I love Air New Zealand, would pick them hands down over any airline, always have great service and are happy to help with anything!

That has been my experience with AirNZ too. Almost without exception the staff are friendly, helpful and professional. Check in is smooth and easy thanks to clever use of technology.

Now if they could just do something about the standard of food in the Koru lounge ...

Wow, you were very fortunate. Go Vieve and Finn for being awesome, and Go Air NZ for showing customer service. Though it should be said that you have to ask for the service, just like if you are bigger you have to ask/check if you can fit into a seat. I heard of a woman on an AKLD to HongKong flight being stuck in her chair for the whole flight and wasnt able to get out. The staff at the flight centre knew she might need another seat but they cant offer it. So word of warning ASK is you think u will need help. Good luck with the teething Donnelle

I've flown all sorts of airlines, and only ever fly Air NZ now. They are the best!

I love Air NZ too. Always try and fly them when coming back to NZ. As for children on planes, while the sound of crying children is nails down a black board (for me anyway) with small babies you know it cant be helped and tolerance is called for. What grates me is toddlers/small children who are left to their own devices by their parents and cause annoyance to other passengers by kicking seats, running around the plane, climbing all over their seats and the seats of people next to/in front of them. I love seeing parents who actively entertain their kids with activities and have planned ahead to make sure their kids have stuff to do to minimise the interference to other people. I hate seeing parents who fall asleep and leave their kids to entertain themselves for three+ hours to the detrement of other passengers. Hope your trip home goes well!

I just want to know how you can tell whose baby is whose when you go to pick them up off the conveyor-belt along with the rest of your luggage...? ;-)

Like you, I was horrified when reading that news report. Good on you for pointing out a superior alternative for high-flying parents.

What great service. We flew to Australia recently with Pacific Blue and honestly they didn't give two hoots about any parents traveling with young children. To top it all off our pram was one of the items put onto a different flight due to excessive weight (even though we were well under) and only found this out when we arrived in Brisbane, so we had 4 days without it. Arriving back in Wellington at 12 am we were one of last passengers to leave the plane and get through customs, by this time our youngest had a major meltdown. Just a dreadful experience. Never again.

Air NZ are definitely the best when it comes to flying with kids. I've flown out of a number of airports in NZ with my son and even though the cost may be higher than other 'budget' airlines, knowing that the service is consistently good makes up for it. I first flew with my son when he was 8 mths old - Air NZ was so good they booked out the seat next to me in case I needed it - no charge to me! My son is now 6, and has been flying for the last year as a unaccompanied minor - it's a scary thing letting your little one go off on his own in a plane - but Air NZ are very reassuring, they have their processes in place and you just know that your little ones are being looked after. Again, costs a bit more than the budget ones, but how do you put a price on piece of mind? Go Air NZ!!

I've been hearing an awful lot of bad press about JetStar recently. Not to put too fine a point on it, they sound like complete [expletive deleted].

"...but was content ferociously gumming his pacifier"

Perhaps these should be issued to all nervous fliers?