Qantas QF 140 Auckland to Sydney was an early flight departing around 7:00AM local time. This aircraft was also an Airbus A330 with the great qantas business class cabin. The Qantas lounge in Auckland is nowhere as good as the Auckland Emirates lounge but the Emirates lounge is not open at this time of day. Inflight service was great.
A recent trip saw us arriving into Auckland late and leaving very early in the morning on our departure day so we did not see any sense in paying the extra for the Novatel where we have stayed on many occasions previously.
Arrival day. Arriving late around midnight there was no problem checking in. The walk is further than the Novatel but it is mostly flat and no problem at all. Rooms are small but clean. There are cafes in close proximity open during the day. It is only a short walk back to Auckland airport terminal and rental car pickup areas.
It is great now Qantas have scheduled A330 on this route. the business cabin on A330 is far superior to the Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft.
Traveling this route in Business provides dedicated check in area at Sydney Airport and access to the Qantas Business lounge air side. If you hold status there should also be access to the Emirates lounge in Sydney Airport.
As with Qantas flight 149 Sydney to Auckland Qantas flight 146 Auckland to Sydney equipment is now an A330 service replacing the B737 which used to operate this route.
We have used the Novotel Auckland Airport previously for one night stays only, this time was for two nights and this stay was in an executive room advertised as being on their premier high floors. Our impression was that the room felt smaller than others we have had on lower floors. Breakfast buffet both mornings was ok but nothing outstanding. Altogether the Novotel Auckland Airport is in a great location if you are flying in late or leaving early and has always been very clean and modern.
Qantas flight 149 Sydney to Auckland equipment is now an A330 service replacing the B737 which used to operate this route. Benefits are there is now seating rows of 2 only side by side in economy for the window seat rows although there is a center row on these aircraft and in business class almost all these aircraft have the new Qantas business class seating featuring fully lay flat beds and increased privacy and direct isle access for every seat. The new business class seats are a huge improvement over the business class seats on Qantas B737 seating.
We have stayed at the Novotel Auckland Airport in the past and would not hesitate to choose this property in the future if we are arriving into Auckland late or have an early departure from Auckland in the mornings.
The property is clean, modern and the service is great.
Recommended.
Arriving late in Auckland airport this hotel was booked for the first night. If you are arriving on a late flight, or wish to stay close to Auckland Airport the night before departing Auckland this hotel is in an excellent location, within the airport area and right across the road from the international airport concourse.
The room booked was a Superior Room, 1 King Bed
Recently experienced the A380 again for the second time with Emirates flying business class from Auckland to Sydney. WOW again..
To begin with the Emirates lounge in Auckland leaves the Qantas Lounge in Auckland for dead. It beats a lot of other Qantas lounges too. We found it ironic that the lounge was superior to Qantas lounge in almost every aspect and guests were allowed in wearing thongs as foot wear, something some pretentious group at Qantas has banned. Food selection is great, lounge area seating is plentiful, although this was not a full flight.
Booked this hotel for 5 nights and an Executive 1 bedroom suite was selected. This room was located in the old section of the building and was very roomy although the only windows were facing into the internal restaurant courtyard making this room dark with very little natural light.