Christchurch to Sydney   

THE PLANE

Boeing 737-800

THE LOYALTY SCHEME

One World

CLASS

Economy, seats 6 D, E & F

DURATION

3 hours 20 minutes

THE FREQUENCY 

One Qantas flight daily in both directions. There are also daily codeshare flights with Emirates.

THE SEAT

The seat pitch is 30 inches (76 centimetres) and width is just over 17 inches(44 centimetres). It's a 3-3 layout for the 156 economy class seats. There is a business class cabin in front with 12 seats. 

BAGGAGE

Checked bags up to 23 kilograms, plus one carry-on bag and one personal item (such as a handbag).

ENTERTAINMENT

The Q Entertainment system offers 16 newish release movies, TV shows, music, radio and games. While the kids are tuned to Spiderman 2 and Rio 2, I finish watching the brilliant Tracks (which I'd started on the flight over), then sob my way to Sydney through The Fault in Our Stars.   

COMFORT

If you fly long haul regularly, hops across The Ditch seem like a doddle, but the timing of this flight makes it uncomfortable. A 6.30am departure from Christchurch means we have to get up at 4am. Even though we're staying five minutes down the road at an airport hotel, it's not an ideal start to the day when you're travelling with kids. I'm sandwiched between my two kids to avoid a fight, so I have to put up with elbows in the ribs and my son repeatedly knocking my headphones out of the socket. 

SERVICE

Friendly and efficient. 

FOOD

There are two options for breakfast - the "healthy choice" of Weetbix and fruit, or scrambled eggs, chicken sausage and tomato. I opt for the latter, which leaves me wondering - and not for the first time - why airlines get economy class breakfasts so wrong. What do they do to those eggs?

ONE MORE THING...

The kids' meals are served before the rest of the meals which is a blessing. Their frittata fares better than the scrambled eggs. 

THE VERDICT

Flying between Sydney and New Zealand is easier than flying to Perth and despite the early start, this short hop reaffirms what a good choice New Zealand is for overseas family travel.

Tested by Sally Webb and her children who flew with the assistance of Qantas and New Zealand Ski Tourism.