Nuitari
Feb 22, 04, 4:48 am
Since the majority of the flying was done on CX, I am putting it in this forum.
This is 2 separate tickets, one from YUL to AKL, another from AKL to CHC. I was very lucky and always got exit rows.
First flight is AC YUL-YYZ at 18h00. The plane got switched from an A321 to a 767-300. Looking at the boarding card that was left behing in the seat pocket it probably came from FRA-YUL. Pretty standard flights, departed and arrived on time. The check-in clerk managed to have my bags checked all the way to AKL. However I had to do checkin again at YYZ Terminal 3. Didn't have to drag around my own luggage, which is good. Flight was about half full.
Next flight was YYZ-HKG on CX829. Managed to get seat 54D on a 343, which is an aisle seat near the bassinet. There was one very calm and tranquil baby with 3 adults. The flight was half full and they moved about in the cabin to get more space. This allowed me to plug my headphones into another seats entertainment console and not risk ruining the connector. Note: On exit rows, the PTV is integrated differently and intrudes on the seat's width. They also put the connector for headphones sideways, which further reduce the space. On other seats, the connector is on the angle in front of the armrest. There was a dinner service between YYZ and YVR, a snack early on for YVR-HKG and a breakfast about 2h before landing. The food is quite good for economy cabin, and you can get instant noodle cups for free at anytime. You need to be good with chopsticks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
The seat pitch between rows on CX seems to be an inch or 2 smaller then AC's pitch on the 767. Can someone confirm ?
An important note on 54D, in front of the seat there is the door that allows access for the crew to some kind of rest (presumably) area at a lower level. It's probably not a good idea to stretch as to block the door from opening.
The flight was uneventful, except for a bunch of turbulences with seatbelt sign. Speed was between 680km/h and 825km/h, depending on winds. Total time: about 20h.
Arrived at HKG, I went to get some sleep at the hotel (can't sleep on planes). It costed 120$ for 6h. Nice room.
I took the HKG-AKL flight that left at 1535 (CX117). This one "just" 11h. Pretty much the same as before, except that I got the "window" exit row seat. Not worth it as there is no view, better to take an aisle seat. Pretty much the same as the YYZ-HKG flight.
The pilot didn't turn on the seatbelt sign as often as on CX829.
Auckland landing, as expected, was quite bumpy. Flight was oversold in all classes.
After I took QF4117 from AKL to CHC. I expected my luggage to be hand searched at AKL, but it didn't happen. When I checked in, the clerk didn't mention the extra luggage I got (they only allow 1 20kg bag and I had 2 30kg bags).
After getting to the Qantas terminal, I inquired about being able to get the QF4115 flight (about an hour earlier) and they told me I'd have to buy a new ticket as mine was not changeable. This is really ridiculous as they would have had more chance in selling a last minute seat on QF4117 then on QF4115.
The plane is a 737-300. The take off was bumpy and the landing was quite shaky at best. It was probably the landing that made me the most nervous. I got the seat 9C (exit row aisle). Pretty normal flight otherwise.
This is 2 separate tickets, one from YUL to AKL, another from AKL to CHC. I was very lucky and always got exit rows.
First flight is AC YUL-YYZ at 18h00. The plane got switched from an A321 to a 767-300. Looking at the boarding card that was left behing in the seat pocket it probably came from FRA-YUL. Pretty standard flights, departed and arrived on time. The check-in clerk managed to have my bags checked all the way to AKL. However I had to do checkin again at YYZ Terminal 3. Didn't have to drag around my own luggage, which is good. Flight was about half full.
Next flight was YYZ-HKG on CX829. Managed to get seat 54D on a 343, which is an aisle seat near the bassinet. There was one very calm and tranquil baby with 3 adults. The flight was half full and they moved about in the cabin to get more space. This allowed me to plug my headphones into another seats entertainment console and not risk ruining the connector. Note: On exit rows, the PTV is integrated differently and intrudes on the seat's width. They also put the connector for headphones sideways, which further reduce the space. On other seats, the connector is on the angle in front of the armrest. There was a dinner service between YYZ and YVR, a snack early on for YVR-HKG and a breakfast about 2h before landing. The food is quite good for economy cabin, and you can get instant noodle cups for free at anytime. You need to be good with chopsticks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
The seat pitch between rows on CX seems to be an inch or 2 smaller then AC's pitch on the 767. Can someone confirm ?
An important note on 54D, in front of the seat there is the door that allows access for the crew to some kind of rest (presumably) area at a lower level. It's probably not a good idea to stretch as to block the door from opening.
The flight was uneventful, except for a bunch of turbulences with seatbelt sign. Speed was between 680km/h and 825km/h, depending on winds. Total time: about 20h.
Arrived at HKG, I went to get some sleep at the hotel (can't sleep on planes). It costed 120$ for 6h. Nice room.
I took the HKG-AKL flight that left at 1535 (CX117). This one "just" 11h. Pretty much the same as before, except that I got the "window" exit row seat. Not worth it as there is no view, better to take an aisle seat. Pretty much the same as the YYZ-HKG flight.
The pilot didn't turn on the seatbelt sign as often as on CX829.
Auckland landing, as expected, was quite bumpy. Flight was oversold in all classes.
After I took QF4117 from AKL to CHC. I expected my luggage to be hand searched at AKL, but it didn't happen. When I checked in, the clerk didn't mention the extra luggage I got (they only allow 1 20kg bag and I had 2 30kg bags).
After getting to the Qantas terminal, I inquired about being able to get the QF4115 flight (about an hour earlier) and they told me I'd have to buy a new ticket as mine was not changeable. This is really ridiculous as they would have had more chance in selling a last minute seat on QF4117 then on QF4115.
The plane is a 737-300. The take off was bumpy and the landing was quite shaky at best. It was probably the landing that made me the most nervous. I got the seat 9C (exit row aisle). Pretty normal flight otherwise.