[Jameelka]

Hi Guys,
We are looking at travelling to NZ for a 2 week reccy end of May/June,and looking at air fares.
Singapore and Air New Zealand are similar price,but can anyone shed some light as to the best one?
I believe Air New Zealand you get a bigger seat pitch,but have heard that Singapore Airlines are very good.
We would just be going straight there and back to Auckland,no stop overs not enough time!
Many thanks in advance

[Moorf]

Singapore Airlines for us, every time. Excellent service, excellent in-flight entertainment.

[Jameelka]

Thanks Moorf.
The reason we looked at Air New Zealand was just for a bit more room on the flight!!

[The Scott Family]

Hi Jameelka,

We have used both airlines, both were excellent. We did however prefer Singapore Airlines. If you have the 12 hour stop over in Singapore you can sleep in the airport hotel, freshen up, have a short tour of the city then a meal and swim (on the airport roof!). My son enjoyed NZ Airlines because their aeroplanes are painted up with LOTR and Frodo took us there! We have booked again with Singapore to go out August (one way this time!)

[Moorf]

Yep, you get an extra 2 inches on Air New Zealand! You can compare seat pitches (amongst other things) here:

http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/seat_intro.htm

However, we always try and get the "2-up" seats at the rear of the plane (on Singapore Air) as the one by the window has heaps of room between it and the window :nice1 and (if travelling as a couple) you don't have to share your space with another person!

[Jameelka]

It's really nice to be able to get such good feedback on this forum,no wonder I spend hrs on it!!
Many thanks again Moorf and the Scott Family.

[GeorgeM]

My family went over to the UK and back recently on Singapore Airlines and loved it. (Unfortunately I had to fly out later and back earlier on an airmiles ticket with Qantas so can't give a personal view).

They liked the transfer in Singapore because of the option of the easy transit hotel on site - our daughter is going back to the UK for a couple of weeks in July and my wife is happy to let her loose on Changi airport on her own because it's all so easy (she's be 16 at the time). We certainly wouldn't be happy at all with her transitting LAX.

The entertainment option in economy class is, I believe, far superior on SQ than on NZ, even where NZ has been upgraded.

And with Air NZ you have to go through the hassle of transitting LAX which would be sufficient reason to us for avoiding them like the plague. The journey has enough hassles without this kind of thing.

[Jameelka]

Thanks for that GeorgeM.
Do you all think it's worth stopping in Singapore for 10 hrs or so,rather than hopping on the next flight out 2 hrs later?
We have n't really time to do a proper over nighter there as we'd like to get to NZ as soon as we can,due to limited time.

[StevieD]

George, what is the problem with LAX?? Hear so much bad press about it, but not what it actually is....

[Cardy]

Hi Jameelka
I did the singapore airlines flight with the 2 hour stopover from LHR when i went on my reccy . i was so pleased with it we have booked same one to fly back . They cant do enough for you during the flight . Cheers Paul

[Smiler]

Stevie
The probs with LAX...........................

Homeland security is the first one, shoes off, shoes on, bags emptied and bags repacked, batteries out of lappy's, batteries in, security check after security check, fingerprints, constant herding to queue after queue.

It is the most dreariest place and so spread out from the domestic to the international terminal (if stopping over in US) Outside the terminal's is like a exhaust fume filled breathing bag.

The shops are carp. :mad: The Air NZ lounge isn't all is it cracked up to be, except for the showers. ;)

The only good bit for me was getting a massive nosebleed, the staff cleared the area around me so people couldn't gawp and it gave us some space from the jostling hub bub.

D

[GeorgeM]

Thanks for that GeorgeM.
Do you all think it's worth stopping in Singapore for 10 hrs or so,rather than hopping on the next flight out 2 hrs later?
We have n't really time to do a proper over nighter there as we'd like to get to NZ as soon as we can,due to limited time.I didn't have any stop overs on my flights - straight through CHC-SYD-SIN-LHR on the way out and LHR-BKK-SYD on the way back (spent a couple of days in Canberra).

I just about coped with it, but would probably not do the same in the future. I generally want to get to a destination as quickly as possible but found on this trip that it can be a bit disheartening to get off a plane after 13 or 14 hours knowing that you have a one hour break and then you're back on it again for another huge leg. (Especially if you have to sit next to the same family with the same crying baby...)

Sitting around in the departures lounge for 10 hours wouldn't help, but a proper bed in a transit hotel for a few hours might make it a bit more bearable.

[GeorgeM]

George, what is the problem with LAX?? Hear so much bad press about it, but not what it actually is....Steve - Smiler has already posted on this so I won't duplicate.

What is really important is that going via the US you have to go through this rigmarole even if you're not changing planes, I understand.

Go via Asia and you can get off (even leaving your hand luggage on the plane) wander about the shops (both SIN and BKK had enough to occupy me for the short refueling stops), get a bit of non-airline refreshment, stretch your legs and get back on ready for the next 10 hours or so.

Go via LAX and you can get off a 11 hour flight, spend 2 hours queueing to get yourself processed and then get back on for the mammoth trans-pacific leg.

I'm not anti-US, but unless I was going to the US as an end destination I'd avoid transiting the USA until they stop this nonesense. It's a shame that currently NZ only flys to the UK via LAX as it certainly is enough to stop me 'flying the flag'.

[G&K]

We've flown Air NZ 3 times now, including the new upgraded Pacific class and I'm going to stick up for them, just to equal the equation. (I've not yet flown the other way aroung i.e over asia)

Good points for Air NZ -

Lots of movies - couldn't watch them all on both legs !
Great NZ food and Wine
Nice fleece blankets (useful for camping in the great Kiwi outdoors after!)
64kgs of luggage allowance - which we needed when we came over first time
Stop overs in the Pacific - (Cook Islands, FiJi, Tonga or Samoa - you choose)
LAX isn't that bad - O.K so the security is a hassle, but then so the whole flight
Leg room and seat were pretty comfy really

I think at the end of the day the flight out here is a bit of a slog, so you just got to pick one a go with it - but Air NZ is not bad at all and I'd fly them again (But would also like to try Singapore Air to get a balanced view...)

;-)

[Smiler]

Just for the record, we had absolutely no probs with Air NZ. ;) It just goes thru LA. :wah

Flights fab, those new lay down bed thingys & duvets were double fab, food good, service good, all the littles freebies good too images/smilies/rae%27s_dancing_banana.gif (Still using my manuka honey products)

Luggage allowance was brill for us when coming for good, but they are stopping that from June I think.

However, when we came on our reccie we used Emirates and while I think NZ were good, I would choose Emirates over them, even giving up the duvet and bed. :yes

D

[Singel]

We flew to Auckland by Singapore Airlines with transit thro' Singapore for a couple of hours and we took a nice shower at the transit hotel (less than $9 per person). It is great to have facility like that to fresh up. :nice1

So, Singapore Airlines via Singapore, anytime for us :clap

[Jonathon1977]

As a fat kid "few extra pounds" I always take ANZ and ask for the 2 up seating at the rear of the plane. This way I can put my armrest up and spill over into my partners seat.

Just my small contribution. Good for me maybe not so good for the partner.

Jonathon

[marcia]

Thanks for that GeorgeM.
Do you all think it's worth stopping in Singapore for 10 hrs or so,rather than hopping on the next flight out 2 hrs later?
We have n't really time to do a proper over nighter there as we'd like to get to NZ as soon as we can,due to limited time.


yes yes yes :yes - If you can spare the time. First leg of the flight to singapore isn't too bad, you're excited loads of stuff to watch, games to play etc, entertainment system is excellent. But with the two hour stop you hardly feel like you've been off the plane and the 2nd leg then is hard work. I would suggest if you have time to book a room in the transit hotel and get stretched out on a bed for a few hours decent kip! (kev managed to get a back massage on our way back but we had a 5 hr stop then!) Especially if you are travelling with the kids, hard journey for them, (if it's just two adults I'd probably do the 2 hour stopover and just get there!)

Oh don't forget to try and find the leg and foot massaging machines!! FREE!! They are lovely!

[jocalla]

We also did the Singapore flight with the 2 hour stop. It was a bit of a disaster for us because we were delayed at Heathrow, which meant when we arrived at Singapore we has to 'RUN' to catch the next plane. So didn't have a break at all! Bit of a nightmare at the time not getting a break in between flights :wah

Joanne

[Milliemoo]

Hi there,

It's worth noting that Air NZ are reducing their luggage allowance to 23kg pp as of March (I think).

The allowance stays at 32kg for business class peeps.

Milliemoo

[Jameelka]

Gosh! Thanks everyone for all your feedback,certainly food for thought!!
Will prob book something in the next day or so.
Think we might use Singapore Airlines on this trip,but Air New Zealand when we do the BIG move!! as the girls would like to go to Disney is LAX!

[smitjo]

TRUE

We fly out to NZ in October and booked our flights with ANZ last week. If you book and pay for your flights before 12th March (even if you fly in October) you can still keep the 64kg baggage allowance!

Jo

[Debbie]

Anyone used Eva Air I understand that they are in partnership with ANZ but I can't be sure. Friends of ours got a realy good deal on their one way flights using them, (I'll ask them for feed back once they have used them). Wandered if there was any feed back on them on the forum. I live in the hope that I will have areason to book flights soon.
Debbie

[Jo and Andy]

We came out with Sinapore Airlines and it was fantastic , (bit cold on the trip from Sinapore to NZ, so pack a jumper, and you will need the socks.

Meals great, seats comfortable, staff excellent. If you have kids the kids meals come before yours so you get to help them easily. They aslo took the food trays away quickly instead of leaving you trapped.

My sister came out with Air NZ, her kids haven't really flown before, She said Virgin to LA was fantastic, then Air NZ from LA to Auckland, from checking in they were terrible, it was a late check in and they had to queue outside twice once to check in and then luggage. (they had a break in the journey). Kids asleep when they got on, so asked for their food a bit later, told no, when breakfast came no food for the kids, they would try and find a kids meal (they had booked them).

Internal flights with Air NZ were good but she would not do the long haul with them again.
I would definately go with Sinapore again though

[bob_the_engineer]

Had to add this, coming through LAX in November, I didn’t have to take my shoes off!

I got of the plane, passed through customs without a hitch (bit of trouble understanding the accent) LAX staff were polite. Had to put my finger on a machine for a print, no big hassle! That was it, out of the airport for a smoke, back in for a beer, back onto a different NZ-air plane (NZ1 in NZ2 out because of a last min booking, so complete customs clearance). No problems, actually quite pleasant.

As an engineer I guess my point of view on who to fly with is a little different to many peoples, I think a low baggage allowance is a good thing!

More room means less weight, another good thing.

The choice of aircraft is important.

The safety record is obviously important.

I flew with NZ-air and I insist my family does the same, ok so probably not much to choose from on these grounds, but just enough for me to make a definite decision, Air NZ.

Bob

PS the tighter the security the better, I would willingly hand my shoes over if asked and feel better for it!

[veronica]

hiya, they only ask for those with hard shoes, not trainers to take them off at LAX. you obviously flew to Auckland, those of us flying to Chch have to recheck everything which is a apin in the proverbial. I have written a post on both the 'luggage' and 'ultimate airlines' threads about this singapore v air NZ.

[StevieD]

Thanks for the feedback George and Debs - looks like LAX could lose out then! I understand where the security sensitivities come in, but you sometimes wonder if it isn't all a bit over the top.
Saying that, we flew to USA in 2000 and it was bad enough on the immigration desk then - talk about a sense of humour bypass. I think a stopover is looking good in Singapore.

Steve

[neilw71]

We've done both on reccie trips and reckon Singapore to be the best option as opposed to LAX. Even though we were in Business on ANZ on the LAX trip, I still didn't enjoy the short stop there. I understand the lounge is a bit better now though.

Our big one-way trip was with Singapore and it was the first time with them - excellent and would thoroughly reccomend them. Def do the 10 hour stop to relax and recharge, but get a cheap (and I mean cheap) taxi into town and find a day rate on the web for a fancy hotel - sleep for 5 hours and then walk around the area to refresh before heading back to the airport.

The other alternative that many overlook is an Air NZ ticket via San Francisco. The airport there is MUCH smaller than LAX and hence staff are friendlier. You travel on the new 777 to SFO and then code share a United (Star Alliance) 777 to Heathrow. We're using this route in August for a trip back to UK as Sing Air flights were considerably more for the week we needed!

Neil