Jay Janarthanan
I like to build, tinker and comment. You'll get my views on product, consumer rights and musings of New Zealand here. Aviation is my passion, but not a very qualified aviator.
The story of Hainan Airline's cancelled Auckland-Haikou flight
They cancelled our flight, we booked another one under the Montreal Convention. The story of compensation and consumer rights.
Read the story →Personal Projects
Auckland Waste add-on
A Home Assistant Add-on for managing Auckland's waste collection schedules.
Google Play Store
My Android apps - some going back to 2012!
Auckland Property Guide
My 40+ page book to help first home buyers buy their Auckland home
Data-Driven House Hunting
How I built a PostgreSQL database with geospatial data and a web app to transform house hunting from open homes to strategic property identification.
Using LoRA to Fetch Mail
Building a smart mailbox notification system using LoRA, ESP32, and Home Assistant that detects mail delivery from 150m away for just $30.
Flight Reviews
Air New Zealand NZ7
San Francisco to Auckland
A critical look at Air New Zealand's declining service and economy product on a trans-Pacific flight.
Air New Zealand NZ103
Auckland to Sydney
A disappointing showcase of Air New Zealand's cost-cutting measures, complete with PakNSave smoothies in business class.
Virgin Atlantic VS19
London Heathrow to San Francisco
One of the best economy class experiences I've had in many years. A review of Virgin Atlantic's 11-hour flight to San Francisco.
AirAsia X D7 206
Gold Coast to Auckland
A surprising and fantastic lie-flat experience across the Tasman on a low-cost carrier. Incredible value for money.
Singapore Airlines SQ286
Auckland to Singapore
An honest review of Singapore Airlines' Premium Economy product on their 777-300ER. See why it fell short of expectations.
China Southern CZ335/6
Auckland to Guangzhou
Taking a look at China Southern's long-haul economy product between Auckland and Guangzhou, and navigating their hub.
United Airlines UA917
San Francisco to Auckland
Excellent seat but disappointing service on United's 777 Premium Plus cabin.
Consumer Affairs
American Express — The Infuriating Credit Card
A critique of American Express credit cards in New Zealand: poor customer service, acceptance issues, weak travel insurance, and more.
Comparing NZ Credit Card Insurance Policies
A deep dive into the complimentary travel insurance policies across NZ credit cards.
Beating Mitre10 & Bunnings by 15%
A Chrome extension and guide to always get the best deal on hardware.
Optimising for the Cheapest Power in NZ
A data-driven analysis comparing power utility companies to find the cheapest electricity plans.