With US travel in high demand, there’s no shortage of direct flights from Australia’s east coast to the United States, but have you thought about a short stop in New Zealand? Cassie Tannenberg tried out the Brisbane-Auckland-Los Angeles route in Air New Zealand’s award-winning Economy cabins and found a quick layover is just the trick to break up the trans-Pacific trip.
When the opportunity to fly Air New Zealand from Brisbane (BNE) to Los Angeles (LAX) via Auckland (AKL) came up, I was curious to test out the long-haul economy experience on one of Oceania’s favourite airlines – even with the three-hour layover.
Air New Zealand’s nonstop BNE–AKL flight connects Queensland and New Zealand in around three hours (or less) while the AKL-LAX leg clocks in around 12 hours. A bonus is the 12:15pm departure time from BNE, meaning a less hectic start and ride to the airport.
I’m travelling from BNE to AKL on theworks (economy) ticket, which includes 1x 23kg checked baggage and 1x carry-on bag up to 7kg along with a meal and drinks and inflight entertainment. You’re also able to select your seat before flying on this fare.
For the LAX leg, I’m flying international economy, which has the additional inclusion of another 23kg checked bag and the same personalised options as a short-haul international economy flight.
With Air New Zealand flying at least daily from AKL to LAX and up to thrice daily between BNE and AKL, the US connection is quick and easy. And Auckland Airport has plenty in store for layover passengers.
Check-in and boarding
Online check-in is unavailable for my US flight, so I mosey over to the international check-in counter for Air New Zealand at Brisbane International Airport. It’s not busy and I breezily pass through to the bag drop to weigh and scan my suitcase to be loaded onto the plane – also a quick and seamless process.
There’s also no wait for security so after separating jackets, laptops and liquids from my cabin luggage, it’s straight through the SmartGate passport control and onto the gate.
NZ146 departs from Gate 80, which is right near the bright public space with natural sunlight surrounded by duty-free, shops and eateries within the International Terminal.
Air New Zealand also has an International Lounge at Brisbane Airport for eligible business class passengers and Airpoints members.
Onboard comfort
Air New Zealand has 263 economy seats on its B787-9 aircraft with a 3x3x3 configuration in the main cabin, which is divided into two sections by bulkheads and toilets. The toilets feature Air New Zealand wallpaper and NZ-made Antipodes products.
It’s a similar aesthetic for the B777-300 to LAX, however, the wide-body aircraft has a 3x4x3 configuration and 244 seats in the Economy section in addition to the Economy Skycouch options in rows 39-46 and 49-50.
In both aircraft, slimline economy seats have a seat pitch of up to 33″ (83cm) and a seat width of 17.2″ (44cm) with a 5″ recline. If you stow any baggage under your seat, you’ll be squeezed for space but it’s fine for those of short-to-average height (aka me).
Each Economy seat has a 9″ personal touchscreen with USB ports and two AC power outlets for every three seats. Passengers also receive reusable earbud headphones made from recycled plastic, which you’re encouraged to keep and use again – so I do for both the next flight and return legs.
I’m seated in 50H for my AKL-LAX flight, which is a Skycouch, however it’s not labelled as such. As the only passenger on the full flight to the US with their own row, I receive a few funny looks and end up letting another passenger share my space.
My goodwill is rewarded by the airline gods and despite a few pockets of turbulence, we make it to LA in a speedy 11 hours and 24 minutes, even making up time from a delayed pushback in Auckland.
Transiting in Auckland
After exiting the plane, transit passengers at Auckland Airport are shepherded into a small room where there’s a 15-minute queue for the security screening. You’ll need to remove jackets, laptops and liquids from your carry-on again to be scanned and processed before proceeding into the terminal.
Thankfully, checked luggage goes straight through to LAX and with three hours to spare, there’s time to wander around the modern terminal with luxe and international designer boutiques such as Kate Spade, Coach, Furla and Montblanc alongside MAC, adidas and Benefit.
Travellers can kick back and relax in the attractive departures area with lounges, shops, cafes and duty-free all located together or use the Air New Zealand Lounge.
All of the North American flights leave from the same gate area at around the same time, so if one flight is delayed, as in my case, the section can get very congested with seating at a premium.
The fun stuff
Economy passengers on theworks and international tickets can take advantage of gate-to-gate seatback inflight entertainment, such as TV shows and movies, including 26 new titles.
There’s also dedicated kids content, audio, games, weather, food and drink orders, flight map and seat chat options plus free inflight Wi-Fi after take-off.
Air New Zealand’s current safety video partners with the Department of Conservation to deliver a sweet message about the airline’s role in transporting native birds around the country and how passengers can help conserve wildlife.
Inflight food
I pre-selected special meals, which were served about one hour into the flight on the trans-Tasman flight and an hour after takeoff and before landing on the trans-Pacific flight.
My first vegan-vegetarian meal consisted of polenta, beans, spinach and slaw plus a packaged lemon and golden kiwi cheesecake, while the main hot meal was a choice of lamb curry, macaroni cheese or chicken potato salad.
On the flight to LAX, there are two hot meal services plus a light snack plus, as a fun Kiwi touch, main cabin passengers were offered a Jelly Tip ice-cream.
On the long-haul leg, I was served a tofu and vegetable curry rice dish with brown rice, spinach and edamame salad and the lemon and golden kiwi cheesecake and the breakfast meal before touchdown was a tofu and bean mash, fruit salad and rhubarb muffin.
For the main cabin, it was a choice of garlic chicken or meatballs with feta and spinach omelette or hotcakes for the breakfast options accompanied by the beverage service.
Guests can also order from the menu directly from your seatback screen and attendants are on hand with water throughout the flight.
While I’m usually a fan of the direct door-to-door route, and will happily pay for a seamless journey, there’s nothing quite like a cheery Kiwi greeting to welcome you on board.
Overall, from the first “Kia Ora” to the final “Mā te wā”, it’s comforting to see that the signature service, warm welcome and custom elements continue to reflect Air New Zealand’s distinctly Kiwi difference.
The details
- Aircraft: Boeing B787-9 (AKL)/B777-300 (LAX)
- Seat: 39F/50H (aisle)
- Flight time: 2hrs 15min (AKL) & 11hrs 24min (LAX)
- Luggage allowance: 2x 23kg checked luggage, 1x 7kg carry-on baggage and 1x personal item
- Arrival in Los Angeles: 1:30pm (scheduled)/ 1:35pm (actual) – 20min delay in AKL
Air New Zealand operates thrice-daily Brisbane–Auckland direct flights during the week and twice-daily flights on weekends all year round. The airline currently operates up to 10 AKL-LAX return flights per week with services increasing in October 2024.
Read what it’s like to fly Business Premier to the US with Air New Zealand here.
Cassie was a guest of Air New Zealand.
