Blackcloud

I cannot believe you remember this trip from 2012
Only thing I remember about you talking about it was that you got a cold at the start and had to carry on throughout your trip.

vecta

Great to see you back into writing reports again KF. Reading about your travels make mine seem pale in comparison!

ffI

Thank God. The suspense was getting a bit much.

Kiwi Flyer

Nagoya to Guam (NGO-GUM) on United 737-800 in business

The flight was lightly loaded which enabled doors to close a good 10 minutes early. Business class was full, and judging by the monitors at the gate mostly from upgrades.

No pre-departure drink but there was a drink and nuts served shortly after the initial climb out. No menu. Dinner was a choice of chicken or beef. I declined as I wanted to get some sleep on this sub 4 hour redeye flight knowing I had an awkward transit to an onward flight departing early in the morning. I didn't get a very good sleep - there was too much noise and apparently I wasn't yet tired enough.

We landed rather early - just what I didn't want as it means a longer transit and arriving at a busier time of the night thus longer immigration queues. The last time I transferred at Guam the experience was rather unpleasant. This time was better - immigration queue wasn't too horrible, and also worse - a few hours of waiting during the night before the lounge opens and my onward flight. To keep awake I roamed around the terminal area (landside and airside) doing laps.

When the United Club finally opened I entered, grabbed a drink and promptly dozed off in a comfy chair.

Kiwi Flyer

Guam to Honolulu (GUM-HNL) "island hopper" on United 737-800 in business

When I booked this ticket, months prior, ex-Continental flights still had "CO" flight numbers and schedule adjustments/alignments had yet to occur. My roundabout routing to Honolulu (Air New Zealand has a direct flight from Auckland) was so I could take the "island hopper", which flies from Guam to Trukk to Pohnpei to Kosrae to Kwajalein to Majuro to Honolulu (GUM-TKK-PNI-KSA-KWA-MAJ-HNL) as a single through-flight.

Some time before my trip, while doing one of my regular checks for any changes to bookings I noted my ticket had been amended by United without alerting me. The island hopper flight had been cancelled on the date I'd booked and they'd rebooked me on the previous day. Yes they had me booked to fly GUM-HNL the same time as I was booked to fly PVG-NGO-GUM within the same ticket. I don't understand how they could rebook an impossibility like this, and without telling me about it.

I was glad I spotted it as it meant I could get it sorted out in advance instead of grappling at the airport check-in with risk of being stuck, possibly for days if the flights are full. Not for the first time in my travels, I've learned that you cannot rely on the airline to inform you of changes to your itinerary nor rely on the airline to make a sensible rebooking.

Unfortunately my work schedule combined with airline schedules (no quick way to get to Guam from New Zealand) meant I couldn't change the preceding flights so as to make the island hopper the day before.

Fortunately, there was an easy option to rebook to. United initially didn't want to rebook me onto this easy option because it was a higher yielding flight, but when I pointed out it was their flight cancellation that caused the problem and I have other United flights on the same ticket they relented because the only alternative would have been even worse for them (rerouting me via Japan).

Kiwi Flyer

Guam to Honolulu (GUM-HNL) on United 777 in first

I was woken from my half-sleep by the sounds of people packing up and leaving the lounge. It was time for me to go. Normally I like to stay in a lounge as long as possible and board late in the process, but for American "domestic" flights I board early to ensure my rollaboard can be stowed near my seat and not nabbed by someone who pops their kitchen sink there to save hauling it to their seat back in row 92 or so.

While I was disappointed to miss out on the island hopper, the replacement at least was a better seat and being in first instead of business means more miles as well.

The flight is basically an all day flight, departing early when the sun is just thinking about rising and arriving at the only time of the day when waikiki looks good, ie sundown. Nonetheless, I was zonked out and slept the first two thirds of the flight. This meant I was hungry by the time I awoke. A flight attendant rustled up some fruit for me - the meal service having long gone.

I started to read some reports I'd brought with me, when I realised we must be getting close to Hawaii. So instead I opted to look out the window and daydream.

We got an international gate despite Guam being part of USA. There was no immigration or customs but bags were xrayed. We also had a longer walk from gate to landside than we would have at a domestic gate.

Kiwi Flyer

Honolulu to San Francisco (HNL-SFO) on United 757 in first

The next night (or the same calendar date thanks to crossing the dateline on the previous flight) I was back at the airport and checking in for a couple more flights.

There were 2 red eye flights to choose from. I'd picked the second figuring the later departure would make sleep easier and noting the lounge at SFO wouldn't be open for quite some time after the earlier flight arrives, with a scheduled arrival time of well before 5am.

Check in and security were fairly quiet. Security noted the small soap bars I carry appear funny on the machine but I was fine to keep them. I always make sure I have a couple of small bars of soap and a small towel in my bag - you never know when they are needed.

After a few laps of the terminal I settled into the lounge to chill out before departure.

Boarding started early and enabled an early push back. I managed to get to sleep quickly, so have no idea what meal was served. Unfortunately I awoke far too early and couldn't get back to sleep. I tried some liquid medicine and a few drinks seemed to do the trick. Seemingly not much later I was awoken for the announcements during our descent into San Francisco. I probably managed 2 hours or so of sleep.

We landed early. I headed for the lounge to grab a light breakfast (fruit & coffee) and to consider what to do during my transit.

Kiwi Flyer

San Francisco to Los Angeles (SFO-LAX) on United A319 in first

I thought I'd try a Continental flight as a change from flying United and American Airlines on this route. As noted before, this was given a United flight number before the trip. Selecting this flight meant I had a couple of hours before departure. Given how tired I was, sitting around in the lounge was likely to result in me falling asleep and missing the flight so I left and roamed around the terminal. I like how SFO airport has lots of displays, and artworks scattered through the terminal.

No early departure this time. The seats were similar but slightly different to the United domestic first seats I'd previously experienced many times. There was a tv in the seat back, which for about 30 minutes allowed free viewing of a limited selection of programs before reverting to a request to swipe a credit card. Given the short flight and great views outside there didn't seem any point in paying for tv halfway through the flight.

The "meal" consisted of coffee and what was called a biscuit but seemed to be a dry scone to me. Certainly nothing like a cookie which is what I'd call a biscuit. Funny how English language is subtly different in different parts of the world.

Anyway, I enjoyed the scenery to get much rest and resigned myself to being tired until night time. At least I didn't have an overnight flight tonight, nor an early morning start. I could lie in and recover.

Kiwi Flyer

Los Angeles to London Heathrow (LAX-LHR) on Air New Zealand 77W in business

The next day I was at check in just as it opened for the flight, some 2 hours before departure. As usual there was a big queue waiting, in part because check in opens unusually late for an international flight. I think this is to do with the through passengers not needing to check in and thus there is only half a plane load to check in at LAX. Anyway, it can be annoying if you are connecting to this flight and were'nt able to get a boarding pass at the prior airport.

The evening flights out of Los Angeles to Auckland (and Rarotonga) don't have this issue as check in is open several hours before those departures.

After about 30 minutes in the premium queue I was given some boarding passes and made my way up through security to the lounge. As with security at many US airports, there is a premium boarding pass check but this saves virtually no time as the queue is just as long as the non premium boarding pass check and goes to the same security queue.

I was warmly welcomed back to the lounge. Due to issues with the secure transit facility (namely no one seems capable of fixing the toilet), the lounge fills up with more passengers. Previously transit passengers were actively discouraged from attempting to clear main immigration to use the lounge and strongly encouraged to clear immigration in the holding pen and remain there for the transit. With the broken toilets this isn't possible and all transit passengers end up airside in the terminal after immigration processing at the pen. The result is a crowded lounge. So Air NZ decided to remove the business centre and replace it with lots more seats jammed in. The lounge is not the nice place that it used to be, although still useful for a good shower if transiting (tip - hurry to the lounge as these are in high demand) or a few pre-departure NZ wines (although here too the quality has dropped somewhat in recent years). The food used to be great and is now merely passable. Still good to have the option of eating in the lounge before a late night departing flight to New Zealand so as to maximise sleep time onboard.

This will all change in 2014 when Air New Zealand moves to TBIT at Los Angeles, where incidentally it is managing the brand new Star Alliance lounge. I guess that may be one reason why the lounge has gone downhill - there is a limited time left for the current lounge.

However, today I was headed in the opposite direction to London. The lounge isn't quite as full at this time but the food and drink didn't interest me as I'd planned to eat onboard. I was quickly bored and went back into the terminal - firstly to pick up something to help with this cold I couldn't shake, and secondly to wander and stretch my legs before boarding began. If I'd stayed in the lounge I would have been escorted to the gate, but really you don't need it as the terminal is small and the space near the gate which lounge staff make for premium lounge passengers to board can also be utilised by premium passengers who didn't just come from the lounge.

I had my usual seat, and as usual the flight appeared to be full. I was quickly into my seat and started watching a movie while boarding continued. I was offered a drink, a newspaper, another drink, a hot towel, another drink. The menu and amenity kit were already on the seat when I boarded. I'd also grabbed a magazine from the rack on my way to the seat, noting the selection was getting worse and worse.

We pushed back slightly late. As Air New Zealand uses terminal 2 (for now) it is a short taxi to the active runway and we are soon airborne heading briefly offshore before turning northward.

Meal service on 77W is much slower than on the older 744 or 772 aircraft due to limitations of the galley, and more complicated menus. I don't mind too much on afternoon departures like this one as I'm a slow eater anyway and prefer not to be rushed over meals. I can quite happily spend several hours enjoying a great first class meal out of Japan for example. However, for evening or late night departures it is more problematic and there is a battle between sleep and food - what do you need most?

We're leaving Canada behind and approaching Greenland by the time I'm done with dinner and I sleep for a few hours until being awoken around the Isle of Man with the usual pre-arrival announcements. England is blanketed in low cloud and rain and I see nothing until moments before touchdown. Of course, we get the obligatory laps over southern England before we are allowed to land. Thanks to strong tailwinds en route, we still made it in quite early, despite the laps and a long taxi to terminal one.

Kiwi Flyer

Air New Zealand
Business Class menu
Los Angeles to London
April 2012


Dinner

To begin

Smoked salmon,
watercress shoots, toasted almonds, burnt orange mayonnaise

From the bakery

Wholegrain sourdough bread, garlic bread, olive bread

Mains

Pan fried cod
on smoked potato mash with wilted spinach and ginger roasted carrots with water chestnut and caper salsa

Caramelised garlic and parsnip soup
with crispy leek and sage

Lamb two ways
with seared loin and braised lamb shank with pancetta fried potatoes, minted peas and confirt tomatoes

Angus beef burger
with salad greens, red onions, cheese and bacon served with beetroot and mustard seed chutney

To finish

Ice cream sundae
with pineapple and coconut ice cream, passionfruit mango coulis and ginger crunch

Meyer lemon meringue tart
with cookie crumb crust and mascarpone vanilla cream

Fresh fruit selection

Cheese

New Zealand cheese selection
of Kapiti Kakariki brie, Kapiti Kahurangi blue and Kapiti aged cheddar served with fig relish and a cracker selection


Breakfast

Get yourself started with a strawberry smoothie or your choice of juice.

From the pantry

Fresh fruit salad

Wild berry compote

Non fat plain yoghurt

Non fat plain yoghurt with wild berries

Honey nut granola

Raisin Bran

Weet-Bix

Corn Flakes

From the bakery

Croissant

Wholewheat, white or raisin pecan toast with your choice of :
Marmalade
Strawberry jam
Marmite
Vegemite

From the stove

Waffles
with fresh strawberry compote and banana whipped cream

Scrambled eggs
with chicken and sun dried tomato sausage, streaky bacon, cherry tomatoes and herbed potatoes

Poached eggs
on English muffin with smoked salmon, asparagus, tomato and hollandaise sauce

Hot bacon roll
a warmed roll, buttered and filled with grilled bacon, offered with caramelised onion jam and barbecue sauce


Self-service snacks

Help yourself from our range of snacks available for you to enjoy during your flight.


Drinks

Wine

The premium wine selection onboard this flight has been chosen by our wine consultants : John Belsham of Foxes Island Wines, Kate Radbund of CJ Pask Winery and Jim Harre, nationally recognised wine judge. For details of our onboard wines, refer to your Air New Zealand Wine Guide.

New Zealand Sparkling Wine

Fresh, bright, lifted nose with toasty notes. The palate shows strawberry and lemon with rich yeast flavours. Elegant and well balanced with a long lingering aftertaste.

Champagne

G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge, France
The bubbles are rich on the palate, but never over-powering. The perfect balance is combined with a rounded, full vinosity. The mix of fresh fruit and caramel aromas give even more intensity to the finish. This is a subtly balanced wine with a remarkable capacity to linger in the mouth.

Spirits

Glenfiddich Malt Whisky, Chivas Regal Blended Whisky, Jack Daniel’s Black Label, Gordons Gin, 42 Below Vodka, Courvoisier VSOP, Coruba Rum, Ron Bacardi Superior

Port and Liqueurs

Portuguese Port, Grand Marnier, Baileys Irish Cream

Beer

A selection of beer featuring Steinlager Pure, Export Gold, Heineken and low alcohol lager.

Cold drinks

Mineral water, orange juice, apple juice, tomato juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, cola, lemonade, L&P (sparkling lemon drink), tonic water, ginger ale, diet cola, diet lemonade.

Hot drinks

Freshly brewed coffee, decaffeinated coffee, English Breakfast tea, chamomile tea, lemon and ginger tea, decaffeinated tea, raspberry, strawberry and loganberry and cranberry and pomegranate, Earl Grey tea, peppermint tea, jasmine green tea, hot chocolate

Mrp Alert

I am so glad to see you are posting again. This is making my current train ride pass quickly.

Kiwi Flyer

London Heathrow to Frankfurt (LHR-FRA) on Lufthansa A321 in business

Since the last time I'd made this connection, both Air New Zealand and Lufthansa had moved to terminal one (from T3 and T2 respectively) so no bus ride around the bowels of the airport. However there is the obligatory long walk from a gate miles from flight connection centre, followed by a lengthy queue for transfer security. For some reason at LHR the flight connection centre is at least several degrees warmer than the rest of the terminal so I'm always glad to get through and head to the lounge for a shower. As I already had the onward boarding pass at least I didn't have to stop at transfer desk. For some airlines (not Lufthansa) the transfer desk at LHR is only manned for a couple of hours before departure, which can make entry into the lounge for a medium to long transfer reliant on the lounge agent accepting you in without a boarding pass - sometimes it works and sometimes you get denied.

Anyway, this time I didn't need to use transfer desk but instead used the star alliance lounge showers followed by a visit to the business centre to catch up on emails and sort out some arrangements for the next couple of days.

I made my way to the gate at the appropriate time. Boarding was delayed because it was a shared gate and the other flight was mid-stream of boarding a bmi flight to somewhere in Asia. With the late boarding we were late departing.

A lunch was served and I managed a short kip on the relatively short bumpy flight. When I awoke there wasn't any view until a few minutes before landing. We landed on the furthest runway from the terminal but had a speedy taxi. I thought we'd get a remote stand but was surprised with an airbridge gate near the end of the pier. A long walk to immigration and I was soon off to my hotel.

Kiwi Flyer

Lufthansa
Business Class menu
London to Frankfurt
April 2012


Meal

Styrian Pumpkin Salad with Tuna Strip

Goat's Milk Cream Cheese Tartar on Parsley Pesto

Bean Salad made of Five Different Beans aromatised with Cumin, Savory, Dried Diced Tomatoes and Red Chilli

Balsamic & Pear Jelly Cubes

Kiwi Flyer

Frankfurt to Bologna (FRA-BLQ) on Lufthansa 737-300 in business

The next day I was back at the airport for more flying. As I already had the boarding pass I bypassed check in. No immigration since I remain in the schengen zone. Just a quick run through security using the priority lane and off to the lounge nearest my departure gate. Since my previous visit to this lounge the computer terminals had been removed. So much for my plans to check on some things for the rest of the day, and for tomorrow. I was glad I'd done some prep the day before while in transit in LHR.

The lounge was crowded so I left early and wandered around. FRA is big, even just staying in the schengen zone it took me quite a while to do a single lap. By the time I got back to my gate boarding had started.

European business class gets lots of flack for merely being an empty middle seat, but for the most part I don't mind it given the flights are for the most part only 1-2 hours. Legroom could be a bit more generous though.

I'd caught up on sleep and hoped to get good views crossing the alps and of the countryside generally. However, it was fairly cloudy most of the way with only the highest part of the alps above the clouds. We were on target to land early but a heavy rainstorm caused a zig-zag approach and instead we arrived on time.

Kiwi Flyer

Lufthansa
Business Class menu
Bologna to Frankfurt
April 2012


Meal

Frankfurters on "Anapuma" Lentil Salad and Herbed Quark

Grune Sauce (herbal green sauce, a Frankfurt specialty) with Potatoes

Egg and Parsley

Frankfurter Schnitte (a slice of cake)