Falling Standards AirNZ

[happytraveller]

FALLING STANDARDS AIRNZ

Just had a flight up from NZCH to NZAA and then on to Hong Kong. Very interesting to see how the standards on AirNZ seem to be falling, everything from a poorer inflight meal to lower onboard service and less helpful staff. Only a few years ago, AirNZ used to be good, but now it seems like the care and attention has gone. Even the coffee is terrible now. They used to come around before the meal with a drinks trolley, this has now disappeared, the meals seem to be smaller and also of a much lower quality. I noticed that, whereas other airlines come around frequently with trays of juice and water, on last nights flight the service was decidedly lacking. The experiences yesterday just left me thinking that there is no reason to chose them again over another airline. I was loyal to them at one time, but now no more.

Best thing about the flight was the landing at HK, wonder if it was done on autoland as it was a 10/10 landing.

Smooth landings!!

[JonARNZ]

Interesting. I have found the domestic services to still be ok, at least I haven't noticed a decline in service.

[ZK-KAG]

What class did you travel on? Was it a 777 to HK?

~ZK-KAG~

[scon]

I have come to the conclusion that I do not like ANZ, I have been in all there classes and on all sorts of routs and it is not great would rather fly QF, SQ, EK any day

[happytraveller]

The flight up from NZCH was a 737 300. Very interesting to compare this flight with an equivalent Ryanair flight in Europe. Ryanair charging much less than AirNZ and using new 737s (737 800 I think), same no frills service with Ryanair at a much lower price than AirNZ.

The flight to Hong Kong was on NZ39 which was a 747 400 continuing on to London. Both were in economy, which is all that I can afford.

I had a big clear out of old clothes a few days ago. I should have kept them and donated them to AirNZ for their new staff uniforms. Probably some fashion designer was paid a fortune to 'design' the new uniforms, but they could have had my cast-off clothes instead (look the same as the uniforms!!) and they could have saved themselves some money.

Smooth landings!!

[Zöltuger]

last time I flew on ANZ internationally was this time last year AKL-BNE-AKL (777 and 747). I didn't find the service offensive in any way, I guess I don't really have high expectations of service (like being waited on hand and foot and giant 5 star meals). Likewise domestic, I'm happy enough with my water and a friendly goodbye at the door.

[happytraveller]

no, I disagree on this one. On a long haul flight, I do not expect to have to keep getting up to go and get juice, and the meals are far from giant now. I am not a big eater, but there is just too much empty space on the trays now.

Many restaurants would serve a larger starter than the AirNZ main course, the 'desserts' are now rivalling postage stamps for size. The pre dinner drinks trolley has disappeared as well. I paid a lot of money for the flight to HK, and I know that some other airlines (mentioning no names here) provide a MUCH better service than AirNZ. It is a combination of cutbacks and lack of staff motivation I think.

Smooth landings.

[ooOO00OOoo]

I flew Qantas to LA last year and did not enjoy them at all! I am at the height where you need a foot rest to be comfortable but none, and i strongly remember the foot rest on ANZ a few years back. (2000) The food was not nice. Dinner was a hot pot that was barely eatable. desert was the best meal. A magnum mini. Breackfast was either cereal with raisins(ewwww raisins) or a hot quiche. They came around 4 time offering drinks. Whenever i got up to go, the crew would stare at me! On both flights! Altough they do know how to make up 1 hour. And the women speak like men(deep voice)
The domestic crew are better. They are kiwi from what i've seen.

Air New Zealand for life!

[happytraveller]

not sure, but I think that they foot rests have disappeared from the AirNZ 747 economy class. Not sure if they are still there in premium economy (whatever that is!!!).

The best seat is the one in the very front on the left!!

smooth landings.

[ooOO00OOoo]

Well at least by the time i need another 747 i won't need a foot rest

[G-HEVN]

Interesting - I'm on NZ39 next Monday through to London, although forced to travel business, thanks to my bad leg! (I wouldn't recommend it as a route to getting an upgrade though!).

[h290master]

At the end of the year when i go to Japan i will have to fly Air China which i'm not to keen about, I would rather fly ANZ anytime

[ooOO00OOoo]

I had to travel with a stress fracture in my hip. NOT VERY COMFORTABLE

For those who don't know what a stress fracture is, it is when some bone is ripped/pulled of some other bone(i think) I got mine while playing soccer. Did it 3 times, twice while i was recovering. I should follow Sport Physision's orders better next time!

[Grumble]

I've flown a hell of a lot (live in Japan, travel all over the place). I concur - Air New Zealand is just ... rubbish! Poor meals, poor service, old planes (or put it this way... old plane INTERIORS!). And they charge premium prices.

Flying from Osaka to New Zealand I have three main choices:

Singapore Air Lines... great food, great service, good seat spacing, inseat video at every seat, 111,000 yen at peak rates (December 2006)

Cathay Pacific... GREAT food, good service, OK seat spacing, inseat video at every seat. 108,000 yen at peak rates (December 2006)

Air New Zealand... p!ss poor food, ok-to-poor service, no inseat video, old plane. 168,000 yen at peak rate (but "discounted") (December 2006)

Ok, so Singapore and Cathay aren't direct flights... but if you CHOOSE to stop over rather than wait for 4 or so hours in the airport, they'll even sponsor your hotel.

Someone had the cheek to tell me I should fly Air New Zealand because "you're a kiwi and you should support the home team." So I should pay 58,000 yen extra (about $NZ800 at the moment) for a poorer flight... just for the privilege?!!

From multiple experiences with Air NZ on multiple different routes... they didn't deserve to be rescued from Bankruptcy.

[Grumble]

At the end of the year when i go to Japan i will have to fly Air China which i'm not to keen about, I would rather fly ANZ anytime

Air China or China Air? If you're talking about the PRC's national airline, then relax... my one flight with them has been pleasant. If you're talking about a Taiwan-based airline - I've flown a few times in an out of Taiwan and they were perfectly adequate and at any rate, better than Air New Zealand at the time.

[ooOO00OOoo]

Air New Zealand... p!ss poor food, ok-to-poor service, no inseat video, old plane. 168,000 yen at peak rate (but "discounted") (December 2006)

From multiple experiences with Air NZ on multiple different routes... they didn't deserve to be rescued from Bankruptcy.

http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/onthe ... efault.htm
http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/onthe ... s_menu.htm
http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/onthe ... nghaul.htm
http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/onthe ... efault.htm
I strongly suggest you do some research before you flame an airline.
I would rather have Kiwi food than singaporian food as i don't believe that an aircraft at cruising altitude is the best place to try a foreign meal.

I don't see how you can flame ANZ when you never fly them. When i was 7 they let me in the cockpit. They gave special kid menus consisting of McDonalds. Sure a lot has changed but they have upgraded. Airlines don't don't buy new Aircraft just because they are 5 years old. They fly them until they have passed the maximum flights.

[Bingobob]

Its funny that when one or two people have a bad experiance they complain yet we never hear from the thousands of Happy Customers or ones that simply dont really care as look as the plane arrives without crashing.
My experiance with Long haul has been mixed and with differant Airlines. It depends on how good the flight Crew on that particuler flight is as to how good the service is.
Grumble, you could not have been flying the latest 777 or one of the recently refitted 747s but most likely one of the older 767s which will soon be replaced by the more modern 787 when they come in service. Bit pointless upgrading something thats going to be biffed in the next couple of years.
Not defending Air New Zealand especially since I remember a trip from Brisbane to Bankok on a Qantas flight years ago. The Aircraft was a codeshare between BA and Qantas may have said Qantas on my ticket but it was a old grey liveried BA 747 that had not yet been upgraded. The only saving grace was the Flight Crew were outstanding and friendly.

[ZK-TJL]

Domestic, I'm happy enough with my water and a friendly goodbye at the door.

Amen Zolt........in terms of international, Haven't flown overseas for so long, so I can't comment.

[Charl]

Good evening sir, and welcome to (Insert Airline Name Here).
Please stand in this unbelievably long queue right here, for a very long time.
You should not be impatient, because you are here a full 3 hours before we intend announcing a delay in departure.
Oh, please throw away just about anything that might come in useful on your trip, or make it more palatable - food, squishy things, you know...
Please don't be upset about what we need to do before you go through the customs hoop, this is home-grown security.
You should see what they're going to do to you on the other side (Haw HAW)
Here we go, then, just come and sit in this little isolation box where all the seats are taken, and make yourself comfortable over there against the wall.
Now that we've fleeced you in the duty-free, we are done with the niceties.
Soon we will load you into that tube over there, sorry if it's a bit cramped but bums on seats y'know...
There you are, we are going to ask you to sit here for some hours.
It is a little cramped, and yes, the air is recirculated so you'll catch every bug on the plane, 10 times.
After it's been breathed by someone else.
Very sorry about the air dryness, too, your mucous membranes will recover after a week or so, it's so we don't rust the airframe.
Now then. let's foist some of this plastic crap on you.
Some of it's food, but all of it is designed so you can't hurt us or yourself.
The little rictous of a smile you see on the stewardess is to re-assure you that the worst is yet to come.
While you are here, you will get something called Jet Lag.
This is a romantic-sounding label we've invented so you don't realise it's a process which cooks your brain.
When we open up this sardine can later on, the new guys outside who have replaced the previous guys, will use it to their best advantage.
They will absolutely love the look on your face when you do the "Lost-luggage Tango" for example.
And then there's the "Strip down and go through Nooks and Crannies" routine reserved especially for wiseguys like you, arriving at 4:30 in the morning, local time...

(At this point, dear Reader, if you are still with us, your eyes must become heavy, your head hangs, you must ask yourself:
If I live in Godzone, and have internet access, does this not look like something we may completely do without, unless forced at gunpoint???)

[pois0n]

^ lol

Jetlag really does cook your brain, by the time I'd flown non stop christcurch to london I was seeing things. Such a looooooooong flight >.< Plus the goodness damn guy in front of me broke his seat and it went back so far it almost touched my face

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Did my first solo today B)
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