Then the return flight is normally seven hours - but ours was super fast. We departed Bali on time. This flight leaves at 6pm and you usually you arrive at 5am NZ time, which is why we really wanted a bit of sleep and decided on a skycouch.
Our seat: We were a mum, dad and 6-year-old boy. Skycouch actually turned out to be wonderful, and we loved it. I find it very difficult to sleep sitting up and with a couch you actually lie flat in economy. I was surprised how comfortable it was. But, height is important - you wouldn't really want to be any taller than me. I am 1.65m tall and pretty slim; my son is 1.2m and skinny. For us it was perfect.
My son managed to get a good three hours' sleep, which makes a huge difference! They give you a thin mattress which made it really comfortable, lovely large soft pillows and too many blankets. You also get seatbelt extenders which means you can lie down and still have a seatbelt over you. They have an in-seat card with ideas of different configurations of how to use the space, and they will come and help, but we found it really simple to work out ourselves.
When you have a Skycouch you buy the third seat so we had a window couch. These are basically all at the wing area of the plane. We had just had two weeks sitting on loungers in Bali and I have to say when you lean the lovely thick pillow they give you up against the wall and sit with your legs out on your sofa it is just like being on a lounger, so comfy.
Fellow passengers: As it was two days after the end of the July holidays, the plane was full, mainly families, and holidaymakers, so everyone was pretty happy, except a couple of toddlers (as expected in the middle of the night).
How full: To the brim. To book a Skycouch and a seat in Premium Economy on the same flight we booked on February 1 for travel in July.
Service: Wasn't too bad, they were busy with a full plane.
Entertainment: We had full service, which included seat screens. I had time for one movie, my son loved that it was all touchscreen and he could work it all himself and he found plenty to watch both ways.
Food and drink: My travel agent had booked a vegetarian meal for myself and a children's meal for my 6-year-old. Neither of these came. When I asked the flight attendant why, she said they hadn't had an order for us. She said they often have problems with meals when agents book them. (I have since told my travel agent this comment, and she completely disagrees). So we both had beef with three veges and my son ate the meat and I ate the veges. With the bread, cheese and crackers and really yummy cake dessert we were okay. The other choice was chicken curry.
The annoying thing was they slowly turn the lights up and wake you up for a breakfast snack of a cold vacuum-packed dry muffin 1½ hours before landing. Who really needs to eat then? Everyone was asleep, it isn't breakfast time.
The toilets: Only went once, they were pretty nice, with butterflies all over the walls.
Airport experience: Thankfully Bali has a new airport which is finally air-conditioned and nice and clean with safe eating places, and really good shops - what a huge improvement. Weren't so impressed with Auckland airport. Landing at 4am, there were 13 flights in an hour so we were left on the tarmac and had to be bussed to the terminal. The stairs down off the plane were pretty freaky and dark, it was 4am and a cold rude shock after Bali.
Would I fly again? Absolutely. So much better than having to stop over in Australia. I just wish they wouldn't wake you so early. Air New Zealand has announced next winter they will put on more flights to Bali so it would be even better with cheaper fares.
