YVR - SYD
 

I live in Seattle and this is my preferred route to SYD. Can anybody tell me what the J experience is like, both ways?

Cheers

A search will reveal all sorts of answers.

My take on it when compared to routing through AKL on NZ.

Nasty departure time from YVR.
Cannot recline pod seat during plane on ground, taxiing, TO, landing, taxiing and on ground.
IFE not operational at all times as mentioned above.
Lousy food and beverage.
Shorter seat/bed.
Ottoman does not double as a seat for a person to dine, play cards, converse with.
Seatbelt announcements everytime seatbelts required.

Tell us how your really feel!!

And here I thought this thread was going to be about a tall Kiwi with unruly children in the J cabin on a recent YVR-SYD flight!!;)

Comment / Question about YVR-SYD
 

Thinking you're a fan??

It's a shame the flights are not 90 minutes earlier both ways. This would also be better for the YYZ-YVR portion - allowing an after work 630p flight west and a first thing morning flight east. Seems like a no-brainer but I guess there is timing issues with the HKG slotswhich would be affected?

Question: Are there any restrictions to the 777LR Westbound? Really like seeing amazing aircraft performing amazing sectors and this definitely applies here.

YVR-SYD in J is actually quite nice.

In regards to the trip (I do it 3x / year), on the way down there is an abbreviated dinner service and an optional snack at mid-flight.

In comparing the pods to ANZ's pods, the consensious is ACs are more padded but ANZ allows the foot rest to be used as a seat.

I had one "cold" FA on one flight down, aside from that I have found them to be friendly and helpful. The take off time is crappy, but you get into SYD first thing in the morning. Makes it easy for connecting flights (expect during summertime) and you don't lose the day.

Any other issues you would have to take up with Transport Canada ;)

I'm a fan of Qantas service to SYD having flown QF six times in the past year. In September and December my organization's travel department booked me on Air Canada on trips to HKG and SYD. I must say that I was very impressed. The AC seats are lie-flat in a herringbone pattern, which gives all J class passengers direct access an aisle -- you won't have to climb over a fellow passenger like I had to do in UA's new J product from SYD to SFO when I was stuck in a window seat. The seats are also a true-flat product. I found the departure time from YVR convenient. The food was quite good with the exception of the bread rolls (it's an AC mystery to me why their bread products are so poor). A good selection of snacks is available at all times in the J class galley. I have found the AC flight attendants based in YVR far superior in temperament to YUL-based crew. The on-demand entertainment system is very good but not as good as QF or SQ. There are always some good French-language (but subtitled) Quebec films that can be an enjoyable surprise for non-francophones willing to experiment. All in all, I think that AC to SYD is a superior service across the Pacific on 777 equipment.

The words "Air New Zealand" are completely lacking on the paint job of the aircraft.
The planes have no dark blue on the outside.
Total lack of lilting NZ accented FAs.
No chance of visiting the excellent Koru Club in AKL on this routing.
You have to stay on the plane all the way to SYD instead of getting a chance to get off the plane partway through to stretch your legs.
You are forced to arrive in SYD at 10:00am instead of the much more civilized 12:45pm.

Probably best to just stay home. :rolleyes:;):D

This is what I hate most about long haul flights.

I like the departure time -- it makes for a good sleep and a well rested arrival in SYD. I either eat in the airport or lounge before departure, or have the "express" meal right after depature. It's a lighter and much faster cold entree. But since it's supposed to be cold, it's not really "leftovers" like the hot stuff that is cooked, chilled, and then reheated. I'll usually get in a single movie during dinner, relax a bit, wait for things to settle down in the J cabin, and then go to sleep. Get in 8-10 hours of reasonably good sleep, wake up and have breakfast, watch another movie to amuse myself, then arrive ready for the day.

I don't really care too much about this, other than the IFE is often out of service to one degree or another (potentially along with the lighting and seat controls.) And for a frequent flyer and cinema goer, sometimes the IFE offerings seem a bit thin. I usually go equipped with 10 or 12 movies of my own.

Hit and miss. I early December I did an MR and have very good service on the way down. The next day I came back with the very surprised same crew, and got exceptional service. Food (and service) both ways was quite good.

A few days later I went back to SYD, and becasue I'm feeling generous today I'll just say the crew was mediocre. But it least it was better than the food.

Definitely, but I've made my peace with the AC pod.

Definately a shortcoming if you're travelling with someone.

Go guerilla, and use industrial grade ear plugs. I recommend 3Com 1100s (which are sometimes supplied in the AC overnight kit.)

All things being equal, I'd prefer NZ for the bigger better pod and IFE, but upgrading on AC is easier (if you're clever about it.)

Oh the horror :rolleyes:

Having completed another trip today in NZ's BP, I realised a forgot a couple more items.

NZ's inflight concierge available to all pax irregardless of flight class or status.
No advertisements in the IFE, including when it is available in all phases of being on the plane, and while your BP seat can be reclined in all phases.

Just hope your luggage and you, arrive on NZ because if you ever need anything from them GIVE up, NZ was put on earth to make AC customer Solutions look good. You have just started to understand cancelled, or delayed flights flights, NZ will really get you to understand stupidity!
On the plus side NZ lounge is amazing and its crews are a lot nicer and more helpful than AC.
It goes without saying the food is better on NZ.

I'm sorry, but "irregardless" ? :confused:

I will agree with the ads on the IFE...*really* annoying, especially in J on a long haul. The latter is (unfortunately) a TC issue.