Trans-Tasman J

[kermatu]

Prawns as mentioned above. Can't seem to edit the post above, so apologies for repeat posts:

 

[njba]

Very nice flight this morning MEL-AKL on QF153. Really tasty breakfast.

Perfectly poached eggs! Good job, QF catering!

 

[kermatu]

I've now done a couple of flights on the new A330 service trans-Tasman. Obviously the hard product is far superior, but I do feel the service isn't quite as attentive as the JetConnect crews.

First flight (SYD-AKL) 6pm departure - no pre-dinner drinks, took close to an hour for the service to commence. Cabin was full, with at least 3 staff travelling (not in uniform) visible to me (and I could only see about 6 other seats).

Return flight (3pm) much better. Still took a while for service to commence but drink orders were taken along with meal orders and the drinks trolley came around soon after. Crew much more proactive.

a few more flights to come so will see how they go. And will post menus etc for info.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Crossing my paws that QF will keep the 330 flying TT.
I find it maybe, psychologically more space(y) flying 330 even in Y/J than the 737.
Flying the 1 on the window is a very good thing for J, not having to share an armrest for J, as on the J on the 737.
At least the 330 is only 2 seats across then aisle on the window sides for Y, vs 3 seats across on the 737.
Also, you get a bit of a sense that you are flying an international service on the 330, not a poxy domestic like service, on the 737. Even thought the 737 can serve TT, ideally, they should only be used on the TT route as a last resort. But all I can do is dream!

 

[sudoer]

I find it maybe, psychologically more space(y) flying 330 even in Y/J than the 737.

It's not psychological Pooch. The 330 is more spacious than the 737 - massively in J and by a smaller margin in Y.

 

[kermatu]

SYD-AKL dinner menu last week (A330 Australian crew):

 

[kermatu]

I had the trout salad which was excellent:



Then the prawns and chorizo which was also good, if a little small:



As as mentioned above, service was a bit slow and lacklustre. Summing it up nicely was when I accepted an offer of a glass of port with the cheese plate (standard vanilla ice cream so I declined that) the FA came back 20 seconds later to say there was no port onboard.

 

[Shamrock55]

I would be so keen to see the A330 come to Wellington. One of the reasons I moved my business flying to Air NZ was being so sick of their 737, I totally prefer the premium seats on the A320 even if they don't offer a real J as such. The food, service and IFE is just as good.

Probably be weight-restricted thanks to Wellington's little runway. But would be a fantastic improvement in service.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Don't think that WLG has weight restrictions, seeing that they now have that SQ large bird coming in and going out several times a week, and if I am not mistaken, an (Air) NZ 787 from PER coming in and going also several times a week.
WLG also has plans to extend the runway out onto the bay on runway 34

 

[Basalt]

Very nice flight this morning MEL-AKL on QF153. Really tasty breakfast.
View attachment 99312
View attachment 99313

We're doing that flight in a few weeks, will defo skip the J lounge breakfast if the poached egss on board look like that!

We like our glass or two of bubbles with our J breccies - what's the current bubbles on board?

 

[kermatu]

I would be so keen to see the A330 come to Wellington. One of the reasons I moved my business flying to Air NZ was being so sick of their 737, I totally prefer the premium seats on the A320 even if they don't offer a real J as such. The food, service and IFE is just as good.

Probably be weight-restricted thanks to Wellington's little runway. But would be a fantastic improvement in service.

SQ flies a 777 into Wellington so I doubt an A330 would be a problem (though I'm not an expert on any of this).

cant see Wellington generating the loads for an A330 to be honest. The two daily A330 services between SYD and AKL are replacing two services each (two 737s; and the EK A380 + 737) if my understanding is correct.

 

[kermatu]

Menu AKL-SYD 15:20 departure, A330 service.

 

[kermatu]

Service was far more proactive and polished than the previous flight, but unfortunately I found the food to be average. By no means poor, but not up to the usual TT standard - especially ex-NZ where I used to rely on always having a substantial and quality fish main.

i had the prawns and then the beef.

 

[Altair]

SQ flies a 777 into Wellington so I doubt an A330 would be a problem (though I'm not an expert on any of this).

cant see Wellington generating the loads for an A330 to be honest. The two daily A330 services between SYD and AKL are replacing two services each (two 737s; and the EK A380 + 737) if my understanding is correct.

QF has operated the A330 into WLG several times to co-incide with major sporting events think WC Rugby and Cricket.
QF used to operate 747SP into WLG when they were an all 747 airline

 

[ozflier]

I flew BNE to Queenstown dep 0930 last weekend.
Only difference to domestic J was the champagne.
Flying back on VA and look forward to checking out the difference.

 

[kermatu]

Did the red-eye MEL to AKL last week. Was a JetConnect crew (first time in last 4 of these that I've had such a crew. May be the obvious spot for the extra capacity freed up by the A330 services, though I haven't done any research to see if that is the case.

despite the obvious shortcomings in hard product in comparison to the A330, I enjoyed the flight and service. Once again there was no attempt to shutdown the cabin and get everyone to just sleep. Crew was happy to offer drinks, then supper. By my reckoning 8 of the 10 pax in J had something to eat.

CSM was occupied with a medical issue at the back of the plane (which meant on arrival in AKL we all waited for the ambulance crew to come onboard before we could disembark). Was only a two minute delay and everyone was very patient and understanding.

J attendant handled everything quickly and well.

Strangely no amenity kits handed out. For the one flight that really could do with it, I thought this was odd.

 

[kermatu]

Here is the menu:

 

[kermatu]

Sorry, struggling with pics at the moment. The menu with the cafe breakfast is obviously the one for the overnight flight.

i had the pork which was nice but quite rich. The ham and gruyere scroll on arrival was very nice.

 

[Rugby]

I've now done a couple of flights on the new A330 service trans-Tasman. Obviously the hard product is far superior, but I do feel the service isn't quite as attentive as the JetConnect crews.

First flight (SYD-AKL) 6pm departure - no pre-dinner drinks, took close to an hour for the service to commence. Cabin was full, with at least 3 staff travelling (not in uniform) visible to me (and I could only see about 6 other seats).

Return flight (3pm) much better. Still took a while for service to commence but drink orders were taken along with meal orders and the drinks trolley came around soon after. Crew much more proactive.

a few more flights to come so will see how they go. And will post menus etc for info.

Our experience was very similar last week. Missed the kiwis on the way over and Emirates on the way back, though the a330 QF crew on the way back were much better than on the way over.

 

[kermatu]

I flew QF146 again the other day (AKL-SYD A330 at 15:20.).

Departed gate 15 so two aerobridges were used and the priority lines were well signed and enforced.

Service was good, with pre-lunch drinks and a reasonably constant presence in the cabin. Amenity kits provided.

Menus were collected so I couldn't keep it! From memory, starters were smoked salmon or a soup. Mains were soup, cheese, a salad, roast chicken, crispy pork belly roll, or an Asian braised beef rib with rice.

I had had the smoked salmon, which was very nice but a ridiculously small serve.