Business Trans-tasman

[Jfaith]

Any ideas what the service is like and what's on the menu for trans tasman business with Air NZ?

 

[encryptededdy]

Any ideas what the service is like and what's on the menu for trans tasman business with Air NZ?

No amenity kit and a decent menu - main, starter, and some bread on one tray.

 

[Mwenenzi]

What time of day?
Keep expectations low for any TT travel.

 

[henrus]

This was my menu 3 weeks ago flying SYD to AKL on a ~3pm departure.

In the last month I've flown both QF and NZ a few times across the Tasman in J.

Check In - QF wins hands down, I'm mainly travelling for work so always carry on only. QF I can check in via the app and go directly to gate with no passport check except for the regular showing at boarding. NZ wants everyone to visit a kiosk or present the passport to staff either at a counter, lounge or gate (got told off rather rudely in Sydney at the gate about it when boarding). Security and boarding are on par.

Lounges - I think NZ in AKL is better than QF (although gets far too crowded). In AU QF's is better in BNE (bonus points for the proper bar/coffee), SYD and MEL have average QF J lounges but if holding the right status the QF F lounges are great plus the EK lounges if they're open.

Food/Drinks - QF doesn't have a printed menu but seems to consistently offer 3 items (one typically is a soup), Air NZ's menu for lunch/dinner AU departures is below. I'd say Air NZ wins the food/drinks department hands down, proper courses instead of single plate, more bread options, desert and cheese courses separately.

Seat - QF wins on the A330 although not as great on the 737's however I guess it's better than Air NZ where it's 787/777 or nothing (read only to/from AKL), I recently had a really average experience on an A321neo Works Deluxe as it's really just an Economy product with a spare seat (gone are the days when it had a water bottle waiting, seperate drinks service, lounge access etc).

 

[Jfaith]

What time of day?
Keep expectations low for any TT travel.

Lunch time

Post automatically merged: Jul 18, 2023

This was my menu 3 weeks ago flying SYD to AKL on a ~3pm departure.

In the last month I've flown both QF and NZ a few times across the Tasman in J.

Check In - QF wins hands down, I'm mainly travelling for work so always carry on only. QF I can check in via the app and go directly to gate with no passport check except for the regular showing at boarding. NZ wants everyone to visit a kiosk or present the passport to staff either at a counter, lounge or gate (got told off rather rudely in Sydney at the gate about it when boarding). Security and boarding are on par.

Lounges - I think NZ in AKL is better than QF (although gets far too crowded). In AU QF's is better in BNE (bonus points for the proper bar/coffee), SYD and MEL have average QF J lounges but if holding the right status the QF F lounges are great plus the EK lounges if they're open.

Food/Drinks - QF doesn't have a printed menu but seems to consistently offer 3 items (one typically is a soup), Air NZ's menu for lunch/dinner AU departures is below. I'd say Air NZ wins the food/drinks department hands down, proper courses instead of single plate, more bread options, desert and cheese courses separately.

Seat - QF wins on the A330 although not as great on the 737's however I guess it's better than Air NZ where it's 787/777 or nothing (read only to/from AKL), I recently had a really average experience on an A321neo Works Deluxe as it's really just an Economy product with a spare seat (gone are the days when it had a water bottle waiting, seperate drinks service, lounge access etc).

View attachment 336674

Fantastic great to see real champagne too! I fly Saturday will let you know how it goes Sydney to Auckland!

 

[henrus]

Fantastic great to see real champagne too! I fly Saturday will let you know how it goes Sydney to Auckland!

Air NZ have been serving Laurent Perrier Champagne for a while, mind you Qantas also offer champagne on Trans Tasman flights either Duval-Leroy or Jacquart although I think Air NZ is better. Both offer it as pre boarding drinks and during the flight.

The menu I attached is this months menu so I'd expect it to be the same, The Paua saucisson amuse bouche was amazing (I've had paua before in NZ so having it onboard is unique), then I had the salmon starter which was really good, the beef cheek which was average (I kind of felt like I'd similar meals in Y and wish I'd picked the chicken) and skipped desert directly to Cheese.

Edit : Should have added that by flying a star alliance carrier in Business class you can also access the Singapore Airlines business class lounge in Sydney which has slightly better drinks on the ground compared to the Air NZ lounge.

 

[Jfaith]

Air NZ have been serving Laurent Perrier Champagne for a while, mind you Qantas also offer champagne on Trans Tasman flights either Duval-Leroy or Jacquart although I think Air NZ is better. Both offer it as pre boarding drinks and during the flight.

The menu I attached is this months menu so I'd expect it to be the same, The Paua saucisson amuse bouche was amazing (I've had paua before in NZ so having it onboard is unique), then I had the salmon starter which was really good, the beef cheek which was average (I kind of felt like I'd similar meals in Y and wish I'd picked the chicken) and skipped desert directly to Cheese.

Edit : Should have added that by flying a star alliance carrier in Business class you can also access the Singapore Airlines business class lounge in Sydney which has slightly better drinks on the ground compared to the Air NZ lounge.

What a great post, thank you! Can I access Singapore lounge despite no star alliance status? Just a J class NZ ticket?

 

[encryptededdy]

What a great post, thank you! Can I access Singapore lounge despite no star alliance status? Just a J class NZ ticket?

Yep. All 3 airline alliances allow you to access any alliance Business lounge on a Business ticket.

 

[Beano]

Nice, but no Air NZ business form WLG. Also, even though a bit tired, I think the Auckland Qantas Lounge, left or right, is better than the Air NZ lounge, which is more modern but generally not as good.

 

[poopiepoo]

Food/Drinks - QF doesn't have a printed menu but seems to consistently offer 3 items (one typically is a soup), Air NZ's menu for lunch/dinner AU departures is below. I'd say Air NZ wins the food/drinks department hands down, proper courses instead of single plate, more bread options, desert and cheese courses separately.

Seat - QF wins on the A330 although not as great on the 737's however I guess it's better than Air NZ where it's 787/777 or nothing (read only to/from AKL), I recently had a really average experience on an A321neo Works Deluxe as it's really just an Economy product with a spare seat (gone are the days when it had a water bottle waiting, seperate drinks service, lounge access etc).

View attachment 336674

Thanks for the menu.

None of the mains interest me and I would pick QF soup or even an economy meal over over any of them.

Chances are, I would have something at the lounge, if from a First lounge, even better.

 

[henrus]

None of the mains interest me and I would pick QF soup or even an economy meal over over any of them.

Yes on some of the recent QF meals the Y options have been better in my opinion. I had a smoked salmon and grains cold salad last Sunday from BNE-AKL which was really good and I wish they'd offer something lighter like that in J.

 

[Warwick Thorley]

Lunch time

Post automatically merged: Jul 18, 2023

Fantastic great to see real champagne too! I fly Saturday will let you know how it goes Sydney to Auckland!

Flew QF J class SYD-AKL last October on an A330. Almost nothing. Had transferred from QF2 W class. J class SYD-AKL was poor. No pillows, blankets, amenities. Never again. Two of us. Both QF Gold.

 

[ANstar]

Flew QF J class SYD-AKL last October on an A330. Almost nothing. Had transferred from QF2 W class. J class SYD-AKL was poor. No pillows, blankets, amenities. Never again. Two of us. Both QF Gold.

I'm sure they have them on demand if requested? On a day flight I guess they aren't going to lay out everything??

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

did VA business Mel/Queenstown. Blanket, pillow and amenity kit on each seat. Good flight over with gnocchi or chicken stew as options (both had mushrooms which I thought unusual if you had a mushroom intolerance). Start is let down with no lounge access in Mel, if you had time you could go to domestic lounge after checking in bags...

 

[knagelli]

did VA business Mel/Queenstown. Blanket, pillow and amenity kit on each seat. Good flight over with gnocchi or chicken stew as options (both had mushrooms which I thought unusual if you had a mushroom intolerance). Start is let down with no lounge access in Mel, if you had time you could go to domestic lounge after checking in bags...

I have the same flight booked for Jan 2024 however not J. Currently contemplating if I have to bid for the business or be content with my current fare class.

For a 4-5 hours flight I am unable to justify flying business paying extra dollars.

 

[Beano]

I have the same flight booked for Jan 2024 however not J. Currently contemplating if I have to bid for the business or be content with my current fare class.

For a 4-5 hours flight I am unable to justify flying business paying extra dollars.

I've often upgraded myself to J on the homeword leg, if I've had a hard day, but otherwise I agree. PS the homewoard led, SYD-WLG is sometimes under 3 hours. There are several Australian domestic flights which are longer.