found the flight attendants on this flight very good.
The New Zealand immigration cards were handed out during boarding. After takeoff, the Customer Service Manager personally welcomed me on board the flight as a Qantas Gold member – that was a pleasant surprise and not something that usually happens on Qantas.
Complimentary breakfast was served on this flight. The hot option was scrambled eggs with baked beans, spinach and a sausage. The continental option was a muffin with yoghurt and apple slices. I chose the hot breakfast and regretted my decision:
I’m sorry to say that the catering was a big letdown on this flight. I’m trying to find a way to describe this meal without using the word “gross”, but that’s honestly how I felt about it. The eggs were particularly bad.
I recall in pre-COVID times receiving a warm muffin with breakfast or some sort of dessert after the meal service when flying in trans-Tasman Economy on Qantas. Those little extras seem to be a thing of the past.
On the plus side, a full range of complimentary hot and cold drinks including beer and wine were available with breakfast – even in Economy. There was also a water run towards the end of the flight.
Arrival Experience
Although I didn’t find much of interest on the in-flight entertainment, this was more than made up for by the excellent views on approach into Christchurch.
We enjoyed some spectacular scenery over the Southern Alps…
…and during our descent.
After landing, it didn’t take long for my checked bag to appear on the carousel. On my way through customs, I was handed a flyer about foot and mouth disease, as well as a 4-pack of rapid antigen tests. It’s no longer mandatory to take a COVID-19 test after arrival in New Zealand, but the NZ government is still giving out free test kits for now.
Qantas Boeing 737-800 Economy Class
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Airport Experience
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Hard Product
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Soft Product
Final thoughts
This was a fairly uneventful but pleasant flight. The Kiwi crew did a great job and I enjoyed the views flying into Christchurch during daylight hours.
The catering and in-flight entertainment were slight letdowns. But with Qantas currently the only full-service airline flying from Melbourne to Christchurch (and on most other trans-Tasman routes except Sydney-Auckland, where LATAM Airlines operates), there’s probably little incentive for Qantas to improve in these areas.
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