China Airlines begins flying between Sydney and Auckland from today, 29 October, adding to the list of business class options for trans-Tasman travellers.
Emirates, Air New Zealand and LAN already tick that box, with full business class (and First on Emirates) up front plus more room in economy, due to their use of larger aircraft than the Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s that make up the majority of the route's traffic.
A proper meal and touchscreen on-demand inflight entertainment are extra bonuses.
On board China Airlines' Airbus A330-300 you'll find 30 angled lie-flat seats in business class in a 2-2-2 configuration (down the back, it's 2-4-2 in economy).
With only four flights per week this isn't a schedule made for the time-pressed traveller, but introductory fares of A$388 one-way in economy and $692 in business (available from flightsflights.com.au for some flights in October and November) will tempt budget-conscious passengers.
The China Airlines flights run on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
CI51 departs Sydney at 1240, arriving in Auckland at 1750; CI52 leaves Auckland at 1900, getting into Sydney at 2030.
The Sydney-bound flight will be especially useful since it's the last Auckland-Sydney service of the day -- think of it as an insurance policy if your meeting (or Auckland's infamous traffic) delays you.
As a SkyTeam alliance member, you can credit your miles to any of China Airlines' SkyTeam partner airlines. However, as SkyTeam doesn't have Australian partners, your miles are probably best off heading into a Delta SkyMiles account for eventual redemption within the US or on Virgin Australia.
China Airlines also flies three times weekly between Brisbane and Auckland as part of its Taipei-Auckland service, which stops in Queensland en route.
Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
07 Aug 2012
Total posts 192
If you book by 15 October the return Economy fare is quoted as $346. A dummy booking for end of November sees the price drop further to $324!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jan 2012
Total posts 172
I can also see a return Business Class fare (Sydney-Auckland-Sydney) including Taxes for AUD$671.64.
24 Oct 2011
Total posts 159
so its cheaper to fly return business class SYD-ACK-SYD than MEL-SYD-MEL.
lol
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 73
Actually the Brisbane to Aukland is only 3 times per week.
Sunday, Tuesday and Friday.
22 Mar 2012
Total posts 200
Umm SYD-AKL for $388 one-way in econonmy is hardly for the budget conscious...
30 Oct 2012
Total posts 23
That price is for return.
22 Mar 2012
Total posts 200
It says: "but introductory fares of A$388 one-way", but on closer inspection on their website it is A$354 return. That price was very misleading as written on here.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on China Airlines begins Sydney-Auckland flights today