Flight Check: Auckland to Christchurch aboard Air NZ

An Air New Zealand Airbus A320. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Shandelle Battersby flies from Auckland to Christchurch aboard Air New Zealand's NZ541.

The plane: One of the airline's comfortable A320s.

Price: Seat-only tickets start from $63.

Flight time: One hour and 25 minutes.

My seat: 20E - the middle of three, my least favourite on a trip to the South Island because you miss the views. However, there was so much cloud cover that there was no sign of that stunning scenery out the window anyway. For an Aucklander, landing in Christchurch is a strange experience - it's so flat and there are no volcanoes or hills to orientate you.

Fellow passengers: It was a Friday afternoon just before the school holidays started, so there was a mix of tourists, businesspeople and families.

How full: About three-quarters.

Entertainment: So sick of that in-flight quiz.

The service: Friendly and efficient, despite a bit of turbulence.

Food and drink: A biscuit or pretzels, hot drink and water.

Luggage: 20kg of checked baggage, essential when travelling to cooler climes so you can fit in lots of woollies.

The airport experience: Christchurch Airport is blimmin' enormous, and all shiny and flash.

Would I fly this again? Absolutely, flying on Air New Zealand is always a pleasure.