Flight Review: MEL-AKL-PEK ON Air New Zealand / Air China Premium Economy (Part 1)

August 6, 2019

Before I begin, my itinerary looked like this…

CA 5110 - AIR CHINA                               TUE 25 JUNE 2019
OPERATED BY: AIR NEW ZEALAND, NZ 124

DEPARTURE: MELBOURNE 25 JUN 12:10
ARRIVAL:   AUCKLAND 25 JUN 17:45
           RESERVATION CONFIRMED, PREMIUM ECONOMY (E)         
DURATION: 03:35
EQUIPMENT: BOEING 777-300ER


CA 784 - AIR CHINA                                TUE 25 JUNE 2019
DEPARTURE: AUCKLAND 25 JUN 19:30
ARRIVAL:   BEIJING 26 JUN 04:30
           RESERVATION CONFIRMED, PREMIUM ECONOMY (E)         
DURATION: 13:00
EQUIPMENT: BOEING 787-9


CA 783 - AIR CHINA                                THU 25 JULY 2019
DEPARTURE: BEIJING 25 JUL 01:05
ARRIVAL:   AUCKLAND 25 JUL 17:30
           RESERVATION CONFIRMED, PREMIUM ECONOMY (E)         
DURATION: 12:25
EQUIPMENT: BOEING 787-9


CA 5109 - AIR CHINA                               FRI 26 JULY 2019
OPERATED BY: AIR NEW ZEALAND, NZ 123
DEPARTURE: AUCKLAND 26 JUL 08:45
ARRIVAL:   MELBOURNE 26 JUL 10:55
           RESERVATION CONFIRMED, PREMIUM ECONOMY (E)         
DURATION: 04:10
EQUIPMENT: BOEING 777-300ER

I was looking forward to flying with Air New Zealand’s premium economy after reading rave reviews about them and it was indeed a very enjoyable experience. I couldn’t say the same for Air China. If I were to score an 8 out of 10 for Air New Zealand, Air China would get a 6.5.

Melbourne – Auckland

The flight to Auckland was something like going to a Chinese fusion restaurant but you had a cheese burger. Due to a shortage of ANZ’s own 777 fleet, I was lucky to be placed on a plane leased from Eva Air. So it was everything Eva but Kiwi(an) hospitality. In my opinion, the Kiwis are one of the most hospitable, polite and nicest people on earth (this is not a PAID statement).

This was Eva Air the premium economy seat. I love the big fluffy pillows!

See the chinese characters on the right? Eva Air. Leg space was good!

You get a nice headphones san noise cancelling, ANZ’s own safety information card and in-flight entertainment media (not Eva’s). Leg space was fantastic and so is the big, fluffy-soft pillow! You also get a bottle of water and a welcome drink!

Since my flight to Auckland was in the afternoon, I was served lunch. Lunch onboard ANZ were served by crew from the Business Class cabin. It was a ‘two’ course meal. Appetizers were served first then followed by the mains and dessert together.