Which is your preferred airline across the Tasman? [of QF, NZ or VA]

[Mattg]

The trans-Tasman market has had a bit of a shake-up lately, with Virgin/Air NZ splitting up and Emirates withdrawing from most of their trans-Tasman routes earlier in the year. So I was wondering, which is now your preferred airline to New Zealand?

I've been regularly flying across the Tasman for the past several years and have tried each airline at least once. But I've mostly flown Qantas as I found the service to be good (and meals, drinks etc. are all included).

I never really used to consider Virgin Australia but they seem to have picked up their act lately. They now give a hot meal and baggage allowance to every passenger and their fares have been really competitive lately (not to mention the double status credits promo). Lounge access is still a bit of a mess at some airports (with the loss of Air NZ lounges) and their exclusive use of Boeing 737s is a bit of a downer though.

I like Air NZ's lounges, and also the fact they use Boeing 787s/777s on flights to/from AKL. But I don't like their low-cost service model.

I can't fault the cabin crew on Qantas, Virgin or Air New Zealand which are all excellent.

EK is also great if flying SYD-CHC, and SQ is good for MEL-WLG, but they're of limited use if my destination is Auckland.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Which is YOUR airline of choice to New Zealand, and why?

 

[stm1sydney]

Going to miss the Air NZ lounge for our next trip. Still giving VA a go

I reckon SYD "The House" is an upgrade on the NZ lounge.

 

[AviationNZ]

VA has the best food in J trans-Tasman.

Hmmmm, in my opinion very questionable. I’d put NZ and QF well ahead of VA for J class food and beverages.

 

[suze2000]

I value not having wifi.

The last two times I flew VA were on planes with wifi. This means the "Entertain" app works slightly differently - it opens your browser for you to choose your show and then moves back to the app to actually WATCH it. Which Almost Never works. At least, not on my iPad. And I've tried everything to make it work. And then when I asked an FA about it, I was handed one of their tablets, and that did not work either. The FA said it was something related to the new wifi setup. Sometimes it works, mostly it doesn't. And if you manage to get in, don't pause what you are watching or you will lose that too! Luckily, I had some stuff downloaded to my Netflix app to watch, but if I hadn't had that foresight, I would have been pretty narked.

 

[serfty]

VA has the best food in J trans-Tasman.

Hmmmm, in my opinion very questionable. I’d put NZ and QF well ahead of VA for J class food and beverages.

Hmmm... VA Business class catering for domestic is generally superior to QF's offering - it would not be difficult for the same to be the case Trans-Tasman.

Of course, with AirNZ, you have to find those specific flights on widebodies ... with QF and VA, it's any flight.

 

[AviationNZ]

Hmmm... VA Business class catering for domestic is generally superior to QF's offering - it would not be difficult for the same to be the case Trans-Tasman.

Of course, with AirNZ, you have to find those specific flights on widebodies ... with QF and VA, it's any flight.

Correct, it is only on the NZ wide-bodies, but I'm not talking about the extensiveness of the business class network offering, I'm purely commenting on my experience with those three carriers F&B.

 

[serfty]

I'm purely commenting on my experience with those three carriers F&B.

Things change - VA have improved markedly since October after AirNZ gave them the @rse.

 

[Chicken]

I just buy on schedule and LFOTD.

SYD AKL is only 3 to 4 hours. I have had commute within Sydney that's just as long. A Y seat in any plane would fit my butt nicely, unlike buses in Australia where seats are only sufficient for 1.5 butt, so the aisle passenger only has half a butt in the seat, the other butt flying mid air, you just fall off the seat at anytime ......

 

[AviationNZ]

Things change - VA have improved markedly since October after AirNZ gave them the @rse.

True, and I'll confess I haven't flown them in J since the divorce. However, whilst they've upped their game in some respects, I still think the 'one-drink policy' in economy is extremely petty. And their IFE is dead last in my book too.

 

[Berlin]

Dragging out this older thread. After about a decade of almost absolute full loyalty to Qantas (and Oneworld/Emirates), I have taken the plunge and just booked a trans-Tasman with NZ and, even more unbelievable, one with Virgin. If you look out for specials, they’re funnily all pretty much the same price on these routes, around $1000 for the return so this should allow to compare them properly.

Qantas has started to p#ss me off a fair bit recently, topped by it never changing food choices in J which just gets too much if one flies 2 to 3 times a month. I don’t expect for a moment that those Virgin-fanboys you find all over this forum are right but I thought I give them the benefit of the doubt and try them. The booking process and website design was already aweful and their annoying purple colouring is just an eyesore. But hey, maybe the food is decent, we will see (what Champagne do they serve trans-Tasman, by the way, both Virgin and NZ?).

And NZ, I have no doubt that the service and food might be decent enough and expect as-always excellent Kiwi wines. But those seats facing your co-passengers’ feet? That might even be a dumber idea than those awful backwards business class seats that BA has but I will judge for myself (and of course report in all detail on here once I am back).

Just about to board yet another Qantas trans-Tasman expecting nothing but one of the 4 same old “September 2018” menues which I’ve all had at least twice and some triple before

 

[kermatu]

I've now flown a few VA J flights trans-Tasman (ex-NZ only). Lounge the same one QF uses in CHC. In AKL it's the Strata lounge which is OK but can't compete with EK and I reckon QF F is (just) better. QF win.

Priority boarding seems to work fine - though I've been among the last to the gate most times so can't be definitive. Tentative VA win.

Only 737s, so QF's A330 wins easily. No seatback IFE but iPads offered. I usually read on a plane but it is nice to have IFE music and flight details, but I never use iPads so this is another QF win.

PDB is sparkling wine or champagne (not sure, sorry), juice or water. Only offered after everyone is onboard in my experience. Drinks service after takeoff, with some good snacks offered (though you may need to ask) including nuts, potato or vegetable chips, olives. No problem having more than one choice. VA win.

Meals are definitely tastier than QF, BUT two options only, no starter, and it is all served on one tray. Significantly less substantial than QF. But you can return to the snacks (ie the Pantry) later. I'm calling it a marginal VA win because the food on QF has just been so awful of late.

The J cabin is roped off and I have seen zero intrusions from Y. Very well done. Easy VA win.

VA A330 flights to Perth are so far ahead of QF these days, that this will sway my decision ex-NZ. If it is just to the East Coast or on to CBR or ADL, I'll fly QF out of AKL. Out of WLG SQ then VA is a no-brainer. If going on to PER then it will be VA every time.

I value the QF F lounges so don't see that I'll fly anything other than QF / OW from Oz to NZ.

 

[Deleted member]

QF

 

[Berlin]

QF

Ouhm- what Qantas? And why?