Dec 24, 2015, 2:08 pm
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
American Begins LAX - AKL / Auckland, New Zealand 788 Flights 23 June 2016
No flights 5 August 2017 and 5 October 2017 Refer to post 230 link.
American’s Los Angeles to Auckland flight will be suspended from August to October, and will then be upgraded from a 787-8 to a 787-9
Departs LAX at 10:45 p.m.
Arrives at AKL at 6:35 a.m., two days later
AKL-LAX
Departs AKL at 1:20 p.m.
Arrives at LAX at 6:20 a.m., same day
Enhanced service includes mattress pads, pajamas and new meals items in Business Class.
If tonight's sampling at the launch event was an accurate preview, then here's the menu they provided for LAX-AKL:
Canape:
Salmon Caviar Tartlet
Main Plates:
Grilled Beef Filet, balsamic butter, twice baked potato, baby squash
Eggplant Lasagne, pomodoro sauce
Pesto Grilled Shrimp
Dessert:
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (Cherry Garcia, Chocolate Brownie, Strawberry Cheesecake)
Mid-Flight Snack:
Angus Beef Slider
White Wine:
Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury, NZ
Red Wine:
Opawa Pinot Noir, Marlborough, NZ
Canape:
Salmon Caviar Tartlet
Main Plates:
Grilled Beef Filet, balsamic butter, twice baked potato, baby squash
Eggplant Lasagne, pomodoro sauce
Pesto Grilled Shrimp
Dessert:
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (Cherry Garcia, Chocolate Brownie, Strawberry Cheesecake)
Mid-Flight Snack:
Angus Beef Slider
White Wine:
Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury, NZ
Red Wine:
Opawa Pinot Noir, Marlborough, NZ
Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines will add new nonstop service between its trans-Pacific gateway hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Auckland Airport (AKL) in June 2016, pending regulatory approvals. The route to Auckland provides American's customers direct access to a new destination and further strengthens the airline's joint business with Qantas Airways. American has added six new trans-Pacific routes over the last three years, nearly doubling its presence in the region...
...American plans to operate its new daily service between LAX and AKL with the newest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner features a state-of-the-art onboard travel experience including international Wi-Fi, as well as higher humidity and pressurization closer to sea level conditions, leaving customers more refreshed after their flight. Every seat has a touchscreen monitor equipped with up to 260 movies, 240 TV shows, 13 radio channels, 350 albums and 20 games, along with universal AC power outlets and a USB connection. The aircraft is configured with 28 fully lie-flat Business Class seats, each with direct-aisle access. There are an additional 55 Main Cabin Extra seats with extra legroom, and 143 Main Cabin seats. Link
...American plans to operate its new daily service between LAX and AKL with the newest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner features a state-of-the-art onboard travel experience including international Wi-Fi, as well as higher humidity and pressurization closer to sea level conditions, leaving customers more refreshed after their flight. Every seat has a touchscreen monitor equipped with up to 260 movies, 240 TV shows, 13 radio channels, 350 albums and 20 games, along with universal AC power outlets and a USB connection. The aircraft is configured with 28 fully lie-flat Business Class seats, each with direct-aisle access. There are an additional 55 Main Cabin Extra seats with extra legroom, and 143 Main Cabin seats. Link
Link to Australian Business Traveller article.
AA: service to Auckland, N. Z. / LAX-AKL as of 23 Jun 2016 (master thd)
Nov 10, 2015, 1:45 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 15
I know this is not what you asked, but thought I'd post anyway - if you're just looking for a ski holiday in 2016 I'd head to Europe instead or Japan or Whistler ahead of NZ. Definitely cheaper if you're looking to fly J. My experience in Queenstown was not stellar, although the weather/conditions weren't very good and that was 10 years ago, so maybe it's changed. At least when I was there, it was a shuttle to all the resorts with no on-mountain accomodation - ski areas weren't that big compared to Europe and North America and neither was the infrastructure. Queenstown is a great city though and lots to do outside of skiing, it's just a long way to go for mediocre skiing IMO.
Nov 10, 2015, 8:04 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
SYD-AKL has tags flown by LAN, EK, and China Airlines in addition to VA, NZ, QF, and JQ, though.
Nov 10, 2015, 9:38 am
#33
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Australia
Programs: QF Gold, NZ *G, TK Elite *G
Posts: 186
You know, an AA tag AKL-SYD, MEL, or BNE isn't completely crazy. Unlike UA's defunct SYD-MEL tag, they could sell seats to local traffic in cooperation with QF (since it's international). NZ's LAX-AKL flights arrive at 0555, 0700, and 0745 (on a random day later this month), and the AKL-LAX departures are at 1600, 1930, and 2255, all of them arriving in LAX in time for plenty of connections. The timing really doesn't look like it works out for a minimal turn-the-plane-around sit on the ground, unlike possible at SYD. So there's definitely time for a tag while the 787 (I assume) otherwise sits on the ground. But I wouldn't expect it.
SYD-AKL has tags flown by LAN, EK, and China Airlines in addition to VA, NZ, QF, and JQ, though.
SYD-AKL has tags flown by LAN, EK, and China Airlines in addition to VA, NZ, QF, and JQ, though.
Maybe something like this in Northern Summer?
LAX 2200 AKL 0600
AKL 1430 LAX 0745
Any guesses as to the frequency?
Cant ski in Europe, Japan, Whistler etc in August though. And as you have alluded to, Queenstown has drastically changed in the last 10 years
Last edited by pepsi1336; Nov 10, 2015 at 10:21 am
Nov 10, 2015, 10:00 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
A tag-on would seem unlikely. Most likely timings i would assume a late evening LAX departure, early morning AKL arrival, then early to mid afternoon AKL departure, morning LAX arrival. Departure time from AKL will depend on whether they want to connect SYD/MEL/BNE to it. Any earlier than approx 2:30pm and it will miss all of the Aus connections.
Maybe something like this in NS?
LAX 2200 AKL 0600
AKL 1430 LAX 0745
Maybe something like this in NS?
LAX 2200 AKL 0600
AKL 1430 LAX 0745
LAX 2145 AKL 0745
AKL 1600 LAX 0715
I assume that AA won't make LAX-AKL 2 hours shorter than NZ and AKL-LAX 2 hours longer.
Of course, timings adjust in northern summer.As I say, even these times would allow 8 hours for a tag leg, and particularly the AKL-LAX flight could be later (say 1900-1015). The outbound could be pushed 2-3 hours later and the return 1 hour earlier, but that still leaves 5 hours on the ground. Certainly not long enough that it demands a tag leg if feasible, but on the long side.
But I agree it's unlikely.
Nov 10, 2015, 4:08 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Milwaukee
Programs: AA Pl, KL Platinum for Life
Posts: 384
Have you looked at an AA Vacation Package? You can do one in business class for $6800 next August and it includes a hotel for a week. Their European vacation packages in business and first class are an amazing deal too ! Round Trip to Vienna in Business class and 5 nights at the Ritz Carlton for $4,000.....
Nov 10, 2015, 4:13 pm
#39
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
The airline (AA) plans to use a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the route which has 28 lie-flat business class seats, 55 main cabin extra seats and 143 main cabin seats.
Starting in June, the flight will leave Los Angeles at 10:45 p.m. and arrive in Auckland at 6:35 a.m., two days later. The return flights departs Auckland at 1:20 p.m. and arrives at LAX at 6:30 a.m.
Starting in June, the flight will leave Los Angeles at 10:45 p.m. and arrive in Auckland at 6:35 a.m., two days later. The return flights departs Auckland at 1:20 p.m. and arrives at LAX at 6:30 a.m.
Nov 10, 2015, 4:13 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: NZ Gold Elite, AS, AC, QF
Posts: 748
Here you go: daily LAX AKL from June 2016. Still need approval.
Nov 10, 2015, 4:16 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,516
In addition to above, here's the press release:
http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/american-air...s-and-auckland
ETA: Strangely, no flight numbers assigned in the press release
http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/american-air...s-and-auckland
ETA: Strangely, no flight numbers assigned in the press release
Nov 10, 2015, 4:18 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Have you looked at an AA Vacation Package? You can do one in business class for $6800 next August and it includes a hotel for a week. Their European vacation packages in business and first class are an amazing deal too ! Round Trip to Vienna in Business class and 5 nights at the Ritz Carlton for $4,000.....
Nov 10, 2015, 4:43 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,324
Here you go: daily LAX AKL from June 2016. Still need approval.