Chinese authorities forced an Air New Zealand flight to turn back to Auckland five hours into the flight, citing a permitting issue. But don’t blame China for this one. Air New Zealand Flight 289 was halfway to Shanghai on...
Air New Zealand Christmas Video Stars “Donald Trump”
Air New Zealand is out with its 2018 Christmas video and features an unlikely star…a miniature version of the U.S. President. Here’s the premise of this year’s video: Santa accidentally emails out his “naughty” list of children to the...
If Only Air New Zealand Put As Much Thought Into Its Loyalty Program As Its Safety Videos…
Air New Zealand is out with a new safety video, this time featuring a cast of over 600 and centered around a catchy rap song. Less Controversial Than the Last… I’d say one benefit to this video is that...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 08, 2018
Buona sera from Milano. I’m in the midst of a fast-paced business trip through Italy. I’ll provide some detail on it in the days ahead…it will not be a typical trip report. It was a fairly light week of...
Air New Zealand Unveils New Flat Beds in Economy Class for Infants
Although it has been eight years since Air New Zealand launched its innovative SkyCouch product, a new variant will allow more undisturbed sleep for toddlers. The modified seats will include a dedicated infant harness and belt, allowing little ones to...
Controversial Air New Zealand Safety Video Angers Many
A new Air New Zealand safety video is out and although well done as usual, has angered many Kiwis. Why? Flight 901. Check out the new safety video below. It is filmed in Antarctica and features stunning scenery highlighting...
Air New Zealand’s “Mirry Christmus” Video
I’ll admit, the Australian accent is my favorite accent in the world. But I love the Kiwi accent as well and love a new Air New Zealand Christmas ad poking fun at it. There’s not much commentary I can...
How Fast Does Air New Zealand Churn Out Safety Videos?
Air New Zealand is out with a new safety video…another one. Apparently I missed the last one. I flew Air New Zealand in late November last year and wrote about it here. That was only seven months ago. The...
Amazing View of Southern Lights from Air New Zealand Flight
Confession: I didn’t even know the Southern Lights were a thing. But now I know our Earth has Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). I’ve mentioned several times here how high seeing the Northern Lights are on my bucket...
Review: Los Angeles to London in Air New Zealand 777-300 Business Premier
I’ve booked my parents on it, my brother on it, dozens of clients on it, but now it was my turn. For years I have been wanting to fly Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to London and a...
Two Amazing Meals: HKG-LHR NZ39 in Air New Zealand Economy
During my first round-the-world trip in 2008, I had the pleasure of flying Air New Zealand from Hong Kong to London. I chose Air New Zealand because it was cheap ($554 one-way), nonstop, and as a member of Star Alliance, I...
Air New Zealand Hollywood Safety Video
Air New Zealand is out with a new safety video entitled “Safety in Hollywood” that attempts a humorous approach to the mundanity of an airline safety briefing. That is the Air New Zealand trademark after all… I have to...
Unicorns, Four-Leaf Clovers, and Air New Zealand Business Class Award Space
After four years of absolutely no business class award space on its transpacific and transatlantic longhaul routes, Air New Zealand has suddenly decided to open business class award space to its Star Alliance partners. It is too early to...
Humorous Air New Zealand 75th Birthday Video
Air New Zealand is celebrating its 75th birthday this year and true to form, reflects back on its jubilee year with a bit of humor, here a short video asserting nothing has changed over the last 75 years…except onboard...
Air New Zealand to Start Auckland to Buenos Aires Route
For Star Alliance flyers trying to connect between Australia or New Zealand and South America, options are not just limited — there are no flights at all. Connecting via North America or Africa is required, adding hours to an...
An Interactive Guide to Airline Livery
Gracing the Skies recently expressed her disgust at some airlines for sporting such boring paint jobs. I gently disagreed, arguing that a sleek, smooth design is preferable to a tacky eye-grabbing paint job that some airlines resort to (think...
Air New Zealand Does it Again: Check Out Their New Safety Video
Air New Zealand continues to win accolades in the creativity department. The airline that has brought us rugby safety videos, peverted fuzz balls, and offensive billboards, now has a new humorous 737 safety video out starring fitness-guru Richard Simmons....
Air New Zealand’s Corporate Responsibility on Display in Christchurch
Another massive earthquake struck New Zealand today, again centered near Christchurch. 65 are reported dead and hundreds are missing. The 6.3 magnitude quake struck at midday, at a time when many were out and about. When natural disasters occur, it is...
Maybe I’ll Pass on the Air New Zealand Skycouch…
With great fanfare (and my heaping praise), Air New Zealand unveiled their Skycouch product, a row of three economy seats that transform into a lie-flat bad large enough for two people. Billed as the cheaper alternative to flying in...
Air New Zealand Acquires Partial Ownership of Virgin Blue
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is not about to let Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand merge, but NZ turned some heads today after declaring plans to purchase a 14.99% stake in Virgin Blue. NZ says it is...
