Corazon Miller flies aboard Air New Zealand's flight NZ101 from Auckland to Sydney.
The plane: Boeing 777-300. The Dreamliner flies this route periodically and, if I'm being honest, I was hoping I'd be on the newer plane. This was a comfy second best and definitely a better option than the tiny A320 on the evening return flight. Not that there's anything wrong with the A320, but my fearful flyer inside takes greater comfort in the larger plane's ability to battle crosswinds across the Tasman. Yes, I know - there's no logic to this reasoning. Planes are one of the safest forms of transport - but whoever said fears were based on logic?
My seat: 47F, in the middle of the plane, one seat in from the aisle and in a row right at the back of the cabin against a wall. This was ideal for me as there was enough space to recline the chair comfortably without worrying about disturbing a person behind. (Be warned - the seat does not fully recline.) It's not ideal for someone who likes to get up and walk around on a long-haul flight, but perfectly acceptable for a shorter flight. I was seated next to a mother and baby; the little one was a well-seasoned flyer, he slept through the flight and contentedly drank his milk, which may have prevented the usual ear discomfort that can get the littlies bawling on take-off and landing.
The price: This a competitive bit of airspace, and this ticket (for a work trip) came in at $655.54 return.
Flight time: Just a little over three hours.