An Air NZ Boeing 777-300. Photo / Richard Robinson
Melissa Nightingale travels aboard Air New Zealand flight NZ8 from Auckland to San Francisco.
The Plane: A Boeing 777-300.
Class: Economy.
My seat: I was in an aisle seat in row 53. Thankfully my row-mate and I didn't have anyone between us, so we were able to stretch out a little more without getting too cosy.
Passengers: It was pretty full in my part of the cabin, with a good range of people – though I mostly only heard Kiwi and Aussie accents.
Entertainment: There was a great choice of movies – which is always my go-to form of airplane entertainment. The movies also display a warning to consider whether small eyes may be watching if your choice isn't appropriate for children. I watched Booksmart and Yesterday and a few TV shows before we landed, but of course there's other options for entertainment, including music and games. The flight had free WiFi, but I couldn't get it to work for me despite trying multiple times throughout the journey.
The service: Friendly and helpful. The woman who served me my food did so every time with a kind smile.
Food: For dinner I had a beef casserole with polenta, which looked like a mushy mess but tasted great. Breakfast was sausage, scrambled eggs and baked beans.
Luggage: I was allowed a 23kg checked bag and the standard carry on and additional personal item. I thought I packed light but it turned out my checked bag was 1kg over! Nobody pulled me up on it though – phew.
Airport experience: Auckland Airport is easy to navigate and use – San Francisco, on the other hand, was another story. I was totally unprepared for just how long it would take to get through Customs. I was standing in line for at least an hour and a half and ended up missing my next flight. Definitely a learning point for me to leave enough time between flights and wear very comfortable shoes.
Would I fly this again? Yes, but I might consider shelling out for premium economy or a skycouch, as my back was quite sore by the end of the flight.
What could possibly trump a smiling, selfie-loving marsupial?