20 HOURS ULTRA LONG HAUL in Qantas 787-9 Premium Economy from Sydney to Auckland to New York

Join me as I fly one of the longest premium economy journeys out there—Sydney to New York via Auckland on Qantas’ 787-9. Qantas’ premium economy seat is honestly one of the best in the world. The recline and footrest make a huge difference, and I ended up getting some really solid sleep—though mine was actually broken, along with a few others in the cabin. Service was excellent as always. Qantas crews are consistently lovely and professional, and the food was a big highlight—tasty, good quality, and plenty of it. The only letdown was breakfast, which just didn’t hit the same level. Routing through Auckland was actually a great experience. Security took a bit of time, but that’s all we had to do—no customs, no bags—way easier than transiting through LAX. That said, the aircraft itself was showing its age more than expected. VH-ZNC is only about 8 years old, but there were noticeable dirty marks around the cabin and galley, multiple broken footrests, and even some speed tape on the wing—totally safe, but not the best look. Still, between the seat, service, and overall comfort, this was a really enjoyable way to get to New York—and one I’d definitely take again. Flight Information Airline: Qantas Airways Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Registration/Name: VH-ZNC/Quokka Flight Number: QF3 Flight Time: 18:01 (not including 2 hour stopover) Seat: 21K, Premium Economy From: Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) - Australia To: New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) - United States Stopover: Auckland (AKL) - New Zealand Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026 Social Instagram: new.york.aviation Email: [email protected] Equipment Camera: Sony ZV-E1, iPhone15 Pro, GoPro Hero 12 Editing Software: Final Cut Pro 2026 Copyright Agreement Footage or Photos: Videos or photos with a New York Aviation watermark are fully owned by New York Aviation and are protected by YouTube Copyright laws. If you wish to use New York Aviation content, please contact before use. 🇺🇸 New York Aviation 2026