Jaunted

The In-flight Concierge job was created as part of the airline’s long-haul international service aboard its Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft, initially on flights between New Zealand and San Francisco, then Vancouver, and now between Los Angeles and London, with plans to extend it to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.

Though the In-flight Concierge introduces him or herself personally to the passengers in the airline’s lounge, they also announce their presence before the flight to all the passengers so that if any of them have questions about the flight’s destination, or would like suggestions about what to do while there, they can ask at any time. It's not all fun and games however for the Concierge, as he or she helps with the food and beverage service alongside regular flight attendants.

The Concierges are trained to help passengers with everything from the practical logistics of navigating customs and immigration, to offering lists of local restaurants and off-the-beaten-path sightseeing activities, as well as their own personal favorites for what to do at the destination. They usually stock guidebooks and other materials onboard, and they're happy to write up lists of what they discuss and recommend. However, we particularly like the democratic nature of the In-flight Concierges since they’re available to all passengers of all service classes.

We managed to snag some face time with Michele in the Koru Lounge before our flight so that she could tell us exactly what her job entails, as well as what she’s been enjoying in London and Los Angeles lately. To discover more about her unique position and what she’s been up to lately, check out our video above, or go inside a photo gallery of LAX's Air New Zealand Koru Lounge here.

[Photos and video: Jaunted]