Flying from Auckland to Dunedin with Air New Zealand

An Air New Zealand A320. Photo / Grant Bradley

Daniel Simmonds flies aboard NZ671 from Auckland to Dunedin.

The Plane: Airbus A320.

Flight time: 1hr 40min.

Entertainment: Starts off with a Cuba Gooding Jnr and Katie Holmes safety video. An uncomfortable 3 minutes 50 seconds to say the least. Throughout the flight my brain was kept active with the In-Flight Quiz. I chose to internalise my answers, so if I got it wrong, the right answer is what I really meant.

Space: Fully booked cabin, middle seat, standard Economy leg room, and sucking the tummy in a tad to put the tray down - further motivation to go easy on the in-flight sweets.

Fellow passengers: On my left, a young Canadian in search of great beer and greater views. On my right, a young microbiologist transporting blood samples to the university lab. Behind me the most well-behaved infant I've ever encountered, maybe a bit smelly 40 minutes into the flight but overall above average: great baby behaviour.

Baby rating: 9/10.

The food: Snacking room only on this flight, carrot-and-almond muffin followed by a lukewarm tea.

Flight experience: Slightly butt-clenching takeoff and landing, our row weren't confident flyers, making sure we got a good hold on the armrest while going through patches of turbulence. The baby behind us on the other hand, was having a great time.

Service: Great service, as expected on Air New Zealand flights. Before the flight, one attendant even stopped by the seat behind me, informing the baby/parent duo of the services they offer in the event of a code brown. The whole crew was well-presented, and to the delight of three sweaty-palmed flyers, unfazed by the sudden jolts of turbulence.

Luggage: Carry-on is the standard max of 15kg. My check-in bag was there to greet me on the other side.

Would I fly again? Without a doubt. The flight was a breeze once we climbed above the clouds. Fantastic service from the staff and a lovely discussion with the neighbours.

Want more holiday inspiration? Sign up to our new Travel Insider newsletter here.