Air New Zealand resumes Singapore to Auckland flights

New Zealand will be reopening its borders to Singapore, the UK, USA and other visa waiver countries from 2 May 2022, and ahead of this, Air New Zealand has resumed flights between Auckland and Singapore. 

New Zealand reopens borders to Singapore, UK, USA and other visa waiver countries from 2 May

Air New Zealand formed an alliance with Singapore Airlines back in 2014 which saw the Kiwi carrier returning to Singapore in January 2015, a service that was suspended when COVID worsened. 

Air New Zealand’s Auckland to Singapore schedule

Air New Zealand will operate 3X weekly flights between Auckland and Singapore as per the schedule below. Flights operate out of Changi Terminal 3. 

From 27 March to 2 April

The schedule you’ll probably be more interested in is the one below, which covers the period when New Zealand reopens its borders. 

From 3 April to 3 July

Further flights will be added from July 2022, though details have not yet been released. 

What cabin products can you expect?

Flights will be operated by Air New Zealand’s B787-9 aircraft, which comes in two different configurations: regular, and premium-heavy. 

Air New Zealand has said they will operate both versions to Singapore, so it really depends on your luck which one you end up on. Regardless, you’ll find that the seats are exactly the same. 

Business Premier seats are in a 1-1-1 configuration will all-aisle access, converting into a full-flat 2-metre long bed with a memory foam mattress. When picking seats, go for the A seats on the port-side, which have an aisle to themselves and are significantly more private than the J or K starboard-side seats. 

You can read a review of the Air New Zealand Business Premier product here. 

Premium Economy seats are in a 2-3-2 configuration, with a 41″ pitch and 9″ of recline. Passengers don’t get lounge access, but they do have priority check-in, amenities kits, and different catering from Economy (not always a given for some airlines!). 

You can read a review of the Air New Zealand Premium Economy product here. 

Economy seats are in a 3-3-3 configuration, with 31-33″ of pitch and 5″ of recline. The X-factor is the ability to buy an additional seat (or two, if you’re travelling solo) and stretch out something called Skycouch. 

Do note that you won’t be lying flat, unless you’re a child or very short. The width of three Economy Class seats is much less than the height of an average person, so you’re really paying for more privacy rather than a considerably better sleep experience. 

You can read a review of the Air New Zealand Skycouch product here.

Can you redeem miles for this?

Yes…theoretically. 

Air New Zealand is part of Star Alliance, so Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members can redeem miles for Economy and Business Class seats (but not Premium Economy). 

Redemption Cost from Singapore to Auckland (Flight on Air New Zealand)
	Saver (One-Way)
Economy	32,500
Business	74,000

In practice, however, it’s virtually impossible to find award space on this route. In all my years of doing this, I have never seen a single Business Class seat on Air New Zealand through KrisFlyer, and I’m starting to doubt if it even exists. 

If you want to redeem miles, you’ll have much better luck searching for Singapore Airlines award space.

Quarantine-free travel to New Zealand

From Sunday, 1 May 2022, 11.59 p.m, New Zealand will open its borders to visitors from all visa-waiver countries, regardless of travel purpose.

Travellers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (children aged 16 and under are exempt). New Zealand accepts any vaccine on the WHO list, so the Sinovac and Sinopharm crowd won’t encounter any issues.

They must apply for a NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), and present a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test, which can either be:

• A PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure of the first international flight to New Zealand
• A supervised ART taken within 24 hours of departure of the first international flight to New Zealand
• A supervised LAAMP test taken within 24 hours of departure of the first international flight to New Zealand

Further COVID-19 testing will be required on arrival, and on Day 5 or 6 day in New Zealand (the day of arrival is Day 0). Both tests will be self-administered ARTs, and results (whether positive or negative) must be reported.

You must report both RAT results, whether you test negative or positive.

You will receive an email from the New Zealand Ministry of Health after you complete your traveller declaration. Follow the instructions in the email and report your results using the link in the email.

You can also call the COVID-19 Test Results Line and leave a message with your result.

Call: 0800 432 010

-NZ Government

No isolation is required before/after either test. 

Further opening to travellers from non-visa waiver countries is expected to take place from October 2022, although this may be likewise accelerated now.

Conclusion

Air New Zealand has resumed service between Auckland and Singapore, ahead of New Zealand’s border opening on 2 May. 

It’s almost impossible to find award space, but if you’re willing to pay cash then this offers you another alternative beyond Singapore Airlines. 

I’m planning to head over to New Zealand as soon as it’s possible, so you can look forward to a trip planning post in late April.