Just returned from our journey down under and thought I would add some comments. Overall the flights were excellent, we routed ORD-AKL stop AKL-SYD stop, SYD-AKL-ORD all on NZ. As noted by others the seats are a little dated in design, but they do make for very comfortable beds and for me that is the most important criteria for such a long haul flight. The eye shades are collector items, definite keepers. I was disappointed that neither slippers nor PJ's were provided. Food and service on all segments was good.
On our outbound we added on a AKL-CHC flight as a separate ticket long after buying the mistake fare. Transiting to domestic in AKL was no problem. We did not even try to tag our bags all the way to CHC knowing that we had to collect in AKL anyway, so on exiting customs we followed signs to NZ domestic transfer and re-checked our bags at the dedicated desks in the international terminal, then caught the bus over to domestic terminal. It was of course morning rush hour for domestic flights so took some time to get through security and then we went to the NZ domestic lounge which we got access to by producing our incoming business class boarding pass. Domestic NZ lounge was very busy when we arrived but it thinned out as morning rush flights departed.
Food and drink selection in the NZ domestic lounge was far superior to that in the SAS lounge in ORD T5. Frankly the ORD SAS lounge is far from acceptable international premium class standard. But I don't think the alternatives (Priority Pass) would have been much better. The showers in NZ domestic lounge are just acceptable. They are kind of small and do not have their own toilet... just showers.
Continuing on to SYD we were on a mid-day 777 flight. The AKL airport experience was excellent overall. NZ premium checkin is a separate room from all other checkin desks and, at least when we were there, an oasis of tranquility. It felt like a really personalized service and once checked-in there is a private elevator up to the passport/security check. Top marks to NZ for this. The NZ international lounge at AKL was superior to their domestic lounge in every way. While similar in design it was far less busy and more spacious. I checked out the showers and they were much larger and better than the domestic lounge (with their own toilets). I did not use the shower on this leg, but I did on the return SYD-AKL-ORD segment.
On the return leg SYD check-in was nothing special, just usual premium designated desks. We had a NZ rugby league team ahead of us in the check-in line which slowed things a bit. In fact there were three NZ sports teams on the SYD-AKL flight as announced and congratulated by the crew just prior to departure. Connecting at AKL was really smooth and with NZ just announcing New York (EWR) non-stops to AKL starting next year this is going to become a pretty attractive routing for New York travelers to any Australian city. Connecting in AKL is going to be a far better experience than connecting in SYD (terminal change) or LAX/SFO/DFW/wherever. I predict NZ will have a winner with this new route.
We arrived at ORD early, but had to wait for 45 minutes to pull into our gate as previous aircraft was late to depart. That made for a tighter connection to our AA flight to LGA... it ate up almost all of the buffer that I had allowed for. But ORD baggage handlers did their job and our premium tagged bags arrived quickly, the AA re-check desk in T5 had no line, the inter-terminal bus (while airtrain is being refurbished) was quick, and the T3 TSA pre-check security had no line.
Finally... a shout out to Tile bluetooth finders. There is something very reassuring to have the app tell you that your bags are nearby even before they appear on the baggage claim belt.
DAK