After spending the majority of my NZ trip on the South Island, it is time to get to the North. I will be spending the next and last 4 nights of my trip in Auckland. This is where I will be based at. I took a domestic flight from Queenstown to Auckland. Prices were a little higher than expected since we did not book it early. I went for Air NZ since we had Star Alliance Status and we needed baggage as well. This way we can also get lounge access. It won’t be much cheaper on a budget carrier. I booked via an OTA to take advantage of some promo codes. All in all, I paid about 240 SGD for the ticket.

Checking In

After dropping off my rental car and returning the keys at the keys drop off, I arrive at the check-in counters at around noon for my flight departing at 2.10pm. It is very easy to find the car rental parking and there are very clear signs. From the parking, it is about a 5 minutes walk to the terminal. I was second in line at the premium check-in counters and was soon helped by a friendly associate. I got to my boarding gate in no time and my bags were checked. You could also use the self-check-in counters.

Sadly there are no premium lines for security or Gold Track at Queenstown. The queue was pretty long and there was also a medical emergency. It took a long time and I spent about 30 mins clearing security.

Boarding Process

Boarding was scheduled for 1.45pm and it actually started slightly ahead of time. We had a tarmac boarding via the stairs. This can be common, especially in a regional airport. While taking the stairs might not be the most convenient it is certainly a cool way and you get to get up close to the plane. I love the Air NZ livery! We were warmly greeted at the door by the FA and went on to find our seats. It is super sad not to get a window seat. The views were excellent. I was super envious of those by the window. It is a rather full flight.

The set of crew was very friendly. They look sharp in black and purple uniforms. We had a slightly late departure and only got airborne around 2.30pm.

Air New Zealand A320 Domestic Economy Class

I will be flying in Air New Zealand A320 domestic economy class. These are in a 3-3 configuration. The cabin is pretty lovely and sleek. The seats are in gorgeous black New Zealand colours. We got the middle and aisle seats. This is the best they could do at check-in. We didn’t manage to get exit row seats but at the very least we got near the front of the plane. It is an all-economy class plane. There is no premium cabin.

Here are some pictures of the seats and cabin. They are your typical economy seats and I have to give them credit as they are petty good. The seats are well-padded and comfortable. Check out the legroom. This is unexpected. It is way better than any other standard economy class that I have been to. Including Singapore Airlines!!! New Zealand peeps sure got it lucky. It is a very comfortable way to get around.

The seat had a very nice recline as well. I love that they had air nozzle installed and these will come in handy at times. Sometimes the plane is rather stuffy when on the ground. I am certainly very impressed by the leg space and keep in mind that these are just normal seats. Do note that there is no inflight entertainment and there is no onboard wifi. It is not required for a flight of this duration.

Meal Service

Service started after we level off and around 30 mins after take off. The crew sprang into service given the short flight duration. It was a simple drink and snack service. Kudos to them for offering this even on domestic flights. Times like this make me feel impressed by SQ who can do a full meal service with this flight duration.

The crew came by with a cart and you can choose from water, tea, coffee and soft drinks. There is also an assortment of snacks. I got some nice corn chips. The views kept me accompanied.

Conclusion

It is certainly lovely to try out a new airline and I am certainly impressed by Air New Zealand’s domestic economy seats. I can even say that these are the best economy seats that I have ever tried. It is perfect for a flight of this duration. I enjoyed the flight. It is unbeatable when you get to enjoy your Star Alliance Gold benefits too. It is a comfortable way to get to Auckland and kick-start the second part of my trip. Despite the late arrival we still managed to land right on time in Auckland.