Comparison of Trans-Tasman flights

[kamchatsky]

I am looking at flying AKL-SYD one way fare for 4 people at late March at late afternoon, looking at fares I found the following:

All fares includes bag and are per person:
JQ: 169NZD/125AUD (bag but no meals)
EK: 239NZD/176AUD (full service)
NZ: 229NZD/169AUD (seat + bag)
QF: 259NZD/191AUD (full service)

LA/AR/DJ excluded because they only has early morning flights.

JQ seems to be much cheaper than others, but I am worried about their flight cancellations. Has anyone experienced international delays/ cancellations for JQ?

My wife and I are BD *G so we can get to the lounge guesting another two, but of course there is no food offering and no movie on plane. I have flown NZ a lot and are happy with them. But I've never tried to fly with them after the recent changes of trans-Tasman offerings.

EK is more expensive of all but I have never tried them and neither an A380. How is EK trans-Tasman offering in terms of entertainment and food? Are they worth paying more over NZ? Afterall it is only 3 hours?

QF is most expensive and I hardly fly QF so I don't have requirements to get status, so will probably skip them (unless they are MUCH BETTER than EK).

I am just wondering whether JQ is worth a risk because it is much cheaper than others, but I've never tried EK and A380. Of course the costs for 4 people do add up. It would be great if anyone can comment on this.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

JQ: 169NZD/125AUD (bag but no meals)
EK: 239NZD/176AUD (full service)
NZ: 229NZD/169AUD (seat + bag)
QF: 259NZD/191AUD (full service)

JQ will hit you with food and possibly no recline. No FF points.

EK is okay, and a380 is a bit of fun - just you and the other 400 other Y passengers

NZ, cheaper than EK and you get *Gold benefits (lounge, priority check in)

QF, if you don't have status I'd rule this out.

ANZ sounds like the best option to me!

 

[sergeyvzn]

Have flown Sydney-Auckland return with both Emirates and Air New Zealand and the verdict is - fly Emirates
A 380 is great fun and it's so incredibly quiet! Also, EK's IFE is heaps better. Food/wine is better, too, as is the seat pitch

 

[munitalP]

its a 3 hour flight!:shock:

 

[yohy?!]

+1 on air nz...ek has too many y passengers, boarding is slow as is service

 

[Sprucegoose]

Have flown Sydney-Auckland return with both Emirates and Air New Zealand and the verdict is - fly Emirates
A 380 is great fun and it's so incredibly quiet! Also, EK's IFE is heaps better. Food/wine is better, too, as is the seat pitch

EK have no idea about decent wine nor are skilled in serving it in quantities I find enjoyable.............

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would much prefer a well trained professional crew to whom service is an art and not a function, non intrusive and well balanced.

Having flown both in recent times....and given the Emirates safety scare in Mel of some proportion....I would pick ANZ anyway.

In terms of supporting their country in the bad times, I would also be morally bound to support them now as well.

Eh Bro........

 

[Saab34]

On all my EK A380 TT flights, it has never been more than half full. Once it was 90 over and 80 back.

 

[futaris]

If you can get a single PNR, take Air New Zealand, even if it is a A320. You should be able to get better seating, because of your *G status. Of course, don't expect to earn anything (except in Air NZ Airpoints) on the cheap Seat+Bag fares.

Otherwise, you'd probably find the seating on Emirates as good, if not better.

 

[gumpy]

I really do like Air NZ, that would be my preference based on the fares you have available.

 

[kamchatsky]

Thank you very much for all the comments so far.

In regard to supporting NZ, I've already purchased 4 tix for SYD-ZQN (seat + bag), and ZQN-AKL all in NZ. yes so far I have been able to book at Space+ seats (assuming they have reconfigured it to have Space+ again) as we are *G. I am just wondering whether Space+ will be available again by this month.

I probably not bothered to earn NZ status credits because of the cost of joining fee of AUD50 per person. I cannot earn points on those trans-Tasman fares anyway.

Whilst we will have access to AKL Koru lounge, I had to say that last time I was there just more than 1 year ago, I found their food offering not that specatular. Also with seat + bag option I won't have food on flight, and I heard that they are patchy on selling food on flights, usually late or never.

Is EK service that slow and bad on TT A380? We are not so much worried about fine wine (well I am flying Y anyway and we don't really drink alcohol). I am going on Thursday so would EK flights be full anyway? If I do fly EK though, where can the miles go? They no longer partner with DJ these days? Or should I just open another EK account and throw the miles there, if I decide to use EK?