Air New Zealand Premium Economy Review Houston to Auckland

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The Champagne Mile recently took Air New Zealand premium economic system across the Tasman and back again. Keen to try it out? Read on for an in-depth review and find how you could fly this product yourself.

Upgrading to Air New Zealand Premium Economy via OneUp

While I was originally booked to wing economy, Air New Zealand emailed me with an opportunity to bid for a paid upgrade to premium economy.

Air New Zealand manages paid upgrade requests through a system called OneUp which uses a commercial dorsum-end platform called Plusgrade. The Plusgrade platform is used by a large number of airlines and allows you lot to bid for an upgrade on nearly Air New Zealand international flights.

Basically, it works similar this: after booking an Air New Zealand flight you receive an email asking if you'd similar to bid for an upgrade with cash. Y'all so log into the Air New Zealand website and submit a price you're willing to pay, using either Airpoints Dollars or cash.

RELATED: How to wing Air New Zealand trans-Tasman business form for only fifteen,000 miles

I jumped at the opportunity, and with a low bid submitted for both flights (simply 10% over the minimum), I was successful both means, setting me up for an enjoyable journeying.

Air NZ premium economy flying 1: pre-difference

Air New Zealand is currently the simply full-service carrier flying Adelaide to Auckland, so the pricing isn't as abrupt as Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane Eastern seaboard routes into New Zealand.

All the same, for me, the saving grace is the convenience – being only 15 minutes from the airdrome and xv minutes to check-in, pocketbook-drop and security, you'll starting time to appreciate the fact that I left home but 120 minutes before the flight.

Once I was through security, I was able to go up shut and personal with my ride. Having no real status with Air New Zealand left me no options for a comfortable lounge. However, those with Gilt and to a higher place status get admission to the Adelaide Airport domestic Qantas Club.

Within the Air New Zealand premium economy cabin (NZ192)

From the moment I stepped on-board the Air New Zealand aircraft, I started to appreciate the subtle differences of the Air New Zealand offering.

I discover that Air NZ crew are authentic, accept the opportunity to let their personality shine through and y'all get the feeling that they really relish their jobs and desire to be there.

When yous have your seat in Premium Economy it doesn't take long for you lot to spot and feel the departure from economy. The key benefits are actress legroom, comfy leather seats, more stowage space and a carte.

At this point, the Air New Zealand Premium Economy was already higher up Qantas domestic Business Class in my mind.

Air New Zealand premium economy seats

The Air NZ premium economic system motel is configured in a 2-3-2 system.

Each seat is upholstered in dark leather and provides a comfortable 41-inch pitch, with nineteen.3-inch width. The seat features a recline of 22 cms (fifty% more than than economy), but as I found, it's unlikely that yous'll demand to use it on a 4-hour flight with meal service and movies on offer. Leg rests are also included.

Air New Zealand premium economic system inflight experience

With a midday have-off, flying on NZ192 is an attractive way for Adelaideans to travel seamlessly across the Tasman in just four hours, rather than inter-connecting through Melbourne or Sydney and losing a full twenty-four hour period.

The but downside to my experience on this flight was the safety video – four and a half minutes long, and (in my opinion) non particularly funny. It was inevitable after so many great videos that at that place'd be a dud and here it is. See for yourself on Youtube.

Once the seat-chugalug sign was off, the Air NZ coiffure swung into activeness and this is where Josh, the cabin manager and his other team members kicked off an afternoon of friendly service with an efficiency that some airlines simply tin't pull off.

Air New Zealand premium economy tiffin menu

Air New Zealand provides premium economy passengers with a high-cease menu to dine on in-flight. On offer are a number of the dishes that business class passengers on the same flight can enjoy.

Lunch provided the opportunity for premium economy passengers to choose from a range of entrees, main courses and so dessert (with a selection of succulent breadstuff on offering as well).

First up, I enjoyed a poached chicken salad with shiitake mushrooms, honeyed macadamia nuts and sweetcorn with spring onion and ginger. The dish was well presented and pleasant but lacked a flavour punch.

With a pick of lamb, chicken or salmon for master, I opted for the roasted salmon quinoa and chose roast chicken breast with pea and herb risotto for my iv-year-onetime daughter, who was travelling with me.

I thoroughly enjoyed my salmon and and then ate the chicken as my daughter was already full having poached my garlic bread. The craven was rubber and non-adventurous and every airline carte du jour has to have i.

Finally, it was time for dessert. My girl was very impressed with the coconut pannacotta with tropical fruit and coriander – an adventurous yet comforting pick.

Later dejeuner, the coiffure provided discrete yet attentive service and proactively offered the premium economy cabin pocket-size snacks and drinks.

Overall, the service on this Air NZ premium economic system flight was fantabulous, time flew and I was able to arrive fresh and relaxed in Auckland with a happy daughter in tow.

Air NZ premium economy flight two: Auckland Airport experience

As we've previously mentioned here, Auckland Airport is the bee's knees for a premium Air New Zealand pre-divergence service. Later a week spent visiting family unit in Auckland, we were set up to savor this experience.

Air New Zealand has opted for a funky and eye-communicable archway to its private premium bank check-in surface area, with this service available to both Business Premier and premium economy passengers.

With helpful staff to assist, mine and my daughter's bags were checked in inside minutes. Then, it was up in a private lift straight through to fast-tracked priority screening via Immigration NZ. With a child, a streamlined service like this is a delight!

Inside premium economy (NZ191)

For the second flight, my daughter and I were seated in 23A and B on a 777-200, close to the partition in front. For people travelling with kids or for the long-legged, this is a jackpot seat. I was able to pick-up every pencil dropped, fully stretch my legs out and keep the "entertainment" backpack within like shooting fish in a barrel reach. The premium economy motel was besides near capacity.

With this flight departing Auckland at viii.35 am, nosotros were well looked after by an Air NZ premium economy crew, Tony and Lucy. The service commenced with hot towels, followed by the breakfast service.

My daughter delighted in the croissants served, while I opted for the corn and leap onion fritters over the scrambled eggs. With a touch of salt, the fritters were very satisfying and a good size. The sour cream combined to create a nice contrasting flavour.

Halfway through the flying, a selection of forenoon tea snacks was offered, also equally proactive tea and java elevation-ups.

Sandwiches without the crusts were offered to the cabin approximately one 60 minutes before landing. These were gobbled up eagerly by my daughter, who now calls them Air New Zealand 'sammies'.

All as well soon, the captain was announcing our descent, and it was time to say bye to our Air New Zealand premium economy feel.

Which seat should you lot choose in Air New Zealand premium economy?

If you value your space, opt for the front row (23) against the Business Class partitions, but if y'all value openness, opt for rows further back (24). Travelling as a pair, my girl and I appreciated a window seat both means. However, larger families may prefer to be seated in the heart of the cabin.

None of the seats is overly near toilets and fifty-fifty row 23 at the forepart, closest to the galley is non overly decorated. And, let's face up it, overall, seat selection on four-hour daytime trans-Tasman crossings is not that important – particularly when excellent service is involved.

Air New Zealand in-flight entertainment system and WiFi

The overall quality of the inflight entertainment organization is high. It is very impact-responsive. Notwithstanding, the number of recent release movies seemed limited.

My daughter too noticed a gap in the children's entertainment – at 4 years old, there were only 2 or three serial of 30 that appealed. There was no Dora the Explorer, and very limited Australian and New Zealand sourced content. The catalogue mainly consisted of Pixar and animated movies.

Noticeably, the old-school seat control nevertheless exists, but there was never a need to use it with the touch-screen system.

Unfortunately, neither flying had been WiFi enabled. A shame!

The USB connectivity is provided at the base of the entertainment screens.

Air New Zealand: verdict

Overall, I found the Air NZ premium economic system experience to be very pleasant. The Air New Zealand crew provided service of an incredibly loftier standard and the simply niggle I could identify was the prophylactic video and you tin can't fault the crew for that! The food was enjoyable, though erred on the side of cautious. I would love to see some more than audacious produce and character come through in the food.

And for families, Air New Zealand premium economy can be a cost-effective and less stressful choice than flying children in Business Class – especially if you can score a cheap flight via Air NZ Grabaseat, followed by a paid upgrade via OneUp.

The production bridges an important gap between economy and business class, and information technology'due south a great option for shorter international routes during the day – later on all, do you really need a prevarication-flat bed for a iv-hour flight?

There are certainly glitzier ways to cross the Tasman, including on the same aeroplane further forward, or even in Emirates offset class. Just, at the finish of the day, for an enjoyable and fuss-gratuitous feel, I prefer flying Air New Zealand over some of its larger competitors.

What do you think of the Air New Zealand premium economic system experience? Let united states know in the comments!

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Source: https://thechampagnemile.com.au/air-new-zealand-premium-economy-review/