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)
Apr 12, 2017, 8:14 pm
#211
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
There have been a combination of schedule changes that make the AKL-LAX flight FAR LESS desirable. We had MEL-AKL-LAX tickets (one an award). First QF moved the connecting flight slightly later, the AA moved the AKL flight slightly earlier and the minimum connecting time no longer permits the combination.
This is apparently true for all of the east coast (Oz) flights to AKL, so using AA 82 to LAX except for the weekend (and summer schedule only) flight PER-AKLm using the AKL connection to the states is not possible without an overnight.
QF and AA want the joint venture enough to mess with (alternative/better) customer alternatives.
But I am wandering
Fred
This is apparently true for all of the east coast (Oz) flights to AKL, so using AA 82 to LAX except for the weekend (and summer schedule only) flight PER-AKLm using the AKL connection to the states is not possible without an overnight.
QF and AA want the joint venture enough to mess with (alternative/better) customer alternatives.
But I am wandering
Fred
Apr 15, 2017, 11:46 pm
#215
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Gold, CX Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 79
I was booked on an QF Award flight to travel LAX-AKL-SYD early September. It was in J all the way through, LAX-AKL on AA and AKL-SYD on EK.
After speaking to QF, I was told that my only options were to cancel or to change to a date once the service was resumed in October.
This doesn't seem right. I would have expected to have been put onto AA73 (in the first instance) or alternatively (and appreciate this may be a stretch), have the LAX-AKL sector endorsed onto one of the NZ flights.
Can anyone please let me know if this is right?
Cheers
After speaking to QF, I was told that my only options were to cancel or to change to a date once the service was resumed in October.
This doesn't seem right. I would have expected to have been put onto AA73 (in the first instance) or alternatively (and appreciate this may be a stretch), have the LAX-AKL sector endorsed onto one of the NZ flights.
Can anyone please let me know if this is right?
Cheers
Apr 16, 2017, 12:11 am
#216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
I was booked on an QF Award flight to travel LAX-AKL-SYD early September. It was in J all the way through, LAX-AKL on AA and AKL-SYD on EK.
After speaking to QF, I was told that my only options were to cancel or to change to a date once the service was resumed in October.
This doesn't seem right. I would have expected to have been put onto AA73 (in the first instance) or alternatively (and appreciate this may be a stretch), have the LAX-AKL sector endorsed onto one of the NZ flights.
Can anyone please let me know if this is right?
After speaking to QF, I was told that my only options were to cancel or to change to a date once the service was resumed in October.
This doesn't seem right. I would have expected to have been put onto AA73 (in the first instance) or alternatively (and appreciate this may be a stretch), have the LAX-AKL sector endorsed onto one of the NZ flights.
Can anyone please let me know if this is right?
Is AKL a transit or a longer stopover (so 2 QF awards)?
QF have an obligation to get you LAX-SYD. How they do it is not your problem.
Try QF phoning again or email [email protected]. The Australian http://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/ will also be responsive to this.
You have time to sort this out.
QF have LAX-SYD & LAX-MEL flights and you should be accommodated just like any passenger who paid cash.
More a question for the QF forum if about use of QF points.
Apr 16, 2017, 12:15 am
#217
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Gold, CX Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 79
I take it this was with QF points and not AA miles (as on AA & EK). Does not sound right. Was AKL a transit or a longer stopover (so 2 QF awards)?
QF have an obligation to get you LAX-xxx-SYD. How they do it is not your problem.
Try QF phoning again or email [email protected]. The Australian http://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/ will also be responsive to this.
You have time to sort this out.
QF have LAX-SYD & LAX-MEL flights and you should be accommodated just like any passenger who paid cash.
More a question for the QF forum if about use of QF points.
QF have an obligation to get you LAX-xxx-SYD. How they do it is not your problem.
Try QF phoning again or email [email protected]. The Australian http://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/ will also be responsive to this.
You have time to sort this out.
QF have LAX-SYD & LAX-MEL flights and you should be accommodated just like any passenger who paid cash.
More a question for the QF forum if about use of QF points.
AKL is a transit (7 hours) and all one award. Only reason I've put it in here is because they keep quoting the AA advisory, which I imagine is driven by the service suspension.
Apr 16, 2017, 12:18 am
#218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
If QF do not accommodate you, in say the next 30 days, lodge a compliant with the Australian http://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/. Keep records of conversations, but email is better.
Apr 16, 2017, 1:29 am
#219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Wow. Day of the week cancellations during the slow seasons (like we typically see with Tue & Sat to NRT or PEK during February) is one thing, but a two month suspension of service is a much more ominous sign.
August and September feature the smallest number of business travelers from the USA to New Zealand, but there were still 5,700 non-holiday arrivals to New Zealand last August and almost 6,700 non-holiday arrivals last September.
http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/mar...united-states/
AA's message here is "Got business travel to NZ during August or September? Fly Air New Zealand or United for all we care. We'll be back on the route the other 10 months and we know you'll come back to AA the next time you need to fly there. We know why you fly." (well, maybe)
August and September feature the smallest number of business travelers from the USA to New Zealand, but there were still 5,700 non-holiday arrivals to New Zealand last August and almost 6,700 non-holiday arrivals last September.
http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/mar...united-states/
AA's message here is "Got business travel to NZ during August or September? Fly Air New Zealand or United for all we care. We'll be back on the route the other 10 months and we know you'll come back to AA the next time you need to fly there. We know why you fly." (well, maybe)
Last edited by FWAAA; Apr 16, 2017 at 1:45 am
Apr 16, 2017, 1:57 am
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Before UA & AA had these flights to NZ people still got to NZ from USA. These AA & UA flights are new. UA used to fly to AKL but stopped years ago, until recently.
Apr 16, 2017, 3:31 pm
#221
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: LAX/ORD/HNL
Programs: AA EXP, 4.6 MM, LT Pt, HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 443
As has been reported in this and other threads, the aircraft for my LAX/AKL flights (83 & 82) in November has been changed from a 787-8 to a 787-9. Seat 1A transferred over with no problem.
Apr 23, 2017, 4:26 am
#222
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,974
Took the 4/21 LAX to AKL flight in business. Wholely unimpressed by the service and food. Granted it was late (11:40pm take off) in the evening but crew was in set it and forget it mode (eg forget passengers). I knew it was going to be a long flight as soon as the "The flight attendants are here primarily for your safety" line was out right up front.
No headsets or amenity kits at seats. They weren't distributed at all in the mini rear business cabin until I found them all stashed away in my storage bin. Purer blocked all windows at darkest setting for almost the entire flght even after I asked three times to enable passenger control. Another FA told me that this purser likes to keep them in darkest setting for the entire flight - missing out on the wonderful landing scenery.
Food service was slow and the portions small - one single shrimp on the "appetizer" on top of a cracker. Lobster ravioli was pretty good. I preordered and so did my wife but FA didn't know that. They skipped meal service for sleeping passengers without asking. No proactive drink refills during service.
Not sure if dinner was served in economy but they cabin lights were kept dim almost the entire flight from what I could see.
No headsets or amenity kits at seats. They weren't distributed at all in the mini rear business cabin until I found them all stashed away in my storage bin. Purer blocked all windows at darkest setting for almost the entire flght even after I asked three times to enable passenger control. Another FA told me that this purser likes to keep them in darkest setting for the entire flight - missing out on the wonderful landing scenery.
Food service was slow and the portions small - one single shrimp on the "appetizer" on top of a cracker. Lobster ravioli was pretty good. I preordered and so did my wife but FA didn't know that. They skipped meal service for sleeping passengers without asking. No proactive drink refills during service.
Not sure if dinner was served in economy but they cabin lights were kept dim almost the entire flight from what I could see.
Apr 23, 2017, 10:03 am
#223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809