Love is in the air

Jason Mesnick, star of The Bachelor, will be hosting the match-making flight. Photo / Supplied

Kiwi singles are preparing for an invasion - scores of lovelorn Americans are heading here in search of romance on Air New Zealand's first matchmaking flight.

Passengers on next month's sold-out trip will enjoy an open bar, speed-dating games, and romance tips from Jason Mesnick, star of TV hit The Bachelor.

Mesnick and girlfriend Molly Malaney are hosting the flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, returning to the country where they shared a spectacular date on the reality show.

"Molly and I fell in love with New Zealand during The Bachelor - it's truly the most romantic place on earth," Mesnick said.

"We hope all the matchmaking flight singles have as much success as we did in finding one another."

At least some of the Americans won't be so much "overpaid, oversexed and over here" - like the US pilots stationed in Britain during World War II - as overwhelmed by the scenery. Los Angeles travel writer Terry Gardner has signed up for the flight, her second visit, but has already lost her heart to New Zealand's great outdoors.

"It would be nice to meet somebody nice, but I'm already in love with the country."

Gardner is part of a group that has already planned trips to Fox Glacier and other South Island attractions.

"If we hooked up with somebody at the ball I guess we'd be saying, `Hey, meet me in Queenstown'."

As for the charms of Kiwi blokes, Gardner - who never watches Flight of the Conchords - wasn't sure what to expect.

"I'm just hoping I meet some people with a good sense of humour, more than anything."

The visitors will mix and mingle with Kiwi singles at a matchmaking ball in Auckland and at other events around the country.

Many of them have joined a networking website promoting the event and New Zealanders among them said friendships were already being made over the net.

Aucklander Camelia Crisan said she was looking forward to the ball, but wasn't taking it too seriously.

"A client told me about it and I thought it sounded interesting. I think it will be fun, it's getting to see different people and different cultures."

Kama Bailey, who was planning to attend a singles dinner in Christchurch, wasn't holding out for romance either.

"I wouldn't imagine there's too many people treating it as a long-term thing. It's just a bit of a lark."

Auckland single Alison, who didn't want her last name printed, said many Americans seemed to have only outdoor pursuits in mind.

"One chap kept asking what thickness wetsuit he needed to bring."

The flight leaves Los Angeles on October 13.

heather.mccracken@hos.co.nz