Flight check: Auckland to Queenstown with Jetstar

A Jetstar A320.

Helen van Berkel flies JQ281 to Queenstown.

The plane: An A320.

Class: Economy.

Price: I was on a work trip but Jetstar's website shows Sunday flights ranging from $109 to $145.

On time: Yes.

My seat: 1D, the exit row, with an empty seat between me and an ageing hipster in shorts.

Fellow passengers: Lots of fit-looking people in sturdy walking shoes; a family group of Chinese and another of Indian.

How full: About nine/tenths

Entertainment: An inflight magazine kindly tucked into the pocket in front of you.

The service: Staff seemed efficient serving those who paid extra for food.

Food and drink: I wasn't one of those who paid, but the breakfast smelled nice. Coffee would have cost $3.50 and beer $7.

The toilet: Clean, with Jetstar branded hand cleanser and, oddly, disposal for used syringes.

Luggage: 20kg.

The airport experience: A hint, fellow passengers: board when it's your turn. Or queue for longer than you need and block everyone else from boarding. Plane ain't leaving without you.

Would I fly this again: Always up for a trip to Queenstown.