[jess]

Don't know if this has been posted or how much it affects people, but saw these chages on NZ Herald:

* Flights from Auckland to London via Singapore will cease. An additional London flight will be added via Hong Kong.
* Capacity on Auckland to London via Los Angeles will be reduced by 160 seats with a switch from 747s to the new 777s.
* Christchurch to London via LA - previously twice weekly in the summer - will not recommence this season.
* The changes are effective from October.

Full article online here (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=3&ObjectID=10390997)

[jdbob]

A couple who lived across the street from me when I lived in-town went to New Zealand about a week before I did in March and fell in love with the country. They were planning on flying from Los Angeles to Christchurch towards the end of this year, I guess they will have fly through Auckland instead.

I'm inclined to stay with the San Francisco to Auckland route, assuming they don't cancel that too.

[kiwidebs]

I didn't even know Air NZ flew to London via Singapore!! :exit I'd fly SIA by choice anyway.

Debs

[Avalon]

They didnt - but you could get as far as singapore. (Then swim? :D )

The only "direct route" was via LA.

And because most people going to singapore from NZ want to go o europe - they had empty flights. Not sure why it took em so long to work this out. Coupled with the fact that SIA is by far the better airline anyway (imo) its not surprising that they have finally accepted defeat.

I may be tempted to use AirNZ in furure now they fly through Hong Kong (which starts October?), but only if they have upgraded airplanes. None of this shared TV screens rubbish.

[tigerlily]

I just discovered this site-
http://www.lovemyseat.com/airlines/Air_New_Zealand/Boeing_777-200/Boeing_777-200.html
that has maps of the planes so you can see how comfy or crowded it will be- as a family of 4 travelling, the groups of three seats in the middle instead of the wide body make it much more difficult. At least it looks like the new 777 will still have two aisles?

[Oregonkiwi]

Air NZ's new 777 has 9 seats across, 3-3-3 with 2 aisles. And Avalon, everyone gets their own seat back screen with on demand video. (Well, we did on our US-NZ flight.)

[Avalon]

And Avalon, everyone gets their own seat back screen with on demand video. (Well, we did on our US-NZ flight.)
Not yet they dont!

Air NZ have been upgrading thier fleet, and even now they are saying that not all planes will be upgraded as some are too old to make it worthwhile. So some poor souls wont actually get seat back tvs. It was quite funny watching the ads on TV for the improvements. I mean Singapore had been doing all this for years.I hear the upgraded planes are really nice though - especiaially in business class. :D

[Smiler]

I hear the upgraded planes are really nice though - especiaially in business class. :D

Yes they are and it is. Very, very, nice! ;)

[jdbob]

Not yet they dont!

Air NZ have been upgrading thier fleet, and even now they are saying that not all planes will be upgraded as some are too old to make it worthwhile.

I think that only applies to the 747's. The 777's are quite new airplanes and I think they came from the factory with individual LCD TVs.

[Singel]

Not yet they dont!

Air NZ have been upgrading thier fleet, and even now they are saying that not all planes will be upgraded as some are too old to make it worthwhile. So some poor souls wont actually get seat back tvs. It was quite funny watching the ads on TV for the improvements. I mean Singapore had been doing all this for years.I hear the upgraded planes are really nice though - especiaially in business class. :D
Singapore Air have seat back tvs for about 10 years and now Air NZ just started doing the catching up. We flew once from Singapore to Auckland by Air NZ and not knowing that there are no seat back tvs on their aircraft - we were bored to death during the 10 hours flight :( I think we have been spoilted by Singapore Air ;)