Trip Report (and kudos)
Jan 8, 2002 | 12:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Canada (formerly New Zealand)
Posts: 401
Trip Report (and kudos)
Hi Everyone
Here's a recent trip report, for what it's worth...
Itinerary: DUD-AKL-LAX-YYZ-LAX-AKL-CHC-DUD (Q fare). AirNZ flights throughout, but AC metal on LAX-YYZ-LAX.
Because we pre-cleared U.S. customs at YYZ, we didn't have to claim our baggage at LAX, so it was smooth sailing. However, we did spend three miserable hours at T2 LAX, which is perhaps the worst terminal in any airport I've been in (we don't have access to lounges as I'm only *A Silver and my wife is as Basic as you can get...that didn't come out right...). I actually couldn't wait to get on the plane - which my wife, facing her first 12 hour flight, found really hard to grasp.
Interestingly, when we checked in at YYZ, while we were given boarding passes right through to DUD, our luggage, at first, was checked through to CHC only. I noticed this as the agent was putting the tags on and asked about it. "Oh," he said, "it must be because it is more than 24hrs so I can't tag it." "But," I countered, "if you can get it tagged all the way to CHC, the CHC-DUD flight is on the same day as the AKL-CHC flight, so what gives?" He concluded that we would have to have them fully tagged at AKL. Fair enough, but something didn't seem right. At that point, he noticed that another tag had been printed that just had "DUD" on it. Presto. Solved. I think he was making the story up, though. It's not necessary, of course, but having pre-tagged luggage makes going through the domestic transfer desk a breeze.
The trans-Pacific flight on the 400 (both ways) was absolutely fabulous. Forget UA or QF - NZ is truly the way to go if you must travel economy. Pacific Class seats are very supportive and really quite comfortable. The 34" pitch is a treat. It's what business class was 20 years ago (or so I've been told).
I had 34D on the AKL-LAX leg and 29H on LAX-AKL. My wife and I were originally at the back of the LAX-AKL flight, but Mike from AirNZ (on the phone) slotted us into 29H and 29J. Thanks again, Mike, if you're reading this. FAs were attentive and very friendly on all flights.
The only downside (and I don't really consider it a downside, just a small hiccup that is bound to happen every now and then) was that one piece of luggage didn't make it with us on the AKL-CHC-DUD return leg. Not a problem: the fellow at DUD was very helpful and understanding (I wasn't even remotely upset - I knew the bag was somewhere in NZ, likely CHC, as we cleared it through Customs and MAF at AKL). We both assumed it didn't make the connection at CHC (30 min turnaround, which I think is bordering on illegal, but generally plenty of time for pax), and there was another flight coming in at 2.30. He said he'd have it delivered to our house in Dunedin. Sure enough, a fellow came up the path around 5pm that day with the bag. I offered him a coffee, and we had a good yarn. One woman chewed him (and AirNZ) out that day because one of her bags went astray.
Congrats, AirNZ. Superior in every regard.
Enough rambling - a safe and happy 2002 to all...
Cheers
David
Dunedin
Here's a recent trip report, for what it's worth...
Itinerary: DUD-AKL-LAX-YYZ-LAX-AKL-CHC-DUD (Q fare). AirNZ flights throughout, but AC metal on LAX-YYZ-LAX.
Because we pre-cleared U.S. customs at YYZ, we didn't have to claim our baggage at LAX, so it was smooth sailing. However, we did spend three miserable hours at T2 LAX, which is perhaps the worst terminal in any airport I've been in (we don't have access to lounges as I'm only *A Silver and my wife is as Basic as you can get...that didn't come out right...). I actually couldn't wait to get on the plane - which my wife, facing her first 12 hour flight, found really hard to grasp.
Interestingly, when we checked in at YYZ, while we were given boarding passes right through to DUD, our luggage, at first, was checked through to CHC only. I noticed this as the agent was putting the tags on and asked about it. "Oh," he said, "it must be because it is more than 24hrs so I can't tag it." "But," I countered, "if you can get it tagged all the way to CHC, the CHC-DUD flight is on the same day as the AKL-CHC flight, so what gives?" He concluded that we would have to have them fully tagged at AKL. Fair enough, but something didn't seem right. At that point, he noticed that another tag had been printed that just had "DUD" on it. Presto. Solved. I think he was making the story up, though. It's not necessary, of course, but having pre-tagged luggage makes going through the domestic transfer desk a breeze.
The trans-Pacific flight on the 400 (both ways) was absolutely fabulous. Forget UA or QF - NZ is truly the way to go if you must travel economy. Pacific Class seats are very supportive and really quite comfortable. The 34" pitch is a treat. It's what business class was 20 years ago (or so I've been told).
I had 34D on the AKL-LAX leg and 29H on LAX-AKL. My wife and I were originally at the back of the LAX-AKL flight, but Mike from AirNZ (on the phone) slotted us into 29H and 29J. Thanks again, Mike, if you're reading this. FAs were attentive and very friendly on all flights.
The only downside (and I don't really consider it a downside, just a small hiccup that is bound to happen every now and then) was that one piece of luggage didn't make it with us on the AKL-CHC-DUD return leg. Not a problem: the fellow at DUD was very helpful and understanding (I wasn't even remotely upset - I knew the bag was somewhere in NZ, likely CHC, as we cleared it through Customs and MAF at AKL). We both assumed it didn't make the connection at CHC (30 min turnaround, which I think is bordering on illegal, but generally plenty of time for pax), and there was another flight coming in at 2.30. He said he'd have it delivered to our house in Dunedin. Sure enough, a fellow came up the path around 5pm that day with the bag. I offered him a coffee, and we had a good yarn. One woman chewed him (and AirNZ) out that day because one of her bags went astray.
Congrats, AirNZ. Superior in every regard.
Enough rambling - a safe and happy 2002 to all...
Cheers
David
Dunedin
