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.
We booked and stayed at the Quest Whangarei 58 Bank Street, Whangarei New Zealand for 4 nights. The property is in a great central location with restaurants and pubs close by. Our room was spacious with a kitchenette.
Three things in particular with this room;
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.
Qantas QF 8765 Christchurch to Sydney is actually Emirates 413 A380 aircraft which we have flown on several times previously from Auckland to Sydney.
The Emirates A380 business class is awesome even on a short three hour flight like this. The bar at the back is great, inflight service is great, seats are awesome and include your own personal minibar.
We booked the Focus Motel And Executive Suites, Christchurch for six nights and are very happy with our choice. The location is great, close to the casino and restaurants and a short walk to the CBD.
The one bedroom apartment style room with balcony was clean and modern. Roy and Carol were very welcoming and helpful throughout our stay, without hesitation we would choose Focus Motel And Executive Suites, Christchurch whenever we return to Christchurch.
We arrived at this hotel around midnight after flying in from Sydney. The Sudima Christchurch Airport is an easy walk from the Christchurch airport terminal.
Check in at that time of night was not a problem and our room on the ground floor was spacious and clean. The next morning revealed cafe and restaurants, a supermarket and McDonald's very close by.
It was a very short walk back to the car rental pickup areas at Christchurch airport. The Sudima Christchurch Airport ticked all the boxes for accommodation within walking distance of Christchurch 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.