For Jetstar this was a special flight. It was their first Dreamliner to fly to and from New Zealand. The 787 has been purchased by the airline to replace their Airbus A330 fleet, which will be absorbed into the fleet of parent Qantas, and based on the list of Boeing-supplied specs it’s the kind of plane that makes sense for a low-cost, low-fares carrier like Jetstar. It apparently burns less fuel more efficiently, has lower maintenance costs and is far more flexible.

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But these high tech advances have already been well-covered across the media. What about Jetstar’s Dreamliner passenger experience? This is a low-cost airline, and has been known in New Zealand for making economies on passenger comfort compared to the more full-service airlines. But surprisingly, Jetstar’s Dreamliner seems different.

PHOTOS: The Jetstar Dreamliner's inaugural Auckland flight

The airline put us media up front in their Business Class, where the configuration is 2-3-2 seats across the twin aisles with a generous pitch of 38 inches. Three rows make the capacity 21. The leather seats are comfortable enough with plenty of recline, come with a 10.6 inch touchscreen in-flight entertainment unit (IFE) and USB power, which is pretty standard on any modern business class now. The class is an interesting touch from the self-professed leisure airline, but the way it’s positioned in the market in terms of price puts it up against the premium economy of other airlines. It is closer to the business class of old than the modern business products of perhaps Emirates or Air New Zealand, but the price reflects that and I certainly think this kind of product has a market.

I did spend some time down back in the economy cabin where 314 seats are configured in 3-3-3, with a standard low-cost carrier pitch of 30 or 31 inches. At over six feet in height I have had trouble finding comfort on Jetstar’s A320 economy class, but this feels different. Boeing has built the Dreamliner with a much roomier cabin - the ceiling height being noticeably higher -, and it’s that little bit of extra breathing room around you that makes all the difference. Of course, those of us more endowed in the leg length department might still find the need to walk about the cabin occasionally, but again the spaciousness makes that feel a whole lot better too. It’s less of a cramped bus and a lot closer to what mid-range air travel should be.

The addition of IFE screens on every economy seat is another nice-to-have. It is credit card-operated, but that’s becoming more common worldwide and fits Jetstar’s pay-for-what-you-use price model. The only drawback was that the angle of the screens seems to be just a bit too high for smaller children, meaning many ended up on their knees. It does seem like a slight oversight given one of the IFE’s most effective uses is keeping potentially rowdy young ones at bay for at least part of the flight.

Lastly, if there’s one thing Jetstar seem to get is service. This is not a full service airline, and customers know that so there’s no expectation to be waited on hand and foot. The cabin crew are friendly, but above all else are very efficient. It’s that efficiency, of course, that helps the airline with its tight turnarounds and keeping staff levels that are cost productive - all in the name of low fares.

The verdict? A great aircraft, surprisingly good passenger comfort and the kind of quick but friendly service one might expect from Jetstar. If you are flying Jetstar and happen to get a Dreamliner sector, consider yourself lucky because you’re in for a surprisingly good flight.

• Airline: Jetstar
• Flight: JQ214
• Route: Auckland - Melbourne (Tullamarine)
• Aircraft: Boeing Dreamliner 787-8
• Date: Wednesday 26 February 2014

Jetstar is flying the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner between Auckland and Melbourne, three times a week for the month of March. Josh White travelled courtesy of Jetstar.

Photo / Josh White / Newstalk ZB