Air New Zealand Matchmaking At Altitude and In Auckland

Matchmakers Mingling and Posing (Photo by Rick Friedman)

When it comes to dating, I usually want what I can't have. When a guy takes an instant shine to me, I suspect he has a character defect. When a guy is unavailable (i.e., married, gay or dead), I'm drawn like a moth to a flame.

More than one third of the hundred singles on Air New Zealand's October 13th Matchmaking flight from LAX to Auckland said they were onboard for the fare -- not the matchmaking -- just like me. I suspect many secretly hoped sparks might fly at 30,000 feet, just like me.

At least two couples had real chemistry at altitude between Los Angeles and Auckland. Corinne, a pretty brunette from West Los Angeles, had won her ticket on the flight through a dating service in Los Angeles called The Lek. She had a friend getting married that Sunday so would only be in Auckland for three days. While competing against the other single ladies to get the most names and numbers written in a passport book, a charming Air New Zealand pilot named Dave distracted her.

Dave had been introduced to all the women in our cabin as single and available and had already caused several hearts to flutter -- including my own.

Corinne and Dave (Photo by Rick Friedman)

After writing his name and number in Corinne's passport book, Dave asked her to call him, so he could take her to dinner that night. Although he signed other passports, Corinne was the only passenger he asked out. As I disembarked the flight, I asked Dave if the rumor was true that he had met a pretty brunette on the flight. He turned beet red, which I considered a "yes."

It wasn't until the next day when Corinne climbed the Auckland Bridge with me that I learned she was the brunette. Prior to our bridge climbing adventure with A.J. Hackett Bungy, Corinne had gone sailing with Dave. The night before he had taken her to dinner, and they discovered they both were tri-athletes and loved sailing.

And Corinne might never have called him if Dave hadn't waited for her to get through customs and reassured her that he sincerely hoped she would call.

Score One for Air New Zealand.

Captain and Crew Member facilitating mingling (Photo by Rick Friedman)

Sparks flew for at least two other passengers (who requested I withhold their names). Air New Zealand seated them next to each other in the rear of the cabin where neither would normally sit. The woman, an American, normally says hello to someone seated next to her just before plugging her ears with her iPod's ear buds to avoid all further conversation. She makes it a policy to never chat past the initial hello.

Since a matchmaking flight was clearly going to be chatty, she put her iPod aside and spoke to her seat-mate. Much to her surprise, she and the Kiwi (who now lives in California) hit it off. He kept her laughing for most of the flight. But sadly, he was not planning to attend the Ball and was going to board another flight that morning to visit family that weekend in Wellington. He was so smitten by his flight companion that he booked a return flight to Auckland so he could come back for the Matchmaking Ball.

When I saw her at the Ball after we had both had a bit to drink, she told me he still really made her laugh. I think she may have worried he was only funny in flight. Since it was a singles ball, she tried to mingle but whenever she was chatting with another guy, she thought about him. It was clear to me that she preferred his company to anyone else's at the Ball. Isn't that what chemistry is all about?

Score Two for Air New Zealand.

Matchmaking Flight Crew at the Ball (Photo by: Rick Friedman)

As for me, I had danced and had too much to drink. I met a Scotsman in a kilt from Wellington who teaches tourism at the University there, but I think we are more destined for friendship than romance. One single woman just past 50 told another journalist at the Ball that she had not found love, but the matchmaking flight gave her a reason to get a passport for the first time in her life.

Whether sparks fly or not, a matchmaking flight makes flying coach a lot more fun, especially when the flight is followed by a Matchmaking Ball in the stunning ballroom of the Wharf at Northcote Point in Auckland.

Matchmaking Ball at The Wharf in Auckland (Photo by Rick Friedman)

Don Cuts the Rug with Kate (Photo by Rick Friedman)

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