I will try my best. With practice, hopefully I can deliver you more AND better!

Long haul on short haul
 

Dear Readers,

I am pleased to say that for the moment, my return trip SYD-AKL will use internationally-configured Airbus. Outbound is TAM, inbound is Qantas with their Skybed configuration. I know, not as exciting as true long haul, but let me know if you have any questions. Due date for this post is March 20th!

That is a whole 18 days away!!!!! :eek:

You big tease... ;)

TAM dont fly to Aus.. do you mean LAN?

Great start to what is undoubtedly an amazing adventure. The RTW tickets are indeed an awesome value. Keep 'em coming.

Not sure if you could rejig your ticket in a sensible way, but if you wanted to try a good F service to AKL, you might see if you can do EK in one of their suites one-way. In the past this seemed about the cheapest sector to try their suite and service.

Absolutely, LAN!

It's seems a great value at 1500 US. I really may do it if only to take a shower at 35,000 feet. Let me think about it.

Later note: research suggests it's not worth the value. Breakfast outbound and dinner on a tray inbound. Given I will have proper intl J seats on LAN and QF, I'm not sure it's worth the price.

and they offer complimentary limo connections at either end with that F fare!!!

Super Report Really nice to read and love the photos, makes you want to eat and fly. Can't wait for the next segment :)

Thank you!!!

Won't be long -- LAN to AKL is coming up faster than expected!

How I Financed My Trip
 

How I Financed My Trip

I promise to send in my Trans-Tasman journey report in the next several days. There was a clear winner between LAN and Qantas, with one of them providing quite possibly the best experience I've had on a 3-hour flight.

Meanwhile, a quick photo-journal on how I financed a percentage of this trip. These were taken by a friend who is house-sitting, and a saint indeed. I promise you this is all real.

1: The Drawer

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WObzJ-e28cs/T1...5209_17_57.jpg

2: The Bag

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OEpskTK-tpk/T1...5209_17_58.jpg

3: The Rolls

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BAtgOZ7qR3k/T1...5209_17_58.jpg

4: Six Years of Spare Change

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3LIP5Y_ojC4/T1...5209_17_58.jpg

I am not sure that finances the taxes on a OW RTW ticket. Was that $411 then invested in lottery tickets?

Not yet -- hoping to make a big win in a casino somewhere along the way:)

Trans-Tasman Trip Report
 

Trans-Tasman Trip Report

As promised, here is the summary of the round-trip across the Tasman, using the LAN late morning flight outbound, and the QF mid-day flight inbound. I will keep this brief given that these are not long-haul flights -- I'll point out the highlights and some photos.

SYD->AKL

I took the first leg of LAN's service to Santiago, which does a stopover in Auckland. I was curious to get a chance to sample LAN's service on such an unusual route!

As you'll see from the pictures below, the cabin for J is really stunning. They have used a really nice color scheme, and the TVs are just enormous and yet fit right in. Do note that the A340 is 2-2-2 with 180-degree proper lie-flat seat. I couldn't find any fault in the seat, other than that I'd certainly prefer the newer herringbone configurations for a long voyage. For couples, this is perfect however.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I1XHq3BvoC8/T1...3_13_19_53.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LmGcPYx9tpc/T1...3_13_19_55.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HwF4znKF2cU/T1...3_13_19_56.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rrNJ7YyuRc0/T1...0_%2525200.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ijKZML9io_A/T1...3_13_20_38.jpg


http://lh4.ggpht.com/-57Az2TADxjM/T1...3_13_20_39.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SudFOqTufX4/T1...3_13_20_40.jpg


http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IP61KtN53O8/T1...3_13_20_41.jpg

However, I found significant fault with the service. The crew essentially treated J like an economy cabin throughout the short journey. To start, the small lunch tray was pretty sad on its own. I only had the sandwich, which could have been sold at any airport food store:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Lnn5ig-Duwc/T1...3_13_20_42.jpg

What made it less enjoyable was the way the FAs handled drink orders on this (50% empty) cabin. When I asked what kind of wines she had, the FA didn't turn her body to face me, but rather stayed steadily marching toward the galley while rattling off varietals. I really pushed it when I said "Do you have champagne?" She said "Well, champagne is NOT wine." I asked whether I might have some champagne, despite the way she viewed the categories. She did so, and it was served in the same type of glass as my water. Further, the water was never refilled -- it was taken away once, I asked for some more, and got a new glass, and then it was also taken away. Total liquid consumed was maybe 150 ml.

The other issue I had was with the AVOD. I chose a movie of 1:38 minutes in order to ensure I could finish it inside a 2:35 minute flight (time in air). Impossible for two reasons.... First, they take at least 3 minutes during the flight to brief you on duty free. Second, they turn off the AVODs 45 minutes out of Auckland. I only got through 1:32 of my movie.

At the end of the flight, all 7 FAs battled about by the exit door, fighting over something that I couldn't figure out. Thankfully I got out of there fast, and managed to catch a picture of Emirates' A380 on the way to customs:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KftoOsbTLNk/T1...3_13_20_43.jpg


AKL->SYD

Generally Qantas flies 737s on the Trans-tasman. I believe that 5-6 times per week, an internationally configured A330 does the segment, and it leaves at lunch time from AKL. I took this flight, despite the possible splendor of an EK flight in First (for an additional $1,000). Note that the one-way ticket for Emirates in First on this route was $200 less than the price of Qantas in Business when you book right before-hand.

The A330 is a lovely cabin for a short flight, and even for one of 5-6 hours. I'm not sure I'd like the inclined bed for a 12 hour flight, but it's great if you're really just going to eat and watch movies, which is what I did.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TKjilAn_GBg/T1...3_13_20_44.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CtqZ4Gfg3V4/T1...3_13_20_45.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vs4q2pZxkoI/T1...3_13_20_45.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JUvrN7qTpCk/T1...3_13_20_47.jpg

The meal, which I would describe as a "heavy lunch" was prefaced by a menu, which has sadly escaped me! I'm sorry about that. However, it was a really good lunch served in 3 courses -- a chicken salad, a steak with potatoes and truffle sauce, and a delicious cheese plate.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QgWJztHRNlI/T1...3_13_20_48.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6NZYItLKxWQ/T1...3_13_20_49.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z43bnwZs6tg/T1...3_13_20_50.jpg

Throughout, the cabin crew were always present with additional water as well as top-ups of the 5 wines on offer (a sparkling wine, a Sauv Blanc, a Chard, a Pinot Noir, and a Shiraz). I did the sparkling wine just to taste, the Sauv Blanc with the starter, and Shiraz with the beef -- all very good. With the cheeses, I let the purser choose -- he suggested a cognac, which went really well.

I also saw an entire movie (My Weekend with Marilyn), and 1/2 of a second movie that I've already seen and loved. This is because, on this plane, they leave the AVOD on from gate-to-gate.

Overall Summary:

This route has a pretty odd competitive set. It seems that Qantas is competing fairly well with Air NZ on the route with regard to food (based on my experience with Air NZ a few years ago), while Air NZ has a more consistent chair product (the 767 fleet). I would suggest that LAN is not worth it on this route.

This is a cracker of a report. Well done indeed. I really like the QF post (and I'm anti-QF). The LAX experience was also terrifically well written. The overall report gets better and better as the trip unfolds.

My only issue is when you washed your hands in the galley with that amazing champagne. I had a little weep when I read that....;) and I would have found a way to consume it.

Keep going...