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). Frequent flyer 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. French cuisine and wines served. Frequent flyer Previously Frequence Plus, from June 2005 integrated into the new Flying Blue Air France/KLM programme. Developments new, reduced fare structure does away with seasonal surcharges and requirements for minimum stays. Aircalin rated by Skytrax as one of the Pacific region’s top three carriers. Contact 0-9-308 3363, www.aircalin.co.nz
Air New Zealand (NZ)
Star Alliance Flies to Australia (Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth), Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Rarotonga, Tahiti, United States (Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco), London, Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, plus 25 domestic locations. In-flight services Business class: personal screens on all craft with power supply for laptops/DVDs on the new Airbus A320 (trans-Tasman and some Pacific routes). Menus created by consulting Kiwi chefs. Other * 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 when travelling on more than one domestic flight per day. * 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 and first class passengers also have access to international lounges in Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch, Wellington, Hong Kong, Singapore, Honolulu, Los Angeles, London, Melbourne, Nadi, Nagoya, Osaka, Papeete, Perth, Rarotonga, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo. Frequent flyer Air NZ Airpoints Dollars, usable on any Air NZ flight. Joining fee $50 or complimentary for New Zealand residents flying first or business class (conditions apply). Developments The 747-400 long haul fleet is being refitted. New premium business class features lie-flat beds; new premium economy class has more generous seat pitch and other comforts. Gradual introduction from August on long haul route to San Francisco, then Los Angeles-London and Auckland-Singapore. Contact 0800 737 000, www.airnewzealand.co.nz
Air Pacific (FJ)
Flies 11 times week Auckland-Nadi-Auckland; Auckland-Suva Thursday/Sunday, Suva-Auckland Friday/Monday. During winter (June 2 to October 13) flies Christchurch-Nadi-Christchurch twice weekly and Wellington-Nadi-Wellington every Friday. In-flight services Generous seat pitch in business; personal video screens business and economy on new 747-400s. In-flight meals/bar service. Lounge access Auckland, Christchurch, Nadi for business class. Frequent flyer Qantas Frequent Flyer, Tabua Club membership offers priority check in and lounge. Developments Christchurch-Nadi-Los Angeles service starts in August 2005. Contact 0800 800 178, www.airpacific.com
Air Tahiti Nui (TN)
Three flights weekly Auckland to Tahiti, Los Angeles and Paris on Airbus A340-300. Direct flights Tahiti-New York (three weekly) from July. In-flight services First class has 180 degree recliner sleeper seat; business class generous 55 inch pitch and 150 degree recliner sleeper seat. Winner of Skytrax Awards in 2003 and 2004 for Best Airline Pacific and Best Cabin Crew Australia/Pacific. Club Tiare loyalty programme. Contact 0-9-308 3360 or 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, snackfoods on request. 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), and, from 15 July, 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. Frequent flyer Skywards. No joining fee, generous conditions. More than 250 international awards. Developments New Auckland lounge; Airbus A380 services starting 2006. Contact 0508 364 728, www.emirates.com/nz
Freedom Air (SJ)
Flies Auckland-Gold Coast; Wellington or Christchurch-Gold Coast and Fiji; Dunedin-Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast; Hamilton-Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and Fiji; Palmerston North-Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Fiji. In-flight services Single class, no meals, snacks/drinks available for purchase. Developments New Airbus fleet with larger seat pitch. Contact 0800 600 500, www.freedomair.com
Garuda(GA)
Flies Auckland-Brisbane-Denpassar twice weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) on Airbus A330. Offers business or economy class. Loyalty programme Indonesian residents only. Contact 0508 652 254, www.garuda-indonesia.com
Korean Airlines (KE)
Skyteam Airline Alliance Flies daily overnight Auckland-Seoul connecting to over 90 destinations. In-flight services Traditional Korean/Western style cuisine, award-winning wine selection. Good seating configurations with 150 degrees of recline in first class. Lounge access to 390 SkyTeam lounges worldwide. Frequent flyer Skypass frequent flyer programme (free to join, points never expire). • Korean Airlines has received the Boeing award for the best schedule reliability of any airline operating the 777 (off-peak season) and the 747 (peak season). Developments Introducing new aircraft interior and colour scheme. A380 operations between Seoul and Europe/North Am
