Headquartered in Auckland, Air New Zealand is the country’s national carrier and a Star Alliance member serving close to 50 domestic and international destinations. It’s won multiple awards for safety and service. For me, Air New Zealand stands out for its modern fleet, friendly staff and ethos inspired by the Māori word Manaaki - meaning to show respect, generosity and care to others. I experienced this above-and-beyond attitude first hand when the cabin crew took care of me while seriously ill with dengue fever on a flight from Fiji to Auckland.
Domestic flight classes
I love the flexibility this airline offers. If you’re flying domestically you can choose from four fare classes: seat, which includes a carry-on bag only for the most economical price possible; seat+bag, which includes a carry-on and a checked bag; and flexichange, which offers free seat selection and the ability to change the date, time or route of your flight prior to departure without incurring an admin fee.
You’ll have to pay for any difference in fare if you make the change in advance. But, if you change to an earlier or later flight for the same route on the day of travel, there’s no charge even if the new flight is more expensive. The final fare class is called flexirefund. This offers the added ability to cancel your flight for any reason and get a full refund.
Long-haul flight classes
Economy
The fact that Air New Zealand’s planes are all fairly modern means that even in Economy class you can expect seats with sculpted upholstery and a flexible headrest. I rate them as some of the most comfortable seats I’ve flown on.
If you want a little more luxury but don’t have the budget for a full upgrade, consider purchasing an Economy Skycouch ticket. This gives you and up to two fellow passengers a row of Economy seats to yourself, each of which has a special footrest that can be lifted all the way up to create a large, flat space on which to make yourself comfortable.
Economy Stretch seats are also offered on certain routes including Auckland to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Taipei. These seats are located in the first four rows of Economy for quicker disembarkation and offer up to 39 percent more legroom. You’ll also benefit from complimentary over-ear headphones and a proper pillow.
Premium Economy
If you have more to spend, Premium Economy is well worth the investment. Expect free seat selection (handy if, like me, you have a strong preference for an aisle seat), more personal space and a leather seat with a leg rest and extendable foot support. You can also bring an additional carry-on and checked bag.
Business Premier
Business Premier represents the most luxurious option on long-haul flights. Each leather seat converts into a lie-flat bed complete with a duvet, two pillows and a memory foam mattress - so you can arrive rested and refreshed. Fares also include premium check-in, courtesy lounge access, a gourmet dining menu and an increased luggage allowance (two carry-ons and three checked bags).
Food and drink
Although Air New Zealand only offers a snack on domestic flights, I am always impressed by their long-haul food and drink offerings. Menus focus on local New Zealand produce and are complemented by a selection of the country’s well-known wines. Fourteen special meal options cater to most dietary preferences, although passengers on an Economy or Premium Economy ticket will have a more limited choice on Australia and Islands flights.
For example, while I really appreciated the fact that a distinction was made between vegetarian and vegan meals on a flight from Auckland to Los Angeles, this is not the case on regional flights where vegan is the only meat-free option.
Entertainment and Wi-Fi
If you fly long distance you will have access to a touchscreen in-flight entertainment system with all of the latest films, series, music and games. The fact that these screens work from the moment you sit down until the moment the plane lands is a major bonus when flying with small children because you won’t have to wait for the seatbelt sign to turn off before they can watch.
There’s a Kids section filled with age-appropriate content while cabin crew can also help you implement a Parental Lock on certain programs as required. Finally, having been separated from my partner on a very full Air New Zealand flight before, I appreciate the in-built Screen Chat function that allows you to communicate freely with people sitting several seats away.
Impressively, Wi-Fi is free for all fare classes on planes equipped with this technology. This includes most of the fleet’s 777s and Neos and the majority of 787s. Use the Air NZ app to check whether you will have internet ahead of your journey by looking for the Wi-Fi icon next to your flight. This service is limited to low-data activities (voice and video calls and streaming high-res video are out).
Baggage rules
Carry-on bags must measure 46.5 linear inches or less (you can calculate this by adding the length, width and height together). The maximum weight is 15 pounds unless you are traveling in Premium Economy or Business Premier or have Airpoints Gold or Elite status. In this case you may bring two carry-on items with a combined weight of 30 pounds, with the heaviest weighing up to 22 pounds.
When it comes to checked luggage, the basic rule is that seat+bag, flexichange and Economy fares are allowed one bag, while flexirefund and Premium Economy fares are allowed two. Business Premier fares can bring up to three checked bags. There are exceptions, however: Economy fares on certain routes are allowed two checked bags. For this reason I always recommend checking your allowance as it appears on your e-ticket.
Regardless of travel class, checked bags can weigh up to 50 pounds each, or up to 70 pounds with an excess baggage charge. The first time I traveled to New Zealand my bag was significantly overweight (I was going on a two-month camper van adventure and at 18, hadn’t yet learned the art of packing light!).
I was advised that if you have a lot to carry, the best option is to purchase a Prepaid Extra Bag in advance. This gives you an additional 50 pounds of luggage for not much more than the cost of paying overweight fees for an additional 20 pounds. You can book yours online up to 90 minutes before an international flight or up to 30 minutes before a domestic trip.
Flying with kids
Children aged 2 and over have the same baggage allowance as adults in the same fare class while children under 2 are entitled to one free carry-on. You can also bring two of the following at no extra cost for every child under 12 years old: a bassinet or portable cot, a car seat, or a foldable stroller. This is true even if your fare doesn’t include any checked luggage.
On flights with a meal service you can order special baby or child meals in advance. I really love that Air New Zealand cabin crew serve children before adults when possible, allowing you to help kids with their food and then enjoy your own food along with everyone else. This makes a stark contrast to other airlines who often leave parents juggling several full trays at once.
You can also bring your own formula and baby food or snacks for older children (just remember that there are no facilities for sterilizing equipment or heating and refrigerating food onboard). Breastfeeding is permitted at any time during the flight including take-off and landing, which helps babies to cope with the sudden change in cabin pressure.
Another thing I love about Air New Zealand is that baby bassinets can be reserved at the time of booking. These safe sleeping spaces make all the difference when flying with an infant and yet many airlines allocate them on a first come, first served basis on the day of travel. You have to pay a small fee for the Seat Select service, but in my opinion it’s worth it.
Loyalty program
Air New Zealand’s loyalty program is called Airpoints. Anyone can join and membership is free. You’ll earn Airpoints Dollars on eligible Air New Zealand, Star Alliance and other partner flights as well as with affiliated hotel and rental car bookings. These dollars can be used towards future flights, rental car bookings and more.
Status Points determine your membership level, with each one (Silver, Gold or Elite) unlocking more benefits. These include everything from upgrades and increased baggage allowances to frequent flyer seating and priority check-in. Silver, Gold and Elite members also enjoy privileged access to Air New Zealand and global partner lounges.
Airpoints members can also use Airpoints Dollars or regular money to purchase a one, two or five-year Koru membership which affords similar benefits to premium Airpoints status holders without having to accrue points.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
