Mini Tour of NZ
Mar 6, 2007, 10:29 am
#76
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AUCKLAND to PALMERSTON NORTH (AKL-PMR) on NZ ATR 72-500
This day jaunt around the regions will allow me to knock off a couple more unflown (by me) domestic routes. It is a challenge getting too many previously unflown routes on the same day thanks to the network schedules and NZ’s fare structure which precludes roundabout routings thus forcing longer connections. Still, I am not unhappy with my planned trip today. For I will complete an unflown route with few flights and tricky connections. Plus I will get to see some wonderful parts of the country at low speeds from reasonably low altitude – hopefully the weather is clear enough.
Out to the airport for an early start. I pop over to the international terminal first to pick up some more departure cards and restock my supply. I like to have a stash of these so I can fill them out in advance to save time on my many international trips, and am down to the last couple. This travel year, however, is shaping up to be more focussed on domestic so I wonder whether I should have bothered collecting the forms today. Never mind, with luck my international travel shall pick up again later in the year.
Having collected some forms, and knowing that domestic security will not be open too early, I am in no hurry and so walk slowly in the dark across to the domestic terminal. The path is reasonably well lit. There is a procession of connecting passengers making their way across to domestic. I watch them pass me thinking, why the rush, for while the domestic terminal is already open the security checkpoint lounge and most shops will not be open yet. The birds which live in the Pohutukawa trees are noisily waking up and competing with the noise of the rush of early morning longhaul arrivals and departures to Australia. I think the jets win, but the birds try their best.
As expected the quick check machine is unable to check me in due to the number of flights. So I head to the koru club / star alliance gold check in line. It doesn’t take long. I change a seat on one flight (I had been given seat 2F which has no window on that aircraft type), and I ask the agent to force the boarding pass for the final flight of the day which for some reason hadn’t printed out automatically.
A small wait for security to open. Despite being fully manned they were not going to open before 6am. When it opened I was about the fourth person through, yet managed to be the first to leave the security screening station thanks to my well practiced swoop to collect my carry-on without a pause as I walk past. Hence I am first into the lounge. Yay no wait for the coffee machine. I grab one before the lounge fills up.
I have enough time to check emails, read a bit of the newspaper and have another coffee before the flight is called. Sure enough it is the far end prop gate (47), so I walk fast given the lateness of the boarding call relative to departure time. Again I’m last to board, and the flight is full. We leave on time.
As we climb southbound the sun is rising and illuminating the land in a soft light. I notice the extensive fog patches in Waikato – an early start to the winter fog season. The whiteness of the fog in the valleys and basins contrasts against the colours of the low hills and long shadows cast by the low sun.
The FAs do the usual tea/coffee/water/mini biscuit run. They start from the front of the aircraft, so by the time they get to the preferred seats (at the back thanks to boarding being from the rear) the flight is nearly over. If I’d had a hot drink there may not have been enough time to drink it before descent. Just before landing we get boiled sweets, as usual.
The central volcanoes are partly obscured by cloud but the skies are clear enough to see Lake Taupo, the barren acidic lands as well as plantation forests and thick bush. We descend over the hill country north of Palmerston North.
This day jaunt around the regions will allow me to knock off a couple more unflown (by me) domestic routes. It is a challenge getting too many previously unflown routes on the same day thanks to the network schedules and NZ’s fare structure which precludes roundabout routings thus forcing longer connections. Still, I am not unhappy with my planned trip today. For I will complete an unflown route with few flights and tricky connections. Plus I will get to see some wonderful parts of the country at low speeds from reasonably low altitude – hopefully the weather is clear enough.
Out to the airport for an early start. I pop over to the international terminal first to pick up some more departure cards and restock my supply. I like to have a stash of these so I can fill them out in advance to save time on my many international trips, and am down to the last couple. This travel year, however, is shaping up to be more focussed on domestic so I wonder whether I should have bothered collecting the forms today. Never mind, with luck my international travel shall pick up again later in the year.
Having collected some forms, and knowing that domestic security will not be open too early, I am in no hurry and so walk slowly in the dark across to the domestic terminal. The path is reasonably well lit. There is a procession of connecting passengers making their way across to domestic. I watch them pass me thinking, why the rush, for while the domestic terminal is already open the security checkpoint lounge and most shops will not be open yet. The birds which live in the Pohutukawa trees are noisily waking up and competing with the noise of the rush of early morning longhaul arrivals and departures to Australia. I think the jets win, but the birds try their best.
As expected the quick check machine is unable to check me in due to the number of flights. So I head to the koru club / star alliance gold check in line. It doesn’t take long. I change a seat on one flight (I had been given seat 2F which has no window on that aircraft type), and I ask the agent to force the boarding pass for the final flight of the day which for some reason hadn’t printed out automatically.
A small wait for security to open. Despite being fully manned they were not going to open before 6am. When it opened I was about the fourth person through, yet managed to be the first to leave the security screening station thanks to my well practiced swoop to collect my carry-on without a pause as I walk past. Hence I am first into the lounge. Yay no wait for the coffee machine. I grab one before the lounge fills up.
I have enough time to check emails, read a bit of the newspaper and have another coffee before the flight is called. Sure enough it is the far end prop gate (47), so I walk fast given the lateness of the boarding call relative to departure time. Again I’m last to board, and the flight is full. We leave on time.
As we climb southbound the sun is rising and illuminating the land in a soft light. I notice the extensive fog patches in Waikato – an early start to the winter fog season. The whiteness of the fog in the valleys and basins contrasts against the colours of the low hills and long shadows cast by the low sun.
The FAs do the usual tea/coffee/water/mini biscuit run. They start from the front of the aircraft, so by the time they get to the preferred seats (at the back thanks to boarding being from the rear) the flight is nearly over. If I’d had a hot drink there may not have been enough time to drink it before descent. Just before landing we get boiled sweets, as usual.
The central volcanoes are partly obscured by cloud but the skies are clear enough to see Lake Taupo, the barren acidic lands as well as plantation forests and thick bush. We descend over the hill country north of Palmerston North.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:33 am
#77
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PALMERSTON NORTH to CHRISTCHURCH (PMR-CHC) on NZ Q300
This is a busy time of day at Palmerston North with 3 of the 4 aircraft types of NZ Link (regional flights for Air New Zealand) here – the ATR of Mount Cook Airlines, the Q300 of Air Nelson and the Beech 1900D of Eagle Air. Only the SF3 of Air Nelson, currently in the process of being replaced by Q300s, is missing.
I pay the departure tax of NZ$5 at the shop since I don’t have the right change for the machine (only $1 and $2 coins accepted with no change given). Then pick up the security code for the lounge at check in and make my way into the lounge. I notice, as expected, that the security code has changed since my previous visit. The lounge is empty at first but soon several others visit. Still it is not very full and plenty of room for all. There is toast and yoghurt, biscuits, tea, coffee, water, juice and soft drink. The fridge has wine and beer also. There are a couple of magazines and brochures but no newspapers.
Boarding is called and I head downstairs to the gate. There is a wait thanks to the airport employee who checks the departure tax being away from the gate. C’mon it isn’t that hard to coordinate the calls, surely? I wonder just how worthwhile the exercise is, of collecting departure tax at small provincial airports. Palmerston North has long had it, and more recently Rotorua and Hamilton have succumbed to the allure of extra revenue. In all cases they need to hire extra staff to dispense the tax stickers, as well as checking the boarding passes at the gate. Palmerston North and Hamilton also have machines which dispense the stickers. Given the relatively low numbers of passengers, I would expect a significant proportion of the revenue collected is spent on collection costs (or possibly even more than the revenue in the case of Hamilton with its overabundance of employees involved in the process). Meanwhile they annoy both locals (who already pay for the airport through rates) and visitors alike with the pettiness of it all.
Once the employee pops out from a back door we are allowed to board. Thus we leave a little late (as do the other 2 flights). The flight is very empty so I have an empty seat besides me. In the time on the ground the cloud cover has mostly burned off. We take off and climb across the plains. Nice views over the sand dunes into Cook Strait. But then we turn and fly over the ranges, seeing the wild mountains not too far below us and farmed valleys opening out into lowlands on either side. We fly down the Hutt Valley and over Wellington’s harbour. Below and to the right we see a few aircraft flying in and out of the airport.
The coastal ranges along the northeastern South Island are cloaked in thick cloud, spilling over the summits, but we fly in clear skies. The rugged coastline and deep valleys are clearly visible. As we pass Kaikoura I notice several boats heading out for whale watching and fishing. I look but don’t see any whales!
We cross the northern Canterbury coast and over the low hills before flying over the vast plains. We descend and turn over Burnham army camp. We overfly the Clearwater Golf Course which has recently hosted the NZ PGA.
This is a busy time of day at Palmerston North with 3 of the 4 aircraft types of NZ Link (regional flights for Air New Zealand) here – the ATR of Mount Cook Airlines, the Q300 of Air Nelson and the Beech 1900D of Eagle Air. Only the SF3 of Air Nelson, currently in the process of being replaced by Q300s, is missing.
I pay the departure tax of NZ$5 at the shop since I don’t have the right change for the machine (only $1 and $2 coins accepted with no change given). Then pick up the security code for the lounge at check in and make my way into the lounge. I notice, as expected, that the security code has changed since my previous visit. The lounge is empty at first but soon several others visit. Still it is not very full and plenty of room for all. There is toast and yoghurt, biscuits, tea, coffee, water, juice and soft drink. The fridge has wine and beer also. There are a couple of magazines and brochures but no newspapers.
Boarding is called and I head downstairs to the gate. There is a wait thanks to the airport employee who checks the departure tax being away from the gate. C’mon it isn’t that hard to coordinate the calls, surely? I wonder just how worthwhile the exercise is, of collecting departure tax at small provincial airports. Palmerston North has long had it, and more recently Rotorua and Hamilton have succumbed to the allure of extra revenue. In all cases they need to hire extra staff to dispense the tax stickers, as well as checking the boarding passes at the gate. Palmerston North and Hamilton also have machines which dispense the stickers. Given the relatively low numbers of passengers, I would expect a significant proportion of the revenue collected is spent on collection costs (or possibly even more than the revenue in the case of Hamilton with its overabundance of employees involved in the process). Meanwhile they annoy both locals (who already pay for the airport through rates) and visitors alike with the pettiness of it all.
Once the employee pops out from a back door we are allowed to board. Thus we leave a little late (as do the other 2 flights). The flight is very empty so I have an empty seat besides me. In the time on the ground the cloud cover has mostly burned off. We take off and climb across the plains. Nice views over the sand dunes into Cook Strait. But then we turn and fly over the ranges, seeing the wild mountains not too far below us and farmed valleys opening out into lowlands on either side. We fly down the Hutt Valley and over Wellington’s harbour. Below and to the right we see a few aircraft flying in and out of the airport.
The coastal ranges along the northeastern South Island are cloaked in thick cloud, spilling over the summits, but we fly in clear skies. The rugged coastline and deep valleys are clearly visible. As we pass Kaikoura I notice several boats heading out for whale watching and fishing. I look but don’t see any whales!
We cross the northern Canterbury coast and over the low hills before flying over the vast plains. We descend and turn over Burnham army camp. We overfly the Clearwater Golf Course which has recently hosted the NZ PGA.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:36 am
#78
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CHRISTCHURCH to BLENHEIM (CHC-BHE) on NZ Beech 1900D
Arriving at a prop gate means I need to go through security to get to the lounge. We arrive at a busy time with both screening lines having a long queue. Once inside I grab a nice lunch while I catch up on some work. Food on offer includes pies, fresh sandwiches with several different fillings, lamingtons and biscuits, cheese and crackers, fruit, rolls. For liquid refreshment the usual array of beers (22), wines, soft drinks, water, juice, tea, coffee etc.
The transit passes quickly and boarding is called with a mention of being final call. I take that to mean boarding has long since started and I am the only passenger in the lounge. So I head to the gate (only a short walk downstairs at Christchurch) to be greeted “Welcome Kiwi Flyer”. Yup I am the last passenger to board again. The flight is again full. Since we are parked at the end of the pier, the taxi is very short and we race out ahead of a pair of taxiing 737s – one Air NZ and the other Qantas.
I was taking this flight which closely retraces the flight path taken not long before. This was not deliberate, for both these flights were firsts for me and just happened to be convenient schedule and price-wise. This flight was lower and a little closer to the mountains. We saw several boats returning to Kaikoura.
The Richmond Ranges provided protection for Blenheim and the Wairau Valley thus they were clear of the clouds. We flew over the dry hill country to the south of Blenheim, past the wineries and turned tightly 270 degrees over Renwick to land.
Arriving at a prop gate means I need to go through security to get to the lounge. We arrive at a busy time with both screening lines having a long queue. Once inside I grab a nice lunch while I catch up on some work. Food on offer includes pies, fresh sandwiches with several different fillings, lamingtons and biscuits, cheese and crackers, fruit, rolls. For liquid refreshment the usual array of beers (22), wines, soft drinks, water, juice, tea, coffee etc.
The transit passes quickly and boarding is called with a mention of being final call. I take that to mean boarding has long since started and I am the only passenger in the lounge. So I head to the gate (only a short walk downstairs at Christchurch) to be greeted “Welcome Kiwi Flyer”. Yup I am the last passenger to board again. The flight is again full. Since we are parked at the end of the pier, the taxi is very short and we race out ahead of a pair of taxiing 737s – one Air NZ and the other Qantas.
I was taking this flight which closely retraces the flight path taken not long before. This was not deliberate, for both these flights were firsts for me and just happened to be convenient schedule and price-wise. This flight was lower and a little closer to the mountains. We saw several boats returning to Kaikoura.
The Richmond Ranges provided protection for Blenheim and the Wairau Valley thus they were clear of the clouds. We flew over the dry hill country to the south of Blenheim, past the wineries and turned tightly 270 degrees over Renwick to land.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:37 am
#79
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BLENHEIM to WELLINGTON (BHE-WLG) on NZ Beech 1900D
My planned meeting during the transit had fallen through. So I asked if I could switch to the earlier flight which was lightly loaded. Of course you can, if you pay $200. Ah, no thanks. So instead I knuckled down to some work and a walk to stretch my legs.
I wondered why my pre-allocated seat was so far back on this flight, and I was unable to move forward at check in. Once onboard it became apparent that it was for balance purposes as well as keeping 3 single parent families together. At least on this small aircraft deplaning is fairly quick.
We take off towards the east and cross Cook Strait at low altitude. We have barely stopped climbing before we turn to the south and descend across the northern suburbs. I have travelled across Cook Strait more than a hundred times in the air and dozens of times by ferry. The flight time of under 20 minutes is far quicker than the average time by ferry (3 ½ hours, although current ferries can do it slightly faster) and much quicker than the slowest ferry trips in rough weather (some 8 hours!). In fact the flight time is as short as the time it takes to get between airport and city centre in Wellington.
I never tire of the views flying between the main islands of New Zealand. There is a lot of variety within the views out each side. Behind us towering mountains and wide valleys. Off to the left the bush clad hills marking the edges of the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds. The land snaking out in all directions into the Strait like hair been blown by strong winds. A few islands and islets dot the sea past the end of the stands. Most are small but D’Urville Island in the middle distance is big with mountains indistinguishable from the mainland from this angle and distance. Sheltered coves, some with sandy beaches and others rocky, are abundant with lots of yachts the easiest sign to identifying the many baches and lodges they are moored in front of, for the buildings themselves nestle in the bush. Out the other side we have the rugged cliffs of the southwest corner of the North Island. In behind the suburbs of Wellington draped over the hills and gullies. We fly near the northern Porirua Harbour, named for its two branches, low over the hills to Wellington Harbour. The houses built up to the ridge on the western side while the eastern side is a faultline that plunges to the motorway and sea.
We land and pull in to a gate that is familiar, but only when flying jet aircraft. For the airport is so full of prop aircraft at the moment that we park at a jet gate. So the walk across the tarmac and up to the lounge is shorter than I expected.
My planned meeting during the transit had fallen through. So I asked if I could switch to the earlier flight which was lightly loaded. Of course you can, if you pay $200. Ah, no thanks. So instead I knuckled down to some work and a walk to stretch my legs.
I wondered why my pre-allocated seat was so far back on this flight, and I was unable to move forward at check in. Once onboard it became apparent that it was for balance purposes as well as keeping 3 single parent families together. At least on this small aircraft deplaning is fairly quick.
We take off towards the east and cross Cook Strait at low altitude. We have barely stopped climbing before we turn to the south and descend across the northern suburbs. I have travelled across Cook Strait more than a hundred times in the air and dozens of times by ferry. The flight time of under 20 minutes is far quicker than the average time by ferry (3 ½ hours, although current ferries can do it slightly faster) and much quicker than the slowest ferry trips in rough weather (some 8 hours!). In fact the flight time is as short as the time it takes to get between airport and city centre in Wellington.
I never tire of the views flying between the main islands of New Zealand. There is a lot of variety within the views out each side. Behind us towering mountains and wide valleys. Off to the left the bush clad hills marking the edges of the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds. The land snaking out in all directions into the Strait like hair been blown by strong winds. A few islands and islets dot the sea past the end of the stands. Most are small but D’Urville Island in the middle distance is big with mountains indistinguishable from the mainland from this angle and distance. Sheltered coves, some with sandy beaches and others rocky, are abundant with lots of yachts the easiest sign to identifying the many baches and lodges they are moored in front of, for the buildings themselves nestle in the bush. Out the other side we have the rugged cliffs of the southwest corner of the North Island. In behind the suburbs of Wellington draped over the hills and gullies. We fly near the northern Porirua Harbour, named for its two branches, low over the hills to Wellington Harbour. The houses built up to the ridge on the western side while the eastern side is a faultline that plunges to the motorway and sea.
We land and pull in to a gate that is familiar, but only when flying jet aircraft. For the airport is so full of prop aircraft at the moment that we park at a jet gate. So the walk across the tarmac and up to the lounge is shorter than I expected.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:39 am
#80
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WELLINGTON to AUCKLAND on NZ 737
The transit is short. So short that at the time of entering the lounge there is an announcement to head to the gate to prepare for boarding. I check the time and realise it is still early, so I ignore the announcement. I grab one of the 22 different beers on offer and a quick bite to eat. Soon the boarding is announced, so I head for the gate. At the screening station there is still a reasonable queue despite boarding being well underway. It seems I am not the only passenger to ignore the earlier announcement.
The flight was full. For a while it looked like I would have a row to myself, but the very last 2 passengers to board were alongside me. Oh well. We leave a little late. Being an evening flight there is buy on board drinks and snack food, or free water tea or coffee. A fairly new addition to the service is the screening of an inflight tv programme. However there was no sign of the earplugs mentioned in the magazine as being available for purchase at the gate, nor was there any mention onboard. So we got to watch a program in silence
The monthly inflight magazine has recently been rebranded Kia Ora (hello or welcome in Maori) but other than some style differences is essentially the same as previously.
I catch up on reading some papers but still spend some time looking out the windows at the passing volcanoes, sea and lowlands. We land straight in across the Manukau Harbour in a fine summery evening.
The transit is short. So short that at the time of entering the lounge there is an announcement to head to the gate to prepare for boarding. I check the time and realise it is still early, so I ignore the announcement. I grab one of the 22 different beers on offer and a quick bite to eat. Soon the boarding is announced, so I head for the gate. At the screening station there is still a reasonable queue despite boarding being well underway. It seems I am not the only passenger to ignore the earlier announcement.
The flight was full. For a while it looked like I would have a row to myself, but the very last 2 passengers to board were alongside me. Oh well. We leave a little late. Being an evening flight there is buy on board drinks and snack food, or free water tea or coffee. A fairly new addition to the service is the screening of an inflight tv programme. However there was no sign of the earplugs mentioned in the magazine as being available for purchase at the gate, nor was there any mention onboard. So we got to watch a program in silence
The monthly inflight magazine has recently been rebranded Kia Ora (hello or welcome in Maori) but other than some style differences is essentially the same as previously.I catch up on reading some papers but still spend some time looking out the windows at the passing volcanoes, sea and lowlands. We land straight in across the Manukau Harbour in a fine summery evening.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:40 am
#81
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AUCKLAND to WELLINGTON (AKL-WLG) on NZ 737
Another day and again out to the airport early. This time I have few enough flights that I can use quick check machine and improve on the seats pre-allocated. For this first flight I had a dilemma. The forward rows where I was allocated were all blocked out. Further back there appeared to be plenty of room – ie the flight was half full at best. Did this mean the seat beside me was blocked but not taken, or did it mean Air NZ had filled up the cabin in the front and therefore a seat further back would be nicer? I decided to play safe and change for a seat further back that I expected would remain an empty row. I probably would have been okay staying where I was.
Again no earplugs at the gate but this time the onboard purchase was announced. I didn’t see anyone buying them. Not a good start, but then the inflight IFE (such as it is – just the same program being shown) has hardly been advertised either.
Today it is cloudier and thus views are not very good. We land on time and I head to the lounge where I meet up with Blackcloud, have several coffees and late breakfast.
Another day and again out to the airport early. This time I have few enough flights that I can use quick check machine and improve on the seats pre-allocated. For this first flight I had a dilemma. The forward rows where I was allocated were all blocked out. Further back there appeared to be plenty of room – ie the flight was half full at best. Did this mean the seat beside me was blocked but not taken, or did it mean Air NZ had filled up the cabin in the front and therefore a seat further back would be nicer? I decided to play safe and change for a seat further back that I expected would remain an empty row. I probably would have been okay staying where I was.
Again no earplugs at the gate but this time the onboard purchase was announced. I didn’t see anyone buying them. Not a good start, but then the inflight IFE (such as it is – just the same program being shown) has hardly been advertised either.
Today it is cloudier and thus views are not very good. We land on time and I head to the lounge where I meet up with Blackcloud, have several coffees and late breakfast.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:42 am
#82
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WELLINGTON to TAUPO (WLG-TUO) on NZ Beech 1900D
The time until my flight passes quickly and all too soon the flight is called. Followed a minute later by another call. I guess they are waiting for me (again), so rush off to the end of the finger pier. Sure enough they had already closed the gate and were packing up when I arrived. I take my seat and there is one seat free. There is a delay while they offload some bags – the flight is too heavy. Then after some debate they decide to put some of the offloaded bags back on. Then the last passenger turns up and they take some more bags off. All the while it is very stuffy inside on a warm day with no air ventilation. When they finally close the hold and passenger doors and start up the aircon comes as a relief.
Thus we left a little late. We rush onto the runway in between two landings and then take off. We head north across Cook Strait past the sweep of the North Island coastline. The mountain ranges surrounding Nelson and the cone of Taranaki marking the western end of the strait to our left. After what seems an age compared to the more usual jet flights north we recross the coast beside Wanganui and head inland up the rugged hill country. As we go the cloud gradually builds. The rivers snake through deep gorges, their course so tortuous that it is impossible to tell upstream from downstream.
By the time we reach the volcanic plateau the cloud cover is extensive and we only get glimpses of the terrain below. We fly over Tongariro and descend, emerging from the cloud near Turangi township and the small Tongariro delta. The anglers amongst the readers may be familiar with the Tongariro River as the source of the Waikato (New Zealand’s longest river) and a prime fishing spot. A decade ago it was devastated by ashfall from the Ruapehu eruptions and made acidic. It has since cleared nicely and indeed the protective barriers for the high current lahar risk are designed specifically to keep the debris from entering the Tongariro River system and thus Lake Taupo.
We fly low over the bluffs of the eastern shoreline of New Zealand’s largest lake. From this viewpoint the awesome size of the Taupo supervolcano is hard to comprehend. I certainly hope to never live through an eruption of this monster.
The time until my flight passes quickly and all too soon the flight is called. Followed a minute later by another call. I guess they are waiting for me (again), so rush off to the end of the finger pier. Sure enough they had already closed the gate and were packing up when I arrived. I take my seat and there is one seat free. There is a delay while they offload some bags – the flight is too heavy. Then after some debate they decide to put some of the offloaded bags back on. Then the last passenger turns up and they take some more bags off. All the while it is very stuffy inside on a warm day with no air ventilation. When they finally close the hold and passenger doors and start up the aircon comes as a relief.
Thus we left a little late. We rush onto the runway in between two landings and then take off. We head north across Cook Strait past the sweep of the North Island coastline. The mountain ranges surrounding Nelson and the cone of Taranaki marking the western end of the strait to our left. After what seems an age compared to the more usual jet flights north we recross the coast beside Wanganui and head inland up the rugged hill country. As we go the cloud gradually builds. The rivers snake through deep gorges, their course so tortuous that it is impossible to tell upstream from downstream.
By the time we reach the volcanic plateau the cloud cover is extensive and we only get glimpses of the terrain below. We fly over Tongariro and descend, emerging from the cloud near Turangi township and the small Tongariro delta. The anglers amongst the readers may be familiar with the Tongariro River as the source of the Waikato (New Zealand’s longest river) and a prime fishing spot. A decade ago it was devastated by ashfall from the Ruapehu eruptions and made acidic. It has since cleared nicely and indeed the protective barriers for the high current lahar risk are designed specifically to keep the debris from entering the Tongariro River system and thus Lake Taupo.
We fly low over the bluffs of the eastern shoreline of New Zealand’s largest lake. From this viewpoint the awesome size of the Taupo supervolcano is hard to comprehend. I certainly hope to never live through an eruption of this monster.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:44 am
#83
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TAUPO to AUCKLAND (TUO-AKL) on NZ Beech 1900D
After several hours relaxing in Taupo on a hot, humid day it is time to fly back to Auckland. While I wait I see the rescue helicopter take off, a scenic helicopter flight, some parachutists jumping, and a couple of private light aircraft.
Another full flight and again some bags offloaded due to weight. Today is the first time I have been aware of Air NZ offloading bags on any flight, and I have had 2 such flights. There is a small wait at the threshold of the runway for a light aircraft to land. Taupo airport is uncontrolled and so the pilots were taking an understandably cautious approach.
Shortly after takeoff we fly across the township, past the powerful Huka Falls and the many small steam plumes of the Wairakei geothermal valley. Then the land disappears beneath low cloud until we reach the northern lazy sweeps of the Waikato River and the low farmed hills at the southern edge of Auckland’s sprawl. We again have a direct approach across Manukau Harbour, thus make up the lost time. The arrival gate is near the end of the prop gates.
Stay tuned for the next instalment (coming soon) in my progress in flying all the domestic routes.
After several hours relaxing in Taupo on a hot, humid day it is time to fly back to Auckland. While I wait I see the rescue helicopter take off, a scenic helicopter flight, some parachutists jumping, and a couple of private light aircraft.
Another full flight and again some bags offloaded due to weight. Today is the first time I have been aware of Air NZ offloading bags on any flight, and I have had 2 such flights. There is a small wait at the threshold of the runway for a light aircraft to land. Taupo airport is uncontrolled and so the pilots were taking an understandably cautious approach.
Shortly after takeoff we fly across the township, past the powerful Huka Falls and the many small steam plumes of the Wairakei geothermal valley. Then the land disappears beneath low cloud until we reach the northern lazy sweeps of the Waikato River and the low farmed hills at the southern edge of Auckland’s sprawl. We again have a direct approach across Manukau Harbour, thus make up the lost time. The arrival gate is near the end of the prop gates.
Stay tuned for the next instalment (coming soon) in my progress in flying all the domestic routes.
Mar 6, 2007, 10:45 am
#84
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
FLYING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldn’t be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Don’t get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards – say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal – to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) – particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and I’ll mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
From/To Hamilton
From/To Wellington
From/To Nelson
From/To Christchurch
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldn’t be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Don’t get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards – say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal – to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) – particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and I’ll mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
- AKL-KAT first flown 2007 (Auckland - Kaitaia)
- AKL-KKE first flown years ago (Auckland - Bay of Islands / Kerikeri)
- AKL-WRE first flown 2006 (Auckland - Whangarei)
- AKL-HLZ first flown 2006 (Auckland - Hamilton)
- AKL-TRG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Tauranga)
- AKL-WHK first flown 2006 (Auckland – Whakatane)
- AKL-ROT first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Rotorua)
- AKL-TUO first flown 2006 (Auckland - Taupo)
- AKL-GIS first flown 2006 (Auckland - Gisborne)
- AKL-NPE first flown years ago (Auckland - Napier/Hastings)
- AKL-NPL first flown 2006 (Auckland - New Plymouth)
- AKL-WAG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Wanganui)
- AKL-PMR first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Auckland - Palmerston North)
- AKL-WLG first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland - Wellington)
- AKL-BHE first flown 2007 (Auckland – Blenheim)
- AKL-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Nelson)
- AKL-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland – Christchurch)
- AKL-ZQN first flown 2006 (Auckland - Queenstown)
- AKL-DUD not yet flown (Auckland – Dunedin)
From/To Hamilton
- HLZ-PMR first flown 2007 (Hamilton - Palmerston North)
From/To Wellington
- WLG-WRE not yet flown (Wellington – Whangarei)
- WLG-HLZ first flown years ago (Wellington - Hamilton)
- WLG-TRG not yet flown (Wellington – Tauranga)
- WLG-ROT not yet flown (Wellington – Rotorua)
- WLG-TUO first flown 2007 (Wellington – Taupo)
- WLG-GIS first flown 2007 (Wellington – Gisborne)
- WLG-NPE first flown years ago (Wellington - Napier / Hastings)
- WLG-NPL not yet flown (Wellington – New Plymouth)
- WLG-WAG first flown 2007 (Wellington – Wanganui)
- WLG-PMR not yet flown (Wellington – Palmerston North)
- WLG-BHE first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Blenheim)
- WLG-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Nelson)
- WLG-WSZ first flown 2006 (Wellington - Westport)
- WLG-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Wellington - Christchurch)
- WLG-TIU first flown 2006 (Wellington - Timaru)
- WLG-DUD first flown 2006 (Wellington - Dunedin)
From/To Nelson
- NSN-HLZ first flown 2007 (Nelson - Hamilton)
- NSN-PMR not yet flown (Nelson – Palmerston North)
From/To Christchurch
- CHC-HLZ not yet flown (Christchurch – Hamilton)
- CHC-ROT not yet flown (Christchurch – Rotorua)
- CHC-NPE not yet flown (Christchurch – Napier / Hastings)
- CHC-PMR first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Palmerston North)
- CHC-BHE first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Blenheim)
- CHC-NSN first flown years ago (Christchurch – Nelson)
- CHC-HKK first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Hokitika)
- CHC-OAM first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Oamaru)
- CHC-WKA first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Wanaka)
- CHC-ZQN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Christchurch – Queenstown)
- CHC-DUD first flown 2006 (Christchurch – Dunedin)
- CHC-IVC first flown years ago (Christchurch – Invercargill)
Mar 9, 2007, 5:48 pm
#85
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Posts: 71,422
Another day, another day trip touring the North Island by air, and another 2 more routes to be crossed off.
AUCKLAND to TAURANGA (AKL-TRG) on NZ Jetstream 32 operated by Air National
Another early start out to the airport in the dark. The now usual walk across from international terminal to the quick check machines. Even in my tired state after rather too late a night out (such that I considered staying up for my flight only to fall asleep for a couple of hours before the alarm awoke me), I immediately noticed the aircraft swap from slightly squishy Beech 1900D to the very very very squishy Jetstream 32. A bad start to the day. I notice the flights all look fairly empty so I change some seats to improve the odds of a spare seat (or select the single seat on aircraft with 1-2 layout).
Through security and up to the lounge. The escalator isn't working, as seems to be the case every day first thing. I'm not sure what time they turn it on but it is annoying, especially as there are no stairs to the departures level since the refurbishment. I'm greeted familiarly and then waved in. I grab a coffee while I check some emails and FT. About 10 minutes before scheduled departure there is still no boarding call but I head to the prop gates anyway thinking I may have missed it.
The monitors in the koru club, and the big old one by check in show the flight but no gate number. Flights leaving after mine are in final stages of boarding but there is no indication beside this flight. Even odder, the new LCD departure screens do not even show the flight. I wonder if the flight has been cancelled, or whether the lack of information is due to it being an Air National aircraft?
Finally the flight is called for boarding, right on scheduled departure time. At this point there is already a long queue at the boarding pass check, for several other prop flights (ranging from Beech 1900Ds up to ATR 72-500s) are also in boarding. The lines move slowly. We have a couple of final calls while I wait, followed by paging for myself and 2 other pax.
Eventually we make it out to the aircraft. The room under the seats is so small on this a/c that all bags are being stowed, even slimline laptop bags and purses. A few unhappy passengers no doubt. Then there is a further delay when it is apparent there is one more passenger than the number of seats. (So much for quick check showing an empty flight.) It turns out an unaccompanied minor heading to Wanganui was escorted to the wrong gate and aircraft. That sorted, the door at the rear is shut and we start off some 20 minutes late. I am already annoyed at the passenger in front who keeps pushing her seat back despite there being no recline, digging the metal bar even further into my knees. Thankfully this is a short flight.
We take off to the southwest and turn to the southeast. The city is coming to life below us and ahead it is another misty start to the day in Waikato. Cloud obscures the Kaimai Ranges but the skies are mostly clear in Bay of Plenty. A loop over the bay and across the beach to land.
AUCKLAND to TAURANGA (AKL-TRG) on NZ Jetstream 32 operated by Air National
Another early start out to the airport in the dark. The now usual walk across from international terminal to the quick check machines. Even in my tired state after rather too late a night out (such that I considered staying up for my flight only to fall asleep for a couple of hours before the alarm awoke me), I immediately noticed the aircraft swap from slightly squishy Beech 1900D to the very very very squishy Jetstream 32. A bad start to the day. I notice the flights all look fairly empty so I change some seats to improve the odds of a spare seat (or select the single seat on aircraft with 1-2 layout).
Through security and up to the lounge. The escalator isn't working, as seems to be the case every day first thing. I'm not sure what time they turn it on but it is annoying, especially as there are no stairs to the departures level since the refurbishment. I'm greeted familiarly and then waved in. I grab a coffee while I check some emails and FT. About 10 minutes before scheduled departure there is still no boarding call but I head to the prop gates anyway thinking I may have missed it.
The monitors in the koru club, and the big old one by check in show the flight but no gate number. Flights leaving after mine are in final stages of boarding but there is no indication beside this flight. Even odder, the new LCD departure screens do not even show the flight. I wonder if the flight has been cancelled, or whether the lack of information is due to it being an Air National aircraft?
Finally the flight is called for boarding, right on scheduled departure time. At this point there is already a long queue at the boarding pass check, for several other prop flights (ranging from Beech 1900Ds up to ATR 72-500s) are also in boarding. The lines move slowly. We have a couple of final calls while I wait, followed by paging for myself and 2 other pax.
Eventually we make it out to the aircraft. The room under the seats is so small on this a/c that all bags are being stowed, even slimline laptop bags and purses. A few unhappy passengers no doubt. Then there is a further delay when it is apparent there is one more passenger than the number of seats. (So much for quick check showing an empty flight.) It turns out an unaccompanied minor heading to Wanganui was escorted to the wrong gate and aircraft. That sorted, the door at the rear is shut and we start off some 20 minutes late. I am already annoyed at the passenger in front who keeps pushing her seat back despite there being no recline, digging the metal bar even further into my knees. Thankfully this is a short flight.
We take off to the southwest and turn to the southeast. The city is coming to life below us and ahead it is another misty start to the day in Waikato. Cloud obscures the Kaimai Ranges but the skies are mostly clear in Bay of Plenty. A loop over the bay and across the beach to land.
Mar 9, 2007, 5:58 pm
#86
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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TAURANGA to WELLINGTON (TRG-WLG) on NZ Q300
With the late arrival I felt I didn't have enough time to head into town so settled at a table in the terminal to do some work while I waited for my onward flight. The time passed quickly and I soon heard the boarding call.
The flight was only half full, but despite this I misestimated by a couple of rows as to how far back I'd need to get an empty seat beside me. This is no problem, for the Q300 is, in my opinion, the most comfortable of the Air NZ link (ie regional domestic flights) aircraft, other than the first row with tray table between seats which mostly can be easily avoided.
The skies have cleared considerably and I enjoy fantastic viewing out both sides. After taking off over the harbour we turn and fly down the middle of the North Island. Unlike my recent Beech 1900D and ATR flights we are flying high enough to get great views from coast to coast, and later beyond to the South Island.
I abandon thoughts of reading the paper and spend the flight looking out both windows at the unfolding scenery. We fly directly over Lake Taupo, and thence along the spine of the North Island ranges as far as the heads of Wellington Harbour before turning and landing to the north. I wont attempt to describe the scenery for mere words cannot do it justice. Suffice to say I felt very lucky to be flying this route on such a fine day.
With the late arrival I felt I didn't have enough time to head into town so settled at a table in the terminal to do some work while I waited for my onward flight. The time passed quickly and I soon heard the boarding call.
The flight was only half full, but despite this I misestimated by a couple of rows as to how far back I'd need to get an empty seat beside me. This is no problem, for the Q300 is, in my opinion, the most comfortable of the Air NZ link (ie regional domestic flights) aircraft, other than the first row with tray table between seats which mostly can be easily avoided.
The skies have cleared considerably and I enjoy fantastic viewing out both sides. After taking off over the harbour we turn and fly down the middle of the North Island. Unlike my recent Beech 1900D and ATR flights we are flying high enough to get great views from coast to coast, and later beyond to the South Island.
I abandon thoughts of reading the paper and spend the flight looking out both windows at the unfolding scenery. We fly directly over Lake Taupo, and thence along the spine of the North Island ranges as far as the heads of Wellington Harbour before turning and landing to the north. I wont attempt to describe the scenery for mere words cannot do it justice. Suffice to say I felt very lucky to be flying this route on such a fine day.
Mar 9, 2007, 6:05 pm
#87
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
FLYING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldnt be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Dont get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and Ill mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
From/To Hamilton
From/To Wellington
From/To Nelson
From/To Christchurch
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldnt be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Dont get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and Ill mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
- AKL-KAT first flown 2007 (Auckland - Kaitaia)
- AKL-KKE first flown years ago (Auckland - Bay of Islands / Kerikeri)
- AKL-WRE first flown 2006 (Auckland - Whangarei)
- AKL-HLZ first flown 2006 (Auckland - Hamilton)
- AKL-TRG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Tauranga)
- AKL-WHK first flown 2006 (Auckland Whakatane)
- AKL-ROT first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Rotorua)
- AKL-TUO first flown 2006 (Auckland - Taupo)
- AKL-GIS first flown 2006 (Auckland - Gisborne)
- AKL-NPE first flown years ago (Auckland - Napier/Hastings)
- AKL-NPL first flown 2006 (Auckland - New Plymouth)
- AKL-WAG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Wanganui)
- AKL-PMR first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Auckland - Palmerston North)
- AKL-WLG first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland - Wellington)
- AKL-BHE first flown 2007 (Auckland Blenheim)
- AKL-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Nelson)
- AKL-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland Christchurch)
- AKL-ZQN first flown 2006 (Auckland - Queenstown)
- AKL-DUD not yet flown (Auckland Dunedin)
From/To Hamilton
- HLZ-PMR first flown 2007 (Hamilton - Palmerston North)
From/To Wellington
- WLG-WRE not yet flown (Wellington Whangarei)
- WLG-HLZ first flown years ago (Wellington - Hamilton)
- WLG-TRG first flown 2007 (Wellington Tauranga)
- WLG-ROT not yet flown (Wellington Rotorua)
- WLG-TUO first flown 2007 (Wellington Taupo)
- WLG-GIS first flown 2007 (Wellington Gisborne)
- WLG-NPE first flown years ago (Wellington - Napier / Hastings)
- WLG-NPL not yet flown (Wellington New Plymouth)
- WLG-WAG first flown 2007 (Wellington Wanganui)
- WLG-PMR not yet flown (Wellington Palmerston North)
- WLG-BHE first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Blenheim)
- WLG-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Nelson)
- WLG-WSZ first flown 2006 (Wellington - Westport)
- WLG-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Wellington - Christchurch)
- WLG-TIU first flown 2006 (Wellington - Timaru)
- WLG-DUD first flown 2006 (Wellington - Dunedin)
From/To Nelson
- NSN-HLZ first flown 2007 (Nelson - Hamilton)
- NSN-PMR not yet flown (Nelson Palmerston North)
From/To Christchurch
- CHC-HLZ not yet flown (Christchurch Hamilton)
- CHC-ROT not yet flown (Christchurch Rotorua)
- CHC-NPE not yet flown (Christchurch Napier / Hastings)
- CHC-PMR first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Palmerston North)
- CHC-BHE first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Blenheim)
- CHC-NSN first flown years ago (Christchurch Nelson)
- CHC-HKK first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Hokitika)
- CHC-OAM first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Oamaru)
- CHC-WKA first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Wanaka)
- CHC-ZQN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Christchurch Queenstown)
- CHC-DUD first flown 2006 (Christchurch Dunedin)
- CHC-IVC first flown years ago (Christchurch Invercargill)
Mar 10, 2007, 6:54 pm
#88
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
WELLINGTON to NEW PLYMOUTH (WLG-NPL) on NZ Saab 340
Arriving at the finger pier I had enough time for a lounge visit despite also leaving from the finger pier. As usual, the final call is made seconds after leaving the lounge (immediately after flight was first called).
It has been a while since I have flown in the Saab as it has been progressively replaced by Q300 by Air NZ Link. I remember when they first came to NZ how impressed I was that regional flights would get 1+2 seating and even a small overhead bin (admittedly only on one side). Such luxuries after years of flying the smaller aircraft used before it (SWM flying pencils amongst other types). Anyway, this could well be my last Saab 340 flight on Air NZ and so I was looking forward to it.
The route promised to be an interesting one, traversing from one end of Cook Strait to the other and flying over the water much of the way. Despite this, the narrowness of the strait meant mountains and hills dominated the horizons all around. The last part of the flight was across the rolling Taranaki farmlands nestled between the Taranaki cone and the mass of rugged hills stretching out to the central volcanic plateau. The vivid green lushness an indicator of the amount of rainfall Taranaki gets, and a reminder for me to be thankful of such a clear day for flying. We fly over the city of New Plymouth on final approach to the airport beside the sea.
Arriving at the finger pier I had enough time for a lounge visit despite also leaving from the finger pier. As usual, the final call is made seconds after leaving the lounge (immediately after flight was first called).
It has been a while since I have flown in the Saab as it has been progressively replaced by Q300 by Air NZ Link. I remember when they first came to NZ how impressed I was that regional flights would get 1+2 seating and even a small overhead bin (admittedly only on one side). Such luxuries after years of flying the smaller aircraft used before it (SWM flying pencils amongst other types). Anyway, this could well be my last Saab 340 flight on Air NZ and so I was looking forward to it.
The route promised to be an interesting one, traversing from one end of Cook Strait to the other and flying over the water much of the way. Despite this, the narrowness of the strait meant mountains and hills dominated the horizons all around. The last part of the flight was across the rolling Taranaki farmlands nestled between the Taranaki cone and the mass of rugged hills stretching out to the central volcanic plateau. The vivid green lushness an indicator of the amount of rainfall Taranaki gets, and a reminder for me to be thankful of such a clear day for flying. We fly over the city of New Plymouth on final approach to the airport beside the sea.
Mar 10, 2007, 7:03 pm
#89
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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NEW PLYMOUTH to AUCKLAND (NPL-AKL) on NZ Q300
After some time in the small lounge (5 beers and 4 wines if you're interested) catching up on some work, boarding is called. Unlike the earlier flights today the load is very light (well under half full) and yet someone has been seated beside me so naturally I ask the FA if I can switch to an empty row.
We take off a few minutes early and fly north just off the coast. Again I am glued to the window. We arrive early and thus I wait for serfty, who's arriving on another flight, in the lounge.
After some time in the small lounge (5 beers and 4 wines if you're interested) catching up on some work, boarding is called. Unlike the earlier flights today the load is very light (well under half full) and yet someone has been seated beside me so naturally I ask the FA if I can switch to an empty row.
We take off a few minutes early and fly north just off the coast. Again I am glued to the window. We arrive early and thus I wait for serfty, who's arriving on another flight, in the lounge.
Mar 10, 2007, 7:09 pm
#90
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
FLYING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldnt be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Dont get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and Ill mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
From/To Hamilton
From/To Wellington
From/To Nelson
From/To Christchurch
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldnt be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Dont get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and Ill mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
- AKL-KAT first flown 2007 (Auckland - Kaitaia)
- AKL-KKE first flown years ago (Auckland - Bay of Islands / Kerikeri)
- AKL-WRE first flown 2006 (Auckland - Whangarei)
- AKL-HLZ first flown 2006 (Auckland - Hamilton)
- AKL-TRG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Tauranga)
- AKL-WHK first flown 2006 (Auckland Whakatane)
- AKL-ROT first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Rotorua)
- AKL-TUO first flown 2006 (Auckland - Taupo)
- AKL-GIS first flown 2006 (Auckland - Gisborne)
- AKL-NPE first flown years ago (Auckland - Napier/Hastings)
- AKL-NPL first flown 2006 (Auckland - New Plymouth)
- AKL-WAG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Wanganui)
- AKL-PMR first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Auckland - Palmerston North)
- AKL-WLG first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland - Wellington)
- AKL-BHE first flown 2007 (Auckland Blenheim)
- AKL-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Nelson)
- AKL-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland Christchurch)
- AKL-ZQN first flown 2006 (Auckland - Queenstown)
- AKL-DUD not yet flown (Auckland Dunedin)
From/To Hamilton
- HLZ-PMR first flown 2007 (Hamilton - Palmerston North)
From/To Wellington
- WLG-WRE not yet flown (Wellington Whangarei)
- WLG-HLZ first flown years ago (Wellington - Hamilton)
- WLG-TRG first flown 2007 (Wellington Tauranga)
- WLG-ROT not yet flown (Wellington Rotorua)
- WLG-TUO first flown 2007 (Wellington Taupo)
- WLG-GIS first flown 2007 (Wellington Gisborne)
- WLG-NPE first flown years ago (Wellington - Napier / Hastings)
- WLG-NPL first flown 2007 (Wellington New Plymouth)
- WLG-WAG first flown 2007 (Wellington Wanganui)
- WLG-PMR not yet flown (Wellington Palmerston North)
- WLG-BHE first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Blenheim)
- WLG-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Nelson)
- WLG-WSZ first flown 2006 (Wellington - Westport)
- WLG-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Wellington - Christchurch)
- WLG-TIU first flown 2006 (Wellington - Timaru)
- WLG-DUD first flown 2006 (Wellington - Dunedin)
From/To Nelson
- NSN-HLZ first flown 2007 (Nelson - Hamilton)
- NSN-PMR not yet flown (Nelson Palmerston North)
From/To Christchurch
- CHC-HLZ not yet flown (Christchurch Hamilton)
- CHC-ROT not yet flown (Christchurch Rotorua)
- CHC-NPE not yet flown (Christchurch Napier / Hastings)
- CHC-PMR first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Palmerston North)
- CHC-BHE first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Blenheim)
- CHC-NSN first flown years ago (Christchurch Nelson)
- CHC-HKK first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Hokitika)
- CHC-OAM first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Oamaru)
- CHC-WKA first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Wanaka)
- CHC-ZQN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Christchurch Queenstown)
- CHC-DUD first flown 2006 (Christchurch Dunedin)
- CHC-IVC first flown years ago (Christchurch Invercargill)