QANTAS OR AIR NZ

14 replies

cjb8282

Member since 24 Oct 2017

Total posts 1

planning trip from USA to Australia/NZ. Premium Economy, for tall husband. Trying to decide between Qantas from LAX on A380, or Air NZ from Houston on 787-9 ? And which row is preferred, as it looks like Air NZ PE seats are all on the wing?


GregXL

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 26 May 2014

Total posts 320

I am tall and have flown in several PE cabins, including Qantas, all with 38 inch seat pitch. Unless I get the front row it it still tight, particularly if the seat in front is reclined. VA and Air NZ have 41 inch pitch, so perhaps more comfortable, but I haven’t tried them.

MRYJDrake

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

Member since 31 Oct 2016

Total posts 206

planning trip from USA to Australia/NZ. Premium Economy, for tall husband. Trying to decide between Qantas from LAX on A380, or Air NZ from Houston on 787-9 ? And which row is preferred, as it looks like Air NZ PE seats are all on the wing?


Air NZ, no question. Stronger service, and you get to skip LAX :)

mcglynp

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 20 Jan 2016

Total posts 48

I have tended to favour Air NZ over QF. The QF A380 PE seats are getting a little long in the tooth, and at 39'' somewhat last gen. The Air NZ PE seats are new and at 41'' are certainly roomier'. Its also cheaper to select exits on Air NZ and you can frequently score very reasonable bid upgrades to business from PE. I would also say to have a look at Virgin Aus who also have 41'' pitch new PE seats and a great product.

silvyvc

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 19 Jun 2017

Total posts 62

Haven't flown AIR NZ, but you would suggest that a product that it's nearly 10 years old, would be in disadvantage with a newer aircraft... now let's wait for QF to refit A380s with the 787 seats in the next few years and that may change...

Amanda Van

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 24 Oct 2017

Total posts 1

Hi. I am a Qantas Club member. I am flying domestic with 4 children (17,17,14,11) in a few days - can we all go into the qantas lounge?

Andrew Barkery

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 21 Mar 2011

Total posts 433

If you are flexible, you can have a look at Seatguru and see that about AirNZ row 24 you can still see the ground and the outside.

I had rows 24 and 25 Au to NZ and the ground views were great.
Now, business is a whole different "kettle of fish" as its herring bone, so can see outside unless you practically strain your neck, but I won't dwell on that as you are planning premY.
PremY on Air NZ allows you to have 2 across, so if hubby loves outside views, he can have window, you can have row B.
I have not flown QF on their 380, so can't say.
Have flown in J on EK's 380 with the bar on board, that one is beautiful. I think the 380 for outside views is harder, as its quite a distance between outside glass and inside perplex on the windows, also the angle of sitting needs a strain to see out of the smaller (non 787) windows.
From Nov, AirNZ and Virgin Australia are losing their close ties, but as you don't plan to be living here, maybe a FF plan with AirNZ own system might be good, or join QF's system, which has a tie in with AA.
Personally, I love the 787 in premY.
In whY, I am totally scared of it even short distance Au - NZ.
If hubby loves the views, row 24 on the 787 would be good, AirNZ website lets you get quite far deep into booking to see where rows or seats are empty.

Andrew Barkery

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 21 Mar 2011

Total posts 433

For AmandaVan

I am not sure if you can bring in 4 kids, I have seen people bring in 2.

And yes, I am a QP member, but wont be flying till Jan.

Guess it would depend on the Lounge dragons/god/goddess, as to if they will allow 4 kids with 1 QP member.

We tend to open new threads than piggy back.

Edit: I think the 2 17 year olds might ping you, or deter you from bringing them in.

Maybe leave the 2 17s outside and bring in the younger 2 for the experience.


Last editedby Andrew Barkery at Oct 25, 2017, 08:55 PM.

BatteryBen

Member since 08 Aug 2017

Total posts 46

I’d recommend Qantas from Dallas. It’s a long sector but:

- avoids LAX

- easy transit from which ever is your originating point ... AA have inbound to DFW from nearly everywhere on a single sector ... and there’s a great pizza restaurant upstairs at terminal D for dinner before QF8 departs

- gets you straight to SYD with no need for another sector from AKL to get to Australia

- the QF A380 PE is comfortable and good service ...(if you’re hungry during the flight between meal service, go to the galley and ask for a toasted sandwich (and a whiskey!) and they’ll happily oblige (if they have the beef and kim chi one it’s the best economy airline food I know :-).

- to my ears the A380 is quieter than the 787 so I feel (only marginally mind you) less wrecked when I get to Sydney.


And welcome to Sydney!

Last editedby BatteryBen at Oct 26, 2017, 06:36 AM.

Jazzop

Member since 02 Dec 2016

Total posts 113

Why does everyone hate LAX still? I've transited through TBT eight times this year and it is great, and the tunnels connecting to the other terminals is handy too.

Anyway, I'd go Virgin Australia any day over Qantas at the moment. Qantas' PE is ok, but not great and the screens fold out from the arm rests and are small and low def. Plus I find the seats make you numb over time (I actually find the Qantas economy seat more comfortable).

Virgin Australia's is a lot better, although the options on IFE are smaller than Qantas'. Plus if you're traveling through the US, Delta is a lot better than American (Qantas) and United (Air NZ). Lounge access in LAX is terrible though, but that may not matter and there are plenty of good options in TBT (tip: head upstairs to the bar).

But down to Qantas or Air NZ, I'd go by who is the cheapest (if you're paying) and Qantas if you're not. And the only reason I'd say Qantas is the because of the transit in AKL with Air NZ. If your originating flight is delayed then you may miss your connection.

Jazzop

Member since 02 Dec 2016

Total posts 113

Hi. I am a Qantas Club member. I am flying domestic with 4 children (17,17,14,11) in a few days - can we all go into the qantas lounge?

No.

BatteryBen

Member since 08 Aug 2017

Total posts 46

Why does everyone hate LAX still? I've transited through TBT eight times this year and it is great, and the tunnels connecting to the other terminals is handy too.


Hey Jazzop, I agree to the extent of TBIT. In fact TBIT is great and the QF First lounge is great (and recently they even let me shower there on arrival before going to T4 and my AA connection... although I’m not sure that’s policy so maybe one shouldn’t assume one can get away with that). And compared to the dire QF “rental lounge” at DFW, TBIT QF1st wins hands down. But the remainder of LAX is an effing nightmare. I had a two hour security line into T4 IN THE AA PREMIUM QUEUE recently OMFG. I can’t imagine what the non-premium hell would have been like that day. And while sometimes you can re-enter security at TBIT instead of T4 and use the bridges, that’s dependent on friendly officers at the security checkpoints. And having to walk or bus between terminals landslide sucks. DFW airside tram is so easy.


For the OP who by the sounds of it is not OWE, lounge access will be a mute consideration hence the recommendation of DFW which for inter-terminal transfer wins hands down IMHO (and I still like the Pizza place at DFW TD too 😄)


And out of curiosity, cf Delta, I thought AA had substantially the largest number of connections out of LAX at 220 departures/day (Delta about 160)? But I might be wrong on that? Incidentally this compares to AA’s 800/day out of DFW and Delta’s 1000/day out if ATL. But of course no SYD-ATL on Delta or VA yet. With a good aircraft (and decent service) and timing that could be quite an appealing option.




Last editedby BatteryBen at Oct 27, 2017, 10:32 PM.

BatteryBen

Member since 08 Aug 2017

Total posts 46

Another awesome thing at DFW is the carryon-only immigration arrival line. I was out land side in <15 min from door opening on QF7 arrival earlier this month. Truly. As quick as SYD.

Last editedby BatteryBen at Oct 27, 2017, 10:31 PM.

aggie57

QF

Member since 04 Apr 2014

Total posts 136

Yes Dallas has a good air side tram, but that's an exception. I wonder how many LAX haters transit through other similar sized US domestic terminals. Try O'Hare on a busy day, it can be hell. The scale of air travel in the US dwarfs anything in Australia, you just need to allow more time.

aggie57

QF

Member since 04 Apr 2014

Total posts 136

Another awesome thing at DFW is the carryon-only immigration arrival line. I was out land side in <15 min from door opening on QF7 arrival earlier this month. Truly. As quick as SYD.
Last edited by BatteryBen at Oct 27, 2017, 10.31 PM.

And I can tell you similar stories at LAX on multiple occasions. Like 30 minutes from seat to curb with checked luggage. Twice in the space of a couple of months on a paper visa so I had to see an agent.

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