Trip Report: SYD-AKL-MEL
I'm probably one of the only people who doesn't mind flying SYD to Melbourne (MEL) with a 4 day stopover in Auckland (AKL), just so I can stick with earning miles on the Star Alliance network. Overall, my flights with Air New Zealand were pleasant and relaxing, and sometimes I felt that my treatment on this airline is better than on my "home" airline United!
From SYD to AKL, the trip started out with "Express" immigration and security, a privilege I got for being Star Gold even though I was in economy class. Then off to the large Air New Zealand Koru Club. There was a bunch of breakfast food on offer, from scrambled eggs on toast with chives (very tasty), to this really novel pancake machine! Look carefully at the end of the silver box in front: my second pancake is coming out of the conveyer belt!
On all of its trans-Tasman and Pacific flights, Air New Zealand has on-demand video from the moment you board to the moment you need to get off the plane at the destination. Very handy when some of the flights are only 3 or 4 hours long; you can fit in quite a lot in that time. I liked the black/dark grey design of the seats in the "Space+" section of economy. As Star Gold, you have access to these economy seats with more legroom.
On our flight, you had a choice of either smoked chicken caesar salad, or cracked pepper steak pie. I had the pie, and interestingly it's plated at your seat. So the pie stays warm, while the squash and pepper salad it's served on stays cold. Has a very contemporary look vs. the usual casserole dishes on the airplane.
On the way back to Australia, I used the Premium Check-In facility at AKL. You still have to stand up to check in (it's not one of those "sit down" check in experiences!), but there's no wait since there are so many agents. Plus they do have cushy seating for filling out the exit immigration documents. And right in the lounge there's a private New Zealand customs officer; only upon going up the escalator to the security check do you rejoin the hoi polloi.
The AKL Koru Club isn't as nice as SYD, but I think they're in the process of renovating. On the AKL-MEL flight, the inflight coordinator came to my seat in economy before take off to welcome me, and asked if I needed anything like a paper. I think it was because I was Star Gold, since she didn't look at my neighbor or anyone else, and returned to business class after our little exchange. On this flight, there was a choice of toasted corn fritters or cereal. I got the corn fritters which were really moist and tasty; again they were plated at your seat.
