I gave up using my AA miles on Qantas to New Zealand and have actually found a travel agent that got some great fares for me direct to New Zealand-cheaper than online myself. My question to the Fodors crowd is: would you pay an extra $400USD to fly Air New Zealand nonstop to Auckland or go cheaper for Air Pacific with a stopover and plane change(and more hours on the ground) in Fiji before going on to Auckland. I would always chose the nonstop but wondering if ANZ is comfortable and alright for the long flight-its a 777-300 there and a 777-200 back.
Any tips on either of them would be greatly appreciated as I need to make a decision ASAP.
Air Pacific versus Air New Zealand?
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Skytrax collects passenger reviews. Here are the threads relevant to your question:
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/air_nz.htm
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/pacific.htm
As you can see, some responses are fair-minded while some exhibit unreasonable expectations, quibbles or an appetite to complain. The same can be said for most volunteer review sites on the Internet.
I've travelled biz recently on Air Pacific and Air NZ. In general, I would consider Air NZ a touch more upmarket (if that's the right word) than Air Pacific. If I was choosing a flight due to lowest price, I would happily fly with Air Pacific. Their seat recline might be less than Air NZ and some of the planes I have seen are a touch "old" in regards to decor but for less money I would say it is worth it.
Living in Australia, it always takes so long to get everywhere. I would rather a stopover midway, and a longer total travel time than a 12 hour non stop flight.
I flew Air Pacific (in economy) LAX to SYD via Fiji. Service was decent. Learned that the upper deck on the 747's is the quiet zone. No kids upstairs so the flight was more comfortable.
Unfortunately Air Pacific is using 767-400's to New Zealand!
I wonder why one of those airlines is referred to as "Air Pathetic".
AKL-NAN is showing 737s. Air Pacific doesn't have any 767s, and definitely won't be a 764.
I received miles with AA when I flew Air Pacific. Air New Zealand is a Star Alliance and it is hard to get miles with Air New Zealand (United) unless you are in Business.
There are a lot of duty free stores at the airport in Nadi.
Put your bathing suit in your carry-on bag. My flight in Nadi was delayed six hours and they moved everyone to a hotel for breakfast. I had to swim in my black underware.
Per their website, they are still flying 747s LAX to NAN.