Video: Love is in the Air as Air New Zealand's Matchmaking Flight Departs Los Angeles

Video: Love is in the Air as Air New Zealand's Matchmaking Flight Departs Los Angeles

Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney lead 100 singles on a southern hemisphere search for love

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Love is literally in the air tonight as 100 singles depart Los Angeles, jetting across the Pacific on Air New Zealand's Matchmaking Flight. The world-first singles cabin is bound for Auckland, with travelers hoping to meet their match either in flight or on the other side of the ocean. The Bachelor's Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney hosted a pre-party at the departure gate at Los Angeles International Airport this evening and will be on board the flight as official matchmakers.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/airnewzealand/40539/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091014/NY92200 )

"An adventure like this doesn't come around very often and we love that these travellers are willing to take a chance on love and to open their minds to new experiences," said Mesnick. "New Zealand is a very special place for us, and we couldn't be happier to be invited by Air New Zealand to return, allowing us to escalate our love and commitment to each other."

The 30,000-foot matchmaking experience will include a themed cabin, complimentary party packs, food and drink designed to spark romance, matchmaking advice from Jason and Molly, speed dating and other ice-breaking games. Once in Auckland, the passengers will mix with single New Zealanders at the ultimate South Pacific coupling experience. The Great Matchmaking Party will kick off with a cocktail pre-party at SKYCITY'S ultra-glam new bar, twentyone. Travelers, along with single New Zealanders, will then head to the official bash at The Wharf on Northcote Point followed by an after-party back at SKYCITY.

"Air New Zealand wants to bring back the romance, fun and mystery of flying to our passengers, and in the process we hope to deliver exciting, life-changing travel experiences," said Kathryn Gregory, marketing director, Air New Zealand -- the Americas. "The Matchmaking Flight idea was conceived to help connect our passengers to us, one another, and to the possibilities of New Zealand."

To help Matchmaking Flight ticket holders connect with one another before the flight, Air New Zealand created an online social network -- www.thematchmakingflight.com -- for single Americans and New Zealanders to upload profiles, share stories and photos for six months before the departure date. Almost 700 singles took advantage of the platform, with one group even leveraging the network to arrange on-ground travel itineraries to tour New Zealand with other Matchmaking Flight members.

Images by photojournalist, Rick Friedman and B-roll of the pre-party event are available at http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/airnewzealand/40539/

Additional photos from the flight and more extensive B-roll footage will be available for download at https://portal.crt-tanaka.com/ANZMatchmakingFlight/default.aspx from Wednesday, October 14.

Username: anzmedia
Password: 10092az

About Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand offers more direct flights to the South Pacific than any other airline, including non-stop flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Vancouver to New Zealand, as well as Los Angeles non-stop to the Cook Islands and Samoa. Other popular destinations include Australia, China, Japan and Tonga. In addition to flying non-stop Los Angeles-London, Air New Zealand's route between London and Hong Kong now allows customers to fly round-the-world on one airline. Consistently rated among the world's best international airlines, Air New Zealand's new Inflight Concierge Service provides all passengers with a range of services, from travel advice to assistance with onward bookings. Air New Zealand's most recent accolades include "Best Business Class to Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific" for the third straight year by Business Traveler Magazine (USA) "Best Transpacific Airline" at the 26th Airline Industry Awards, "Best Passenger Service" award by Air Transport World magazine, and "Best Business Class Red Wine" for the Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005 at the 2007 Cellars in the Sky awards. United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles and Air Canada's Aeroplan members earn and redeem mileage on select flights. Flight and vacation essentials can be booked on AirNewZealand.com or by calling 1-800-262-1234 in the USA and 1-800-663-5494 in Canada. Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance network.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091014/NY92200
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comVideo: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/airnewzealand/40539
Source: Air New Zealand

CONTACT: Susannah George of CRT/tanaka, +1-310-659-5380,
+1-818-312-5408, sgeorge@crt-tanaka.com, for Air New Zealand

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