ANZ/Freedom Air/Zeal320

[N860CR]

Maybe a question for the Kiwi's... Can someone tell me what's happening with the NZ A320 trans-tasman services?

I've booked to go SYD-HZL next year on NZ992. Now, when booking it stated "Operated by Zeal3220/Full AirNZ service". From what I understood, all the HZL flights were operated by SJ (Freedom), so I assumed it would just be an NZ codeshare. However, it now mentions the Zeal320 thing and I'm assuming I'll get full service on the flight (meals, alcohol, IFE). Would this be correct?

I did a bit of a search but couldn't come up with a difinitive answer. It seems that apparantly SJ don't exist anymore, but the website is still there taking bookings and still advertising their No Frills product.

A little confused...

 

[smithym]

I remember reading somewhere that ANZ have decided to cease SJ operations from next year sometime, I think it was early to middle next year that they are ceasing. Haven't heard anything about what the plans were to replace the current SJ routes.

 

[littl_flier]

Air NZ have decided to cloe down the Freedom Air brand (because the prices aren't that much cheaper) and deploy the A320 aircraft into the Zeal 320 holding company (essentially for the A320 trans-tasman and pacific services). So yes, it will be full service with drinks and good quality meals.

 

[N860CR]

Thanks, I found a detailed FAQ on the Freedom site (don't know how I managed to miss it). SJ will cease to exist at the end of March next year, with NZ taking over all routes (except for BNE/SYD-New Plymouth which will be canned). Apparantly the A320's are getting PTVs aswell

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Hey Dan,

As others have mentioned, the SJ brand will cease to exist from early 2008. Flights to former SJ ports such as Dunedin will be operated by Air New Zealand (Zeal320). It will sort of be like what Qantas did with Australian Airlines - the crew wore the QF uniform, you flew on QF planes, you got QF meals and IFE - the only difference being the crew were on a lower remuneration package and were subsequently much cheaper to employ.

I've just returned from NZ and flew on the A320 BNE-CHC-BNE which was operated by Zeal320. I found the crews to much younger, but still able to provide a quality service. Both flights were extremely good and you still received full service (but as I've found, their meals are pathetic - portion wise).

Kiwi Flyer will be able to give you a much better summary of the Zeal320 operation as he flies Air NZ very frequently.

Yes, the A320s and IIRC, the 767-300s will be getting PTVs.

That FAQ section on the SJ site is very detailed and will probably answer all your questions.

Cheers

I hope what I just posted is correct - I'm sure someone will let me know if it's not though Thanks!

 

[Flashback]

I'd tend to disagree on the meal size.

This was the first time I've not flown QF (apart from 2-3 flights on Ansett as a young child, but they don't count), and I was more than impressed with their product over QF's in the economy cabin.

The food was real, the bread rolls are not a murder weapon, and the meals were of decent size; plus the FA was more than happy to pour me a triple vodka and orange. YMMV

If I had status / lounge access with *A, I'd choose NZ every time over QF.

Ditto for my AKL-PER flight. (This flight was SYD-CHC)

 

[serfty]

I'd tend to disagree on the meal size.

This was the first time I've not flown QF (apart from 2-3 flights on Ansett as a young child, but they don't count), and I was more than impressed with their product over QF's in the economy cabin.

The food was real, the bread rolls are not a murder weapon, and the meals were of decent size; plus the FA was more than happy to pour me a triple vodka and orange. YMMV

If I had status / lounge access with *A, I'd choose NZ every time over QF.

Ditto for my AKL-PER flight. (This flight was SYD-CHC)

I flew NZ AKL-MEL last year and the "meal" was a small meat pie (or a Piece of Fried Chicken) and a dollop of pasta salad + ice cream:

 

[Flashback]

I flew NZ AKL-MEL last year and the "meal" was a small meat pie (or a Piece of Fried Chicken) and a dollop of pasta salad + ice cream:

Yeh, I was speaking with one of the FA's about it, and he said there has been some large changes rolled out over the past year. I guess when you flew, it must have been before that happened..

 

[littl_flier]

I flew the A320 on NZ in July last year and then again in January this year. On both occassions, I was quite impressed with the meal- the pie was hot and tasty and then I had three helpings of the caramel & pecan icecream for desert. The drinks were also free flowing- rum, gin, scotch, vodka, two red and two white wines etc.

However, the January experience was dampened a little bit by the crew. Admittedly, it was the last leg after 36 hours in transit (in whY) so I just wanted to get out of there and may have been grumpy. The crew was extremely young (nothing wrong with that ) but the service was a little inexperienced and whilst the meals were being served, anyone who wanted to visit the bathrooms was invited to be seated in the J seats whilst they waited. It ended up like playing a game of musical "Business Class" chairs and degraded the value of the product.

All in all though, I loved NZ's economy service accross the fleet. The drinks are amazing and the tub of ice cream is great. It you manage to score a 777 or 747 though like we do out of BNE, the service is even better and operated by Mainline crew.

As an aside, I found the London crew to be the most fun and professional. They are quite young as well, but bring a great vibe to the whY cabin and I was constantly offered drinks refills and extra desert in whY. I also had the exit rows on all flights (BNE-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-BNE) so I spoke with the crew on all occassions (exepect the Zeal AKL-BNE flight). The London crew was the nicest to talk to and the Auckland crew just seemed to whinge about how hard it was doing a 11 hour flight.