AIRLINES
Aerolineas Argentinas (AR)
Flies direct Auckland-Buenos Aires on Airbus A340 every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with same day connections to all major South America destinations.
In-flight services: Seat pitches are particularly generous in both Club Condor business class (55 inches) and economy class (35 inches).
Loyalty programme: ARPlus. Free to join.
Contact: 0800-650 881, www.aerolineas.com
Aircalin (SB)
Four weekly flights Auckland-Noumea with onward connections to Tokyo, Osaka and the South Pacific.
In-flight services: Hibiscus (business) Class on A330 aircraft have in-seat entertainment and phone. Smaller A320s have no personal screens but offer personal DVDs. Both aircraft have laptop power outlets in Hibiscus Class. French cuisine and wines served. Aircalin rated by Skytrax as one of the Pacific region’s top three carriers.
Loyalty programme: Flying Blue (Air France/KLM programme).
Developments: Online booking now available on the new website, launched in December 2005.
Contact: 0-9-308 3363, [email protected], www.aircalin.com
Air New Zealand (NZ)
Star Alliance
Flies to Australia (Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide), Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Rarotonga, Tahiti, Niue, United States (Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco), London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Osaka, Tokyo Narita and, from November, Shanghai, plus 25 domestic destinations.
New Boeing 777s and refitted 747s feature lie-flat beds, new menus (designed by chefs Peter Gordon, Govind Armstrong, Geoff Scott and Rex Morgan) and extensive New Zealand wine list in Business Premier, plus new Premium Economy Class with generous (38 to 40-inch) seat pitch and on-demand personal entertainment screening wide selection of New Zealand content.
Power supply for laptops/DVDs in Premium classes and on Airbus A320 aircraft (trans-Tasman and some Pacific routes).
Progressive introduction of 50-seat Bombardier Q300 aircraft to Air Nelson’s fleet.
New uniforms for cabin crew and ground staff.
Customer service features: TextExpress can advise of flight delays via passenger’s mobile phone. ExpressCheck speeds up the check-in procedure for passengers travelling on electronic tickets. Return check-in service available for domestic travel.
Koru Club membership offers airport lounge access plus exclusive check-in counters at domestic and international terminals, priority wait listing/baggage handling, toll free priority reservations. Koru Club, Star Alliance Gold members and business passengers also have access to international lounges in Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch, Wellington, Hong Kong, Singapore, Honolulu, Los Angeles, London, Melbourne, Nadi, Osaka, Papeete, Perth, Rarotonga, Sydney and Tokyo. The new Melbourne Koru Lounge, the first of the new-look lounges designed on New Zealand bach theme, opened in early 2006.
Loyalty programme: Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars redeemed for any seat, any time. Joining fee $50 or complimentary for Business Class clients (conditions apply).
Developments: New in-flight product (777 and 747 aircraft) now available on most long-haul routes including UK, LA, San Francisco, Singapore and Tokyo Narita.
Contact: www.airnz.co.nz
Air Pacific (FJ)
Flies 11 times per week Auckland/Nadi/Auckland, with supplementary winter services (30 June – 6 October) and twice weekly Auckland/Suva (Thursday/Sunday) and Suva/Auckland (Monday/Friday). New permanent Christchurch/Nadi/Christchurch direct service introduced (Sundays), with supplementary winter services (28 June – 27 September). Also flies Christchurch/Nadi/Christchurch on Wednesdays.
In-flight services: Generous seat pitch in Business Class, personal video screens in Business and Economy class on the new 747-400s. Full service in-flight meals and bar service. Access to Qantas lounges in Auckland and Christchurch, Air Pacific Tabua Club Lounge in Nadi.
Loyalty programme: Full partner of Qantas Frequent Flyer programme, plus Tabua Club Membership offers priority check in/additional baggage allowance and lounge access.
Developments: Air Pacific has acquired Fiji domestic carrier Sun Air (from July) and intends improving international and domestic connections to distribute tourism more widely throughout Fiji, in particular to Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu.
Contact: 0800-800 178, www.airpacific.com
Air Tahiti Nui (TN)
Air Tahiti Nui has three flights weekly Auckland to Tahiti, Los Angeles, New York and Paris on modern Airbus A340-300s. The airline claims the fastest service from Auckland to New York, with just over one hour’s transit in Papeete then non-stop Papeete/New York flight, meaning no need to collect bags and clear customs in LAX. To complement this service weekly flight between New York’s JFK Airport and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, and vice versa, has been introduced.
In-flight services: First class has 180 degree recliner sleeper seat; business class 55-inch pitch and 150-degree recliner sleeper seat. Winner of Skytrax Awards three consecutive years for Best Airline Pacific and Best Cabin Crew Australia/Pacific.
Loyalty programme: Club Tiare.
Contact: 0-9-308 3360, www.airtahitinui.co.nz
Cathay Pacific (CX)
oneworld
Up to 12 flights per week Auckland-Hong Kong and on to 84 destinations worldwide, plus oneworld connections to 570 destinations.
In-flight services: Email, laptop power, telephone and fax facilities in all classes. First class: seat extends to full length flat bed with privacy screen; sleepsuit, luxury bedding, meals on demand. First/business have 10-inch screens, ‘cinema on demand’ with choice of 30 movies and 20 channels. Business seats generous pitch, ergonomic comfort. Economy class: personal screens, snack foods on request. Named Airline of the Year 2006 by global aviation journal Air Transport World, and the first/business class lounges at Hong Kong voted best in world by Skytrax.
Loyalty programme: Asia Miles. Free to join. The Marco Polo loyalty club offers worldwide lounge access, preferred check-in and priority wait listing.
Contact: 0800-800 454, www.cathaypacific.com/nz
Emirates (EK)
Flies daily Auckland-Sydney-Bangkok-Dubai (Boeing 777-300ER), Auckland-Brisbane-Singapore-Dubai (Boeing 777-300), Auckland-Melbourne-Dubai (A340-500). Also daily Christchurch-Sydney-Dubai (A340-500). Onward connections through Middle East, Africa, India and UK/Europe.
In-flight services: First class “suites” on A340-500 have full privacy screens, massage-feature leather seats converting to flat beds, dining table, vanity table, mini-bar, large video screen and seven-course à la carte meals at chosen times. First class wardrobe storage. Phone contact with galley crew. Six-course meals in business; five-course in economy. Personal satellite phones in all classes, laptop recharging, fax, email /text facilities, 500 channels entertainment. Generous pitch, roomy sleeper seats on Boeing 777s first and business class. Lounge access for first, business, Skywards Gold members. Free limo transport (up to 40 kilometres) first/business passengers. More than 300 international awards.
Loyalty programme: Skywards. No joining fee, generous conditions.
Developments: New Auckland lounge completed.
Contact: 0508-364 728, www.emirates.com/nz
Freedom Air (SJ)
F
