Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.
Two hours was not enough time to transition from the international to domestic terminal. You have to go through customs, a biological hazard check, gather your luggage, take a bus to the domestic terminal and recheck your luggage. The bus was slow and crowded and the lines to recheck your bags were very long. We missed our connecting flight. Initially, the Air New Zealand officials were not helpful at all in helping to get us on another flight. Told us we would have to buy another ticket for a flight 11 hours later. Found another agent that was more helpful. He helped arrange to get us on standby for another flight three hours later. Had to ride in jump seats next to the flight attendants, but at least we eventually got to out destination.
Full flight. Flight attendants were harried. Otherwise, fine for the typical cramped seating conditions in coach.
Great! Flight was delayed by 30 mins but all was great. Thanks.
The business class upgrade meant a good sleep on the way home after a long week away. Excellent service, great food, and comfortable seat/bed for the journey.
I love the “boarding from the back” idea - it’s so much better than the “Zones” idea that many others use. Also, the inflight wifi was a first for me! Very nice to have on a 13-hour flight!
Again, Air New Zealand was great. They kept bathrooms clean, food was actually very good, New Zealand wines a big hit
The issue was with getting our boarding pases. There were issues with our arrangements that were made through Kayak. I am sorry to say that we will not use you again because of this. The flight itself was good and the flight attendants excellent.
Arriving at Coolangatta, rows 20 forward, took the airbridge across to the terminal. It was suggested to those from rows 21 back, that we take the rear stairs and to be careful crossing the tarmac. That was all well and good. However, when we got across to the terminal we then had to climb three large flights of stairs to meet up with those coming across the airbridge. No elevator! There were people carrying babies and elderly carrying hand luggage that needed assistance from others.. There was no option to turn back.
It was good for a short domestic flight. As no food ar entertainment provided, there should be a n/a rating available for those.
Pretty excellent. I don’t know what the pilot could have done better with the bumping ( there was a storm) nor what happened to my ears coming down into bendigo. It doesn’t happen coming down into Sydney just the return flight. I wonder why?
Touch screens were very difficult to use, generally being laggy and unresponsive- it was quite an art to get it to play the thing you wanted rather than some thing at random. Selection of films and Tv was good when touchscreen decided to finally respond.
Friendly staff, surprisingly good premium economy seats allowing good sleep/ snooze opportunity and very good menu.
I liked the service, the menu, and the comfort of the seats! Even tho we were seated by the bathrooms, the reclining seats and movie selection was very good, my husband and I didn’t mind at all
Very good as always, stand out airline. The passengers whom choose to stuff baggage that otherwise should be checked-in is a real bother but that's not the airlines doing. A real frustration that passengers just don't want to check-in luggage. This is a pet hate unfortunately.
Our baggage didn’t arrive with us on the plane. Need I say more?
I got upgraded from economy to business, and the experience was outstanding
I have taken this flight many times. It is ALWAYS late. Every time there is significant delay (1-3 hours) before boarding. It’s very consistent. Even after boarding the expected landing time was delayed twice. The seats are very narrow and cramped. Food is barely editable. Considering an economy ticket often costs about $2,000 it’s one of the worst services ever.
Boarding was over 3 hrs late and we didn’t land until almost 1:30am
American Airlines was their usual junk service — but at least it got us down to LA. I was more irritated that while they codeshare with Alaska Airlines in Seattle, they could not out our flight on one of these, opting for one of the small SkyWest operated American Eagle flights — and causing a 14 hour layover. Which I accepted due to a $2000 difference in airfare — that said it was irritating for a flight that usually would have cost around $100 extra, if that.
