Qantas Vs. Air New Zealand: Best Choice?
 

For the frequent visitors to (or residents of)the lands down under, which would you choose if taking a once in a lifetime trip, first class air, to Oz and NZ? <BR>Qantas or ANZ? <BR>Anyone have a favorite hotel in Auckland? <BR>Thanks for any opinions....

Hi, Griffin, <BR>Can't comment on best 1st class (what's not to like)... <BR>Stayed a couple of times at the Hyatt in Auckland and found it very comfortable, very friendly (but then everyone in NZ is that way.)

This will throw you, we would not opt for either. Instead we would take Air Pacific which is 1/2 owned by Quantas and pick a flight that is apt to be half full in the tourist section. This is more often the case as people from the USA tend to avoid little know airline names. We enjoy a center row to ourselves much better than a first class section for a overnight trip. We sleep better there and you don't need food or frills in the middle of the night.

I think I have noticed a marked decline in Qantas service on OS flights over recent years. Think they rely heavily on their safety record now for clients. The air cond is often turned off and stewards seem to disappear for the bulk of the flight. Food is ordinary and planes are getting old and worn on the inside. Pilots and safety seem first class though

Best First Class Air New Zealand!!

Thanks for the responses. <BR>I confess, I am completely unaware of Air Pacific but will certainly look into the airline and its schedules/fares. <BR>Thanks again...

If it's once in a lifetime and 1st class, then Air Pathetic is not what you want. Take if from someone who grew up with one of their pilots. <BR> <BR>Qantas used to be 100% tops in service. We once asked them a question, I mean just went up to the ticket counter and asked a simple question about the plane routing and were given carte blanche to their executive lounge and a ticket upgrade. But that was 15 years ago. <BR> <BR>ANZ is vastly underrated. <BR> <BR>

Just flew on Qantas Sydney-NY and I must say the alliance with American Airlines must be rubbing off on them. Didn't fly <BR>up front but the service in coach left a lot to be desired. I was so dissapointed since I had read so many good things about Qantas.Here's an example,I don't know if it was me or what, but the bread in every Australian city I visited was wonderful,the rolls Qantas served with dinner tasted like cardboard,HORRIBLE, as well as being stale. Both the flights I was on were 99% full,good for Qantas bad for us. <BR>Another thing was the size of the beverage glasses and the beverage containers,to quench ones thirst you had to ask for three at a time.American is notorius for crappy service here in America for a long time now.I would fly ANZ without even having tried them before,they would be hard pressed to be as bad as Qantas.Even the movies were Horrible. Qantas was a terrible letdown.