This flight was the continuation of my circular the world take chances. Y'all tin can read my previous installments here and here.

After a wonderful day in Los Angeles with friends, I got set up for my long-haul flight to Auckland.

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Booking

Normally, I book flights through a travel site like Google Flights, from the airline directly, or American Express. In this case, I made an exception. After getting in contact with a travel agent, I concluded up getting an splendid package fare effectually the world.

If you were to book this flight as a one-way ticket, y'all can look to spend virtually $2,800 to $3,300 in premium economy. It is worth noting that the leg from Los Angeles to Auckland on NZ1 is a continuation from their flight to London. Their 2d daily flight, NZ5 does not come from London and is instead a turn effectually coming in from Auckland.

At this betoken, it is worth noting that a one-way ticket in premium economy is fairly expensive considering a round-trip ticket is about the same price as a 1-way on Air New Zealand. Your other option is American Airlines. They unremarkably accuse less than half of Air New Zealand for a ane-way ticket.

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Airport Feel

I had to check-in at the aerodrome. The process was simple, easy, and quick. From there it was off to security and I was through within 20 minutes.

It's worth noting that lounge options were a bit limited at this point. Premium Economy passengers practise not get lounge access with Air New Zealand, but I did have a Priority Pass membership thanks to my Platinum Carte du jour from American Express.

At LAX's international terminal, there are just 2 Priority Pass options. One is the Korean Air lounge which only allows Priority Pass members until 6:00 pm. The other is P.F. Chang. Priority Pass members go a $30 credit at P.F. Chang'south, which tin get you a decent meal with a few drinks.

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Boarding

A huge shout out to the gate agents for my flying to Auckland! This was perhaps the first fourth dimension I had seen a boarding process and so efficient. There was no crowding around the gate and people were called upwardly in batches based on their course and aristocracy status. If only other carriers could follow arrange....

Air New Zealand 777 parked at the gate at LAX

On-Board

To get to my seat, I had to pass through a mini-cabin of business class. Business class was entirely full, mostly from those flying in from London.

When I was booking these flights through a travel amanuensis, I was presented with an option on Air New Zealand. Business course was pricing out to add almost $2,000 more to my package than premium economic system course. In the end, I'm glad I didn't choose the upgrade. The seats were not as wide as other concern class seats and the herringbone configuration was incredibly exposed. The aisles were also incredibly narrow as was the footrest.

After being quickly ushered through by flight attendants due to the sheer number of people backside me, I fabricated it to my seat: 23K.

23K

When I got to my seat, I was asked if I would be willing to switch seats to permit a couple to sit together. When I asked where my seatmate's spouse was seated, I was told they were in a middle seat towards the rear of the premium economy cabin.

Given that I had paid an extra $100NZD for this seat, the 12-hour and 37 infinitesimal flight fourth dimension ahead, and the number of young children towards the rear of the cabin, I politely declined and that was the end of the affair.

I located all of the relevant controls for the seat. The recline button was on the right-hand side armrest and the controls to release the video monitor and leg rest were on the left-hand side armrest as visible in the picture above. Near the leg balance was a power outlet.

There was a remote control that could be detached from the armrest.

Remote control in premium economy.

You can probably tell from the picture, but this remote control had seen better days. Information technology was well scratched and dinged upwards. Not the best presentation, just the remote did work very well and I ended up using it during the flight.

The seat also had a legrest and footrest.

Leg residuum and footrest in premium economic system.

This turned out to be a comfortable seat. I ended up getting about 8 hours of sleep on this flight, which was a welcome surprise. The footrest could be extended past flipping the switch on the leg rest.

I'thou v'8" and I had to seat myself a footling kleptomaniacal in order to go my feet on the footrest. If you're taller, you might find information technology more than comfortable without deploying the footrest.

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On-Board Experience

Waiting at my seat later boarding was a water bottle, amenity kit, coating, pillow, and a prepare of headphones.

Air New Zealand amenity kit in premium economy.

The amenity kit was stocked with the nuts, but yeesh, everything was crammed into a very small pouch. I wasn't a fan of receiving a crumpled up centre mask and pair of socks. I did appreciate the lip lotion as the long flight can dry out lips easily.

Air New Zealand headphones in premium economy.

The headphones provided were pretty standard for premium economy. I'd say they were virtually the aforementioned quality as the LSTN headphones I'd received on previous Delta flights.

Air New Zealand in-flight entertainment system.

The monitors were crisp, clear, and easy to utilize. Although it seemed bulkhead seats had smaller screens than oher premium economy seats.

I did notice that some monitors welcomed the passenger by name. I learned that this was the instance just for passengers who were standing on the flight from London. Since I originated in Los Angeles, I didn't get the aforementioned reception.

The entertainment selection had a solid quantity of films, shows, games, and music. There was definitely plenty content to keep a person entertained for the unabridged length of the flight.

Air New Zealand offered a wide array of content on this flight.

The monitors were unlatched in society to show the safety presentation and oh my gosh was that an adventure. Someone at Air New Zealand decided that it would be a neat thought to release a safe video....that was a rap song.

Had I never seen a safe briefing in my life before, it would be rubber to say that even after seeing the Kiwi Safety video, I nonetheless wouldn't know what to do in case of an emergency.

I could go on, but I'll save that for when I have to lookout this video again for my flight to Nadi.

The monitor also reminded me to fasten my seatbelt whenever the sign was turned on.

A gentle reminder to fasten my seatbelt whenever the sign was turned on.

For those new to premium economy, in that location was a video that demonstrated all the features of the seat.

There was a video bachelor that demonstrated all the features of the seat.

At that place were ii lavatories bachelor for premium economy passengers. Before and afterward repast services, there was a line of people waiting to use information technology. Yet, inside the lavatory, there was a nice(?) wallpaper of a chandelier.

"Chandelier" in the lavatory.

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Meals

Here is the menu for the entire flight:

Soon after takeoff, I was offered a tray with the starter and dessert.

Starter, dessert, and bread tray.

The starter was uncommonly cold and was not very well seasoned. Unfortunately, this would plow out to be a recurring theme with Air New Zealand.

After about twenty minutes, the main class was offered. I selected the seared cod selection.

Seared cod

Thankfully, the main class was warm. However, information technology lacked any kind of flavour. I wasn't terribly impressed with the meal and given the strange presentation of the repast (serving dessert and titbit together), I felt underwhelmed with this presentation.

All in all, the first meal service was completed inside 90 minutes after takeoff which was nice for this long-booty flying.

About two hours prior to landing, the breakfast service started.

Air New Zealand breakfast starter.

Like the first service, the side dishes were served well before the main course. When the time came to choose the chief course, I went with the omelet pick.

Breakfast main class on Air New Zealand

I've rarely had an egg dish on a plane that was good. Air New Zealand was no exception. The omelet had zilch salt and lacked almost any real flavor. Disappointing, simply at least the more than edible starters came in a generous quantity.

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Cabin Crew

There wasn't a lot of exceptional service on this flight. The flight attendant working my aisle did not speak much other than what was required. Here was an interaction that I transcribed for the main meal service:

"Meal?"

"Can I get the fish option, please?"

"Careful. Hot."

And with that, the dish was served on my tray.

I also had an interesting run across subsequently waking up during the flight. After a solid 8 hours of sleep, I woke up and discovered one of the flying attendants continuing in the aisle and but staring at the passengers. When I made my style to the lavatory, he didn't move or acknowledge my presence. It was a wee chip creepy.

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Overall

This was a pretty standard premium economy flight. In fact, information technology was so standard that there wasn't anything terribly infrequent near the flight.

Given that premium economy across airlines tend to be very similar experiences, the one way that Air New Zealand could take made an effort to stand out would have been through providing exceptional service.

Should Air New Zealand maintain their higher pricing, I probably would not book with them in the futurity for this route. Nothing really made me want to come back and fly with them over again. That being said, I would be interested in testing Air New Zealand's business class.

Have you flown with Air New Zealand? Do you want to fly Air New Zealand? Let us know in the comments!

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