My dad is the first officer in this video. He’s so awkward, but it was adorable how excited he was when he got home and told us he was in a video 😂

14:44 When you hear "50, 40, 30, 20, 10", and especially "5", you know is a really, really smooth landing.

I'm a kiwi and I'm embarrassed by our business class seats. The worst in the world imo. Why they would design them to face away from the windows and facing other passengers and with your feet sticking out into the isle for everyone to see, is beyond me. Worst design ever.

People who work on flights are so hard working. To keep every person in a great mood for the whole flight you have to love your job. Thank you for posting

I really don't like the layout of those business class seats. no privacy, can't see out the windows, get your feet knocked by passer bys. I'm 6'6" (198cms) and fly business because there is absolutely no way I could survive 17hrs in economy.

It would be 10/10 if business class had a better layout.

As a pilot that used to operate those kind of flights I can tell you what many people don't realize on that routing is that once you coast out from Mexico there is really nowhere to go if you have a problem. It's quite a long time to reach any kind of diversion airport. My worst nightmare wasn't an engine failure but rather an onboard fire.

Nothing is ordinary about New Zealand; everything about this exceptional country fills me with pride.

As a kid it was always my dream to go to Australia. Never in a million years did I think I’d work for a major cruise line (for 6 year), and travel the world. At one point, I’d resigned. Eventually, I went back. The first itinerary when I came back? Australia / New Zealand, and everywhere in between. I was amazed by the beauty of New Zealand. I loved the bustling cities but also the stunning views that I never expected but now hope to see again in the future. The people were incredibly friendly and hospitable. I’ve never flown Air New Zealand, but it’s on my bucket list now.

As a Kiwi, helicopter pilot, and an Air NZ fan… loved this video!

Hi Sam, your the passenger with greatest access. Thanks for bringing us along on the first Ultra-long haul from New York to Auckland. Flying on 747 in the 70s, when I was a kid, I just can't imaging these flights. Wow!!!

I have never experienced flying in business class, always dreamed off and is on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing the experience and most importantly thank you for been genuine on all of your videos !

Thank you Sam for inspiring and helping me to create cool travel videos, it helped me boosting up my travel page to over 1k sub finally 😊😊✨✨ Air New Zealand’s flight attendants are really so friendly. They’re equally friendly to the economy passengers as they are to first class. The food is also amazing. Definitely one of my favourite airlines.

New Zealand it is so amazing ..and New Zealanders are so friendly and happy people . After visiting Australia ( people from Sydney are a pain in the neck … People fro. Melbourne are much nicer and open minded )…. I am not coming back to Australia …def going back to New Zealand ! Looking forward to get there ASAP

I have never flown to anywhere. It's pretty amazing to see the world through your eyes. You make the experience feel so real😊

Your videos really help people to make informed decisions about what to expect from specific air line companies. Thank you very much.

Air New Zealand is one of the best airlines in the World with one of the best cabin crew.

I like how you make your videos comprehensive...food,flight route,drinks,takeoff and landing,wings,views,airports and seating. Thank you.

Hooray for Air New Zealand for being so cooperative and forthcoming with this video. Good luck to them!

Sam, I've never seen you so excited and happy!! Just wonderful!

Omg miss all the familiar faces from the crew🥹so happy to see Lina my girl still living the best life of flying! Sending love to all of my NZ family 💜💜💜

Latina cougar behind the check in to start off the day nicely.

Fantastic video, and watching the behind the scenes on the airplane was amazing , very rare to see. Well done 👍

Strange layout, like being in a hospital. I'll stick to B777s. Great video and the access you get is incredible. Well done Air New Zealand

Wow what an amazing experience in the chopper. Love the video. Cheers from Belgium.

Didn't know you could just fly above an airport that way. Amazing views btw.

The quality at Air New Zealnd is really great. I flew 2 times from Singapore to Auckland and from Christchurch to Singapore, it was really great!! Air New Zealand is my #1 airline for long haul!!

Only Sam Chui can get that permit to fly over a JFK airport like that! Loved how the guys waved in the tower! Greetings from Sweden.

Sam while in New Zealand you need to catch a flight to Queenstown, the plane comes down between the mountains as it lines up for the runway the views are incredible.

Thanks for this Sam. I offloaded your flight in Auckland so it’s interesting what goes on inside while we’re outside working. Thanks for giving a shout out to Air New Zealand! Hopefully we’ll have an upgraded layout on our new aircrafts

Everything seems to be nice there; food, crew members, seats, NZ people... What a culture! Hopefully I can be there some day...

I really love air nz. Flew it domestically and to aussie, never a problem and super friendly and helpful staff

Thank you, Sam. Would loved to have such a helicopter tour of JFK and NYC!

Sam, you make it possible for mere mortals to share your unbelievable experiences! Many people would not be so generous. Thank you. 🙂

I'm so glad to do something like this. Well done Air New Zealand and also well done to you to doing it. ❤️

I flew the same flight recently and it was 17:30 hours long. Gotta love Air New Zealand

Man, I love Air New Zealand. I really miss the Auckland-Los Angeles-London flight (NZ1?). Absolutely our favorite way to go to London from California. We've never had a bad flight with Air New Zealand.

WOW 🤩 You get the best aerial view of places from a helicopter 🚁👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁

Great video. I have been travelling internationally by air for over 50 years and I have always had good service on Air New Zealand

I actually live in New Zealand but we been to Brazil. We live in Christchurch then flew to Auckland on a brand new A321neo. Then we gone on a Dreamliner from LATAM to get to Santiago. (it took 10 hours) Then a VERY VERY noisy A320-200 to get to Brazil. (3 of the longest hours of our life) We arrived in Sao Paulo then slept in Sleep Inn Guarulhos. Then in the morning, Very early, we went on an A320-300 from Azul to Belo Horizonte. (59 minutes) Then we spent 49 minutes on an ATR 72-500 also from Azul to Santana do Paraiso. We arrived in Ipatinga also known as Santana do Paraiso for 2 months. oh my goodness that is the longest text I ever written.

The black planes from New Zealand look incredible

What a great video, Sam. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. I enjoy watching your videos to see the different classes on the different airlines. The Air New Zealand staff seem so friendly. I am eagerly waiting to see how Emirates and others upgrade the A380 business class from Perth, Australia to Dubai/Europe as I am saving for the next two years just so I can fly business class. Your videos make it seem amazing. Please don’t stop posting.

Yes! Love the great engine sounds and cockpit footage included. You should do that more often

I live in New Zealand with my mother and I love aviation. I was talking with my mum one time and she told me all about her experience on air New Zealand, she told me that the flight attendant sat down on the two free seats next to her took off her shoes and put them all in her face. I told that was her experience but she wouldn’t listen to me.

Marvelous! Nice airline with beds! Love the cockpit views on a this nice new plane.

One of the few business class aircraft in the world where you can't see the outside.

Also what a thrilling helicopter trip over JFK and New York city. I like it .

Flew San Fran/Chicago to Auckland flight last year. Amazing service, Air New Zealand the best of the best!

That was a butter landing. We could even hear the 5 callout 🔥🔥

Mas de 16 horas de viaje, es alucinante el tiempo de vuelo. Buen vídeo Sam Chui.

It's so cool to see the Air NZ 787 mockup still being used after all these years. I designed and project managed the manufacture of that structure some time around 2011. It's been used in so many of their commercials, safety videos and physical mockups of future cabins throughout the years. It does have some signs of looking tired now though, when you look closely at least. It was a pleasure watching this video having watched so many of yours over the last couple of years. I hope you got to stay here for a few days at least? Also I can't believe that chap flew to New York just to turn around an fly back!

I can't believe a plane can fly that far with no stops. I can't help it, when ever I see the New York skyline on a clear day and see the Freedom Tower rising so high, I think of "that" day. It's etched in my mind, never to be forgotten.

I’m amazed Sam actually got to fly on a helicopter around JFK, that airport is a fortress. I would love to fly Air NZ sometime, the flight attendants look friendly and the food looks great.

I used to watch an Air NZ flying LAX to London pass my cabin in Minnesota about 11PM every night pre pandemic. Always wanted to fly tha route with them.

I had the best long haul flight with Air NZ Three years ago LA to Sydney in Premium Economy. You were treated like Business Class Passengers, food was prepared individually and bought to you individually, not on a heated trolly rack and on a round crockery plate with real cutlery. You had your name on the TV screen to welcome you to your seat. The personal attention you got from the cabin crew was amazing, I never felt like a Premium Economy passenger more like Business Class without the seat. Leg room at the time was amazing. I have flown Cathy Pacific, Lufthansa and Qantas Premium and they would not even come close to Air NZ. But looking at the video, it would appear that Premium now get the Standard Ready Made Meal, just a step up from Economy. I would hope that the service in Premium has not been downgraded. Air NZ at that time I’m sure would of been the Class Leader in Premium. Lufthansa was very average, Cathy about the same, Qantas was better but standard way too low compared to NZ at the time. I only just returned on Qantas a few days ago on Premium to and from London. A slight improvement on three years ago, but still substandard to Air NZ three years ago. I hope Air NZ have not gone backwards?

Nice to see that you are always happy and smiling, alot of people can learn from you. Good video again:)

It fills me with pride to see you showcase our brilliant national airline. I've flown many airlines, and Air New Zealand consistently is my preference. It feels like being home. The aircraft are so beautifully lit, and I love how our unique culture is so well shown to the rest of the world. I'm so glad they got you on board, Sam!

That is awesome! Wow, what flight that must of been! ❤

It’s the only airline we fly internationally as a family. Air NZ premium economy is fantastic. We have done several long haul in this class with them and the service and standard has been brilliant every time 😊 🇦🇺

WoW...Really Nice to see Air Traffic Control Waving..So Precious

Such an exciting flight. Aviation has come such a long way in long haul flights.

Been on a Dreamliner from Birmingham UK to Barbados, a 9-hour flight. The Dreamliner is a wicked aircraft, I have never known 9 hours pass so quickly, a truly beautiful aircraft in everyway

9 hour uninterrupted sleep must be a record or some really good ambien! Great quality video.

I once flew on a 787 ANZ flight from Hong Kong to Auckland. That was one of the best landings i've ever experienced.

Such a beautiful plane, beautiful country, amazing airline!

I absolutely love Air New Zealand

This looked like a nice straight and smooth flight. The food looked interesting.

Excellent, informative and interesting review. Thanks. Every single Air New Zealand crew member came across so well, and I am confident that was in no small way due to the warm personality of Sam Chui, who strikes me as the kind of person service providers would want to go the extra mile for. Those slanted inward angled seat are a novel layout that I have not seen before and the economy ‘bunk beds’ planned for the future look an interesting option; so great to see innovation like this. NZ is a future destination for me and after this video i will go out of my way to fly Air New Zealand. Not so sure about the nose rubbing on arrival though!

Great video, thanks Sam. Can't say I'm wowed by those Skynest beds. The word 'Coffin' springs to mind. I'm also not keen on the business class inward facing seats. I love to look out of the window on a flight, even a night flight. The bed configuration also doesn't look particularly comfortable. A shame because I'd definitely like to fly Air New Zealand - the crew looked so friendly and helpful.

For me the business class looks weird and you are sitting too close with your neighbours (unless you like chatting and staring at strangers)

Your videos are very well put together - better than most airline’s official content 👏

I'll be doing that in March!! So excited to go to New York!

Love the helicopter ride around JFK 👍

I'm all for direct long haul flights. The Sky Cabin will be an added bonus. It would be a amazing to be horizontal for four hours! Great meals and cabin crew. Another great video Sam! 👏👏👏

I have flown many times on AirNZ business class and found that layout works well.

Their menu is improving too, even for domestic flights within NZ. Like being served a 3 course meal. Plane probably only operates at half its maximum legal capacity, just so that it can make the very long trip. 200 is still a lot of passengers.

I just love you Sam (not in a creepy way lol) you're so full of energy and so happy and your videos make me smile. Don't ever stop posting. Love it

Flew often with Air NewZealand often since early 90's - always great service & later years we hit the pointy end of the plane. Food & service was excellent as we did the SYD - LAX run often for work during the Y2K crisis that never happened :)

I really enjoy your content. Revs up the juices to travel more.

I havent traveled in years but i recently discovered your vids Sam and i must say I love the videos. It reconnected me with traveling. Going to Mexico soon and planned to watch your vids on the trip. Keep up the good work❤

Capt. Chris collabing with Sam is one of the greatest moments in aviation social media!

I was actually tracking the inaugural flight, knew you would probably be there! Thanks so much for this video, keep up the good work.

I've never seen a pilot actually fly a plane, holding the wheel like that, bouncing. Very cool, thank you.

Excellent, Excellent, you are the best Sam. Magnificent video and my fellow Colombian stewardess was wonderful. Air New Zealand is awesome. Congratulations Sam.

17 hours on a flight is torture unless you're in first/business class

Air New Zealand has the best crew, food and service and the WORST business class seats ever

the long haul flight experience for me was from New York to Manila... in economy and i love it

Que agradable ver personal en la tripulación(auxiliar de vuelo) de mi país Colombia🇨🇴 en una aerolínea de un país tan distante, felicitaciones mujer, muy simpática y de actitud agradable 👍🏿👏🏿

Wow. As a former wine judge for Air NZ (and other international airlines) offering the TWR field blend and Kumueu River Mates Chardonnay (amongst the world's best) is very impressive for Business Class.

Air NZ has an impeccable safety record. They take pride in their legacy service to NZ. Great way to unite the world promoting a country's culture on-board their national carrier - loved hearing the Maori prayer prior to take off. Just had friends return from NZ and they loved Air NZ and the country of NZ.

Thank you for covering NZ :)

Sam...I am 69 years young and from the BIG Apple. I have lived in Toronto and employed by CAIL and then AC and am very familiar with NYC airport's. Welcome to NYC ! and as always, great post !

That seat layout..why..just Why? People actually get paid to make such terrible decisions. Heads should roll!

such an amazing video, Sam! thanks for uploading, as always. this video was well-timed as the fiance and I are considering having our honeymoon in new Zealand + fiji!

I would fly to New York just for that chopper flight! 😍

Wow - that helicopter tour intro was perhaps your best! Great video. And look at that food!

I did not realize that they blocked off that many seats. 17 hours is a long time in an aircraft especially in economy. Looking forward to their new seats in business

This same flight yesterday had to stop off in Fiji to refuel because there were stronger than forecast headwinds.

Marmite 😅 I love this, been enjoying it since I was a kid. Thank you for sharing all of this with us 🇳🇦

Emerites business class on the A380 is superb. Last one was from London to Auckland. I was genuinely sad to get off. The service and food was excellent.