This is the first of a four legs trip from Sydney to Papeete in French Polynesia. Since Air Tahiti Nui discontinued the route, there is no direct flight. Best options are Qantas/Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand, AirCalin via Noumea.
All photos taken with my iPhone 6 plus….
My ticket is marketed by Qantas however only one sector is on Qantas metal…The joy of the code share world ! Only trouble is that LAN in SYD cannot check me in through to PPT, thus I will have to go to the transfer desk in AKL to get the AKL/PPT boarding pass. Believe however that they would have checked my luggage through all the way to PPT had I had any, which was not the case. Another interesting situation is that I am leaving SYD on a Thu morning, arriving in PPT on a Wed night. THus having two days on the ground in PPT Thu/Fri. Returning from PPT on Sat morning and arriving in SYD on Sun night…all due to time difference and time zone. I lost a week-end in the process, but that was not all that bad after all !
As usual I am tracking the inbound aircraft. The flight is operating SCL-AKL-SYD-AKL-SCL with LAN 3 remaining A340-313X. It is not unusual for the flight to be a little creative with schedule so I am a little anxious for my connection in AKL. Luckily the inbound flight lands in SYD ahead of schedule. It is operated by A340-313X CC-CQF. Sadly I have flown on that aircraft before twice…It is my 7th sector on a LAN A340
SYD Airport check in area. Qantas marketed ticket but LAN metal, so LAN check in counter…
The check in process is pretty efficient.
Sydney Airport is going through refurbishment of the air side terminal. Walking through the duty free is now a breeze..
The duty free has been relocated in the main atrium area
And some have just invented airport pop up duty free….
I make my way to the Qantas Club.
The lounge spread alongside one side of the terminal, which is the pier that Qantas uses mainly. Unfortunately, the view is obstructed…
The best part….they have a real coffee machine, with a real barista. And an ice cream bar to die for….
The business center features Apple computer…
Now to the gate. Gate 31. Conveniently located near the center of the terminal, but challenging for getting a good view of the aircraft…. I do like the LAN livery. One of the smartest in the business….(actually between BoA, Aerolineas and LAN, South America boasts 3 of smartest liveries in the world…)
Boarding is pretty smooth. The flight is not full Which makes the process easier.
I have to walk towards the back but I take time to take a few pictures of the LAN business class featured on the A340-313X Again the flight is pretty light up front. It will get full once it picks up pax in AKL.
LAN eco class config is unsurprisingly 2 x 4 x 2. I have an aisle in the middle section, not far behing business class. Lucky me I have no one next to me.
The seat pitch is quite decent. I am quite tall (188cm - 6'2). But again I am only travelling here for 3 hours.
LAN IFE is pretty spectacular…with a huge selection of (great) movies. Lots of South American movies too, which I really like. Funny enough I don't speak Spanish. I particularly love Argentinian movies.
One of the smart feature of the IFE is to be able to perk at the moving map while watching the movie. I am in heaven!
Our plane start taxiing. Flight Radar does not recognise it for some reasons
Off we go. The quality of the moving map / air show is pretty poor. Looks like the very first generation of air show. However the choice offered by LAN makes up for it.
LAN swtiches the IFE at the gate, thus I was able to start watching a movie as soon as I was seated. That is pretty cool too ! I choose to watch an Argentinian movie Wakolda. Movie about Dr Mengele exile to Argentina. The full LAN IFE program is available here:http://www.lan.com/upload/pdf/ip-340-767-787-marzo-2015.pdf
The inflight magazine. Online version available on iPad I believe.
A snack / brunch is served. I have no expectation and had fruits and yoghurt at the Qantas club. It is only 10h30 SYD time…so not very hungry. However the tray is pretty good.
See the little cup holder for the glass…
Auckland is not far
View of the back seat in front, on my left. Since I had two screens to myself, I screened the moving map of this one…
View of the cabin
A very poor photos of Rangitoto, a volcano dominating a small ilsland in the Auckland Harbour.
Coming from the West, flying south of the city CBD, sharp 160 degre turn right to line up to the West.
Parked at the gate in AKL next to….our old friend the dream machine…
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Verdict
LAN Airlines
8.5/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew7.5
Entertainment/wifi9.5
Meal/catering8.0
Qantas Business Lounge International - 1 - International
9.0/10
Comfort9.0
Meal/catering9.0
Entertainment/wifi9.0
Services9.0
Sydney - SYD
6.8/10
Efficiency9.0
Access5.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness8.0
Auckland - AKL
6.0/10
Efficiency9.0
Access5.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness5.0
Conclusion
LAN is a very enjoyable alternative to cross the ditch (as they say in NZ) between SYD and AKL. Qantas and Virgin both offer 737-800 services so LAN is the option if you want to fly a larger aircraft. AirNZ traditionally flies A320 but quite often upgauge their services with a 767, 777 or 787. The food was good, the crew nice, the plane on time, the cabin clean...what else can you ask for ? And since I have a soft spot for all things South American, well then I am a little partial.
Only drawback is the lack of a seamless experience at check in level since I was not given my boarding pass for the second leg of my trip. But the transfer in AKL happened to be a breeze so that was not an issue.
One regret though is that my trip was scheduled too early....As from next month the flight will be operated by a 787-9............argh...
0 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
Thanks for this nice report. LA is a good option for this flight SYD AKL, with a wideboby aircraft and long haul seats (especially for business class). 2 weeks before you, I choosed EK on the same route. I can't wait to read your report on TN flights. See you
Of course Anthony, thanks for reminding me that EK is probably the best option in terms of comfort with the A380.... Working on the rest of the flight reports now.... Mauru'uru - nana
Merci Mathieu, yes LAN is very good. I have flown several time across the SW Pacific between Australia and South America and it's been very pleasurable. LAN affiliate LAN Peru and LAN Argentina are equally good. I did not pay attention to the cutlery, I think it was metal. But the glass was plastic.
Thanks for sharing this report with us. It's quite cool to be able to fly such a bird on a 3 hours segment. The catering is sufficient for the time of the day and length of the flight and the crew was nice. The Business class cabin looks a bit old fashioned but comfortable. I am looking forward to your next reports to and from PPT !
Very good report! It's really nice to be able to try this variety of carriers on a QF marketed ticket. I imagine that means all sectors earn full Qantas miles? The LA 5th freedom flight seems like a really good option for the Trans-Tasman crossing, with a widebody and good catering--it's nice to have a real glass in Economy, especially for a 3 hour flight. Yeah, the moving map is oldshool, but then again, that's not surprising on an A340. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the next legs.
Thank you. Yes all sectors qualify for QF FF points. Wait until I try LA 787, which has started flying the route last month. However I need to be quick as LA is talking about a SYD/SCL direct!
LAN is a very good option for a trans-tasman flight. A widebody for a short flight is always better ! :)
The catering is good for the time an length of the flight. I did it 2 months ago in the other way with ANZ with a B777. Looking forward for the next flight !
Thank you. Indeed twin aisle better than just one. I think Turkish Airlines have a few very long flights to Africa with 737...ouch! I have never managed to get a NZ 777 or 787 on the TransTasman but I am trying to work on this for my next flight to AKL....LA 787 on the way and NZ 787 on the way back!
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65 reviews
10 Comments
LA is a good option for this flight SYD AKL, with a wideboby aircraft and long haul seats (especially for business class). 2 weeks before you, I choosed EK on the same route.
I can't wait to read your report on TN flights.
See you
Working on the rest of the flight reports now.... Mauru'uru - nana
Thanks for sharing this beautiful report on LAN...
I'm quite surprised : the hard product seems to be good. The J Class is acceptable.
Catering with a veritable glass is a plus, same for cutlers.
See you,
The catering is sufficient for the time of the day and length of the flight and the crew was nice.
The Business class cabin looks a bit old fashioned but comfortable.
I am looking forward to your next reports to and from PPT !
LAN is a very good option for a trans-tasman flight.
A widebody for a short flight is always better ! :)
The catering is good for the time an length of the flight.
I did it 2 months ago in the other way with ANZ with a B777.
Looking forward for the next flight !
See ya
I have never managed to get a NZ 777 or 787 on the TransTasman but I am trying to work on this for my next flight to AKL....LA 787 on the way and NZ 787 on the way back!
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