Air New Zealand Air Points - New stuff (snippets)

Nothing earth-shattering, but a few minor things you may like to know.


New menu cycle starting 30 March (yay!)

Smoothies now available LHR-LAX

Salads added to Y class dinner trays, PER-AKL (aligns now with rest of network)

Second bar service should now be offered immediately after trays cleared on all Tasman services

Gate-to-gate IFE is to be introduced 'soon', so IFE will be playing continuously from after safety demo until engine shutdown upon arrival. Headseats won't be collected, instead passengers will be asked to wrap cord around headset and place on seat (not in seat pocket) when disembarking. Safety trials have just been carried out and apparently went ok.

Thanks nz_crew ^

My last trans-tasman they did not do a drinks run at all, only offered as part of meal service, and had run out of what I wanted by the time they got to my seat :(

The gate to gate IFE brings in line with certain other airlines ^ and will be appreciated. Does this mean trans-tasman they might schedule longer movies now, or is the change only for the avod system?

Once again FANTASTIC improvements by NZ, they really do get better and better each year!

The gate to gate IFE brings in line with certain other airlines ^ and will be appreciated. Does this mean trans-tasman they might schedule longer movies now, or is the change only for the avod system?

in a few months ,after the 320 and 767 refit TT will be AVOD

dont you just love though how they took so much off us when they brought in tassie express and pacific express yet they are bring the frills back.

Thanks nz_crew ^

My last trans-tasman they did not do a drinks run at all, only offered as part of meal service, and had run out of what I wanted by the time they got to my seat :(

The gate to gate IFE brings in line with certain other airlines ^ and will be appreciated. Does this mean trans-tasman they might schedule longer movies now, or is the change only for the avod system?

The service flow for all Tasman flights until now has been to do a meal service accompanied by the bar, tea/coffee (twice on breakfast services), collect in, and then a 10 minute break for the crew. If there was 45 minutes or more remaining until top of descent and the flight deck advised weather conditions were ok, we'd then do a second bar. (Unless our drinks stocks were completely depleted, which happened very very rarely).

The new flow is for the bar cart to follow the collecting in cart, so as soon as your tray is cleared the second bar will be right there.


Regarding the 767/A320 - I'm not sure of the answer to your question, given the info I have. It does mention a 'staged' introduction, but I don't see any reason why these aircraft can't be included before the AVOD is installed (and maybe they should be, to get one consistent policy across the fleet).

AVOD fit out starts in June. The 767's are being done first.

Nothing earth-shattering, but a few minor things you may like to know.


New menu cycle starting 30 March (yay!)

Smoothies now available LHR-LAX

Salads added to Y class dinner trays, PER-AKL (aligns now with rest of network)

Second bar service should now be offered immediately after trays cleared on all Tasman services

Gate-to-gate IFE is to be introduced 'soon', so IFE will be playing continuously from after safety demo until engine shutdown upon arrival. Headseats won't be collected, instead passengers will be asked to wrap cord around headset and place on seat (not in seat pocket) when disembarking. Safety trials have just been carried out and apparently went ok.


Many thanks for sharing this with us, please keep it up.

As you said, nothing earth shattering, however it demonstrates that NZ is continually tweaking the passenger experience.^

Nothing earth-shattering, but a few minor things you may like to know.

[LIST]
New menu cycle starting 30 March (yay!)

Double yay - it's about time. The Tasman meal offerings have been rubbish for the past few months.

Sounds good. Hopefully trans-Tasman fares become a little more competitive though. As a TA, I find their pricing can be ridiculous sometimes.

Sounds good. Hopefully trans-Tasman fares become a little more competitive though. As a TA, I find their pricing can be ridiculous sometimes.

Compared with which airline? QF is always the same or more expensive than NZ trans-tasman.

Second bar service should now be offered immediately after trays cleared on all Tasman services

Had this today. Except it was a first bar service as no booze served with the meal. If they're just moving the drink service to after handing out the meals then it isn't really an improvement.

Compared with which airline? QF is always the same or more expensive than NZ trans-tasman.

To be honest I don't really find that. I won't compare NZ to EK (EK superior product, but sheer lack of flights makes it an unfair comparison), AR, LA, etc.
I find when looking at flights for clients that QF generally has better availability in the lower booking classes (I can normally get seats in N). G and K fill up so fast on NZ and then QF pricing becomes so much more attractive when you start being forced to look at S or L class.
That's just my opinion though on what I look at on a day to day basis for my clients. Feel free to disagree. AKL-NAN another prime example. NZ normally slightly more expensive then FJ with the QF prices being cheaper still.

Compared with which airline? QF is always the same or more expensive than NZ trans-tasman.Ex-MEL QF is almost always cheaper than NZ to AKL or WLG.

It's how I ended up going from QF nothing to Silver (only about 200 SC away from Gold now) on nothing but Tasman flights.

Ah so maybe it is an ex-NZ vs ex-Oz thing?

Ah so maybe it is an ex-NZ vs ex-Oz thing?

Possibly, but unless someone demands NZ trans-Tasman I rarely sell it.

Had this today. Except it was a first bar service as no booze served with the meal. If they're just moving the drink service to after handing out the meals then it isn't really an improvement.

I'm confused. The bar cart has always been separate from the meal cart, and follow it down the aisle, occasionally getting a few rows behind if the drinks ordered are complex.

Are you saying that no bar cart followed the meal cart and only went through once, after the trays were collected in? If so, that's appalling and I recommend you follow up with flightcomment. Out of interest, was it an A320 or a widebody?

Possibly, but unless someone demands NZ trans-Tasman I rarely sell it.

The Tasman trips I used to do used to be predominantly 60-70% full. For the last year or so, they've almost always been 90-100% full. I don't know what's causing it, but perhaps NZ doesn't need to cater to the bottom of the market anymore?

The Tasman trips I used to do used to be predominantly 60-70% full. For the last year or so, they've almost always been 90-100% full. I don't know what's causing it, but perhaps NZ doesn't need to cater to the bottom of the market anymore?

To me it wouldn't make good business sense not to cater to, or at least match competitors at the bottom of the market. I wouldn't exactly call New Zealand consumers a premium market either.

I think you'll find they do match - but it doesn't make "good business sense" to match the number of rock-bottom seats available if you can sell them at the higher fare levels!

As I said, the Tasman flights have been crammed full for the last year or so - so they're obviously doing something right.

I think you'll find they do match - but it doesn't make "good business sense" to match the number of rock-bottom seats available if you can sell them at the higher fare levels!

As I said, the Tasman flights have been crammed full for the last year or so - so they're obviously doing something right.

Don't get me wrong, I never said they should sell seats cheaply, I'm just saying that they seem to sell out their availability (when booking in advance) at the lower Y classes faster then QF or NZ's other competitors. If you are looking at solely last minute bookings all the airlines are comparable. If people want to pay for NZ product that's fine with me although I'm not entirely sure why they'd want to. ;) (No offence, just never personally been a fan of NZ).

Lucky most people seem to be then, I guess - otherwise we'd miss you
;)

I'm confused. The bar cart has always been separate from the meal cart, and follow it down the aisle, occasionally getting a few rows behind if the drinks ordered are complex.

Are you saying that no bar cart followed the meal cart and only went through once, after the trays were collected in? If so, that's appalling and I recommend you follow up with flightcomment. Out of interest, was it an A320 or a widebody?

Yes that's what happened. It was on an A320 with a very light load (42 pax). I felt sorry for the poor folk who paid for business class - other than pre-flight water/juice, DVD and better seat they got nothing more than economy (no business meals catered, no extra service by crew, just the once through with drinks) and the curtain was open the whole flight.

Gate to gate IFE is a *major* improvement... not that I know when I will next get to sample NZ's inflight product. Sigh.

Couple more snippets, not really worthy of their own thread but little improvements here and there!

* New amenity kits for Business Premier introduced 11th April (or thereabouts, for outstations). They look rather nice! Premium Economy will continue to use the existing kit until stocks are depleted.

* LAX checkin area has been revamped. Xray machines moved so you no longer have to duck outside to get to the departure area. New counters and signage being installed, the premium checkin will get its own separate door and generally spruced up, and a separate ticketing desk will be introduced to speed up the regular queue somewhat.

* Longhaul crew will start wearing the modified Zambesi uniform from April 28 (London based crew, ground staff and shorthaul from May 28). Since we were due for a new batch of uniform after 2 years in the original, the opportunity was taken to switch the regular crew into the FSM colour, and the FSM into the pilot colour, to make accidental stains less visible. The fabric has also been slightly changed to crease less, and the female's scarf has changed colours.

Good to hear.

We're looking forward to gate-to-gate IFE.

* LAX checkin area has been revamped. Xray machines moved so you no longer have to duck outside to get to the departure area. New counters and signage being installed, the premium checkin will get its own separate door and generally spruced up, and a separate ticketing desk will be introduced to speed up the regular queue somewhat.

The xray machines have already been moved. Will check in open a bit earlier? The other day there was about 150 pax waiting for NZ2 check in to open. Then when it did, there was initially just one agent on the premium desk (which had about 40 pax queueing). Given how many pax are connecting without a BP (due to system incompatibility issues) and how it is drummed in these days to check in at least 3 hours beforehand for international flights (indeed you can't connect legally at LAX in less than this), it is a bit silly to only open check in 2 1/2 hours before departure.

Confirm smoothies now on LHR-LAX. No gate-to-gate IFE yet.

Hi, can you advise if headphone jacks are 2 or 3 pin??

thanks

(flying NZ LHR-LAX 12-15th April) pre-econ:)

Qatar - the headphone jacks have 3 slots (We use 2-prong headsets onboard, but I assume the extra slot is so other headset types will fit in).

ntd and KF - target date for Gate-to-Gate IFE is now confirmed and will be rolling out in stages. First stage is 747 and 777 Trans-Tasman services, target date 16th April. Second stage is the rest of 747/777 flights, and finally the 767 as they come online with the new touch-screen IFE.

BTW, exit rows and bulkheads, with the foldout PTVs, will not be able to use the IFE during taxi, takeoff, or landing due to safety regulations.

Qatar - the headphone jacks have 3 slots (We use 2-prong headsets onboard, but I assume the extra slot is so other headset types will fit in).

ntd and KF - target date for Gate-to-Gate IFE is now confirmed and will be rolling out in stages. First stage is 747 and 777 Trans-Tasman services, target date 16th April. Second stage is the rest of 747/777 flights, and finally the 767 as they come online with the new touch-screen IFE.

BTW, exit rows and bulkheads, with the foldout PTVs, will not be able to use the IFE during taxi, takeoff, or landing due to safety regulations.

Do you know if you are still able to use your 1 pin own head phones on the 747 and 777 like you can on the 320/737/767. thanks

Do you know if you are still able to use your 1 pin own head phones on the 747 and 777 like you can on the 320/737/767. thanks
If NZ are like the other airlines. The answer is no.
You can get an adapter, 1 to 2 prongs, for $10 from any Dick Smith store, or online in NZ.

Qatar - the headphone jacks have 3 slots (We use 2-prong headsets onboard, but I assume the extra slot is so other headset types will fit in).

ntd and KF - target date for Gate-to-Gate IFE is now confirmed and will be rolling out in stages. First stage is 747 and 777 Trans-Tasman services, target date 16th April. Second stage is the rest of 747/777 flights, and finally the 767 as they come online with the new touch-screen IFE.

BTW, exit rows and bulkheads, with the foldout PTVs, will not be able to use the IFE during taxi, takeoff, or landing due to safety regulations.

what about BP ? since the monitor swings out on an arm I would guess that would also prevent them from being usable due to safety issues (or does the airbag in the seat-belt mean that this is not an issue ) it would be quite ironic if BP pax missed out on Gate-to-Gate IFE while the great unwashed down the back got to enjoy it

The BP monitor is clearly viewable and operable when the monitor is in the 'stowed' position, so that won't be an issue.

However, none of the BP seats are in the path of designated escape routes like the exit row and bulkheads in Y, so it's possible they'll be able to swing the monitor out - I know NZ had to get an exemption from the CAA for having the bulkhead and exit row PTVs fitted, so I'm not sure if BP have the same restrictions.

* New amenity kits for Business Premier introduced 11th April (or thereabouts, for outstations). They look rather nice! Premium Economy will continue to use the existing kit until stocks are depleted.

Just got one on NZ1 LHR-LAX. A much nicer container than the last one. Contents mostly the same although the colors of the eyeshades and socks are now tan. Socks also have rubber-grip soles now. Otherwise same stuff.

Just got one on NZ1 LHR-LAX. A much nicer container than the last one. Contents mostly the same although the colors of the eyeshades and socks are now tan. Socks also have rubber-grip soles now. Otherwise same stuff.

Dang missed by just a few days. Oh well, won't be long until my next NZ longhaul flight.

The socks have had the grippy soles for a long time. I don't understand what you mean by a change.

Will we see Gate to Gate IFE eventually on the A320?

The socks have had the grippy soles for a long time. I don't understand what you mean by a change.

Could be I never noticed - I never wear them. My bad :eek:

Also, forgot to add above, there is a pen in the new kit as well. Handy ^

Is this the new amenity kit ?

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/a4f0F3-LeLljIfpa2rSVr0s8HBS3OSLB1Mmsv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg

This one is very nice ^

That does look good.

That's the one I got. The picture doesn't really show the shape of the bag, it's kind of odd.. oval at the bottom with a drawstring top.