CHRISTCHURCH to AUCKLAND (CHC-AKL) on Air New Zealand 777-200ER in business class
Normally business class is not able to be purchased on this domestic leg of an international flight unless you have flown business class on the Tokyo/Osaka to Christchurch leg, or, as in my case, have booked it as part of a special business class ticket. Regular business class tickets ex-NZ to destinations other than Japan book into economy on this flight.
Anyway, I'd booked this in business class to not only maximise comfort should I actually be able to take the flight, as well as maximising flexibility if I should not be able to take the flight. It turned out that I could take the flight. I was looking forward to it, as it has been a while since I've flown it in business class despite my regular jaunts to Japan.
I arrived at international check in a couple of hours before departure only to find it closed with a sign indicating it would not be open for some time. Rather than hang around landside, perhaps at the cafe in the international terminal, I headed through security for the domestic lounge.
The nice agent inside checked me in. No need to show the photo ID that is required for the international flight (as opposed to domestic flights which require no ID) - she knows who I am. I was a bit sleep deprived and so didn't notice immediately that she'd forgotten to give me a "D" sticker and also forgotten to take the paper ticket coupon. When I remembered she slapped on the sticker over one end of the thin domestic boarding pass, and I realised then I'd forgotten to check which FFP I had entered and so had to ask her to look it up for me. Because domestic business class is not normally bookable the earning rate is rubbish on Air NZ Airpoints and I wanted the flight credited to another program.
The agent also let me know what time immigration was opening - in about 30 minutes time. I had enough time for a much needed 3 coffees and a quick check of email messages and it was time to head over to international terminal.
With no bags to check, and boarding pass with "D" sticker in hand I was soon past the departure fee checker (waived for domestic passengers) and up to immigration. A small delay there as the officer was thrown a bit by having a domestic boarding pass and an old style "D" sticker. I guess that is what you get when international check in desk is closed - whatever the domestic lounge has on hand is not the latest stock. I managed to avoid the random manual check at security and headed on up to the lounge.
This too, did not open very long before departure. It was shut when I arrived but opened soon after at 1 hour before departure. I was first in, but only narrowly ahead of the international through passengers.
I grabbed a bite to eat and managed to restrain myself - just a couple of glasses to drink. Boarding was called late in the process and I was one of the last to board. I hadn't long settled into my seat in the half empty business class cabin, and started watching some tv shows, when a ground staff came up to me asking for the coupon. That was easily dealt with. I thought about trying to watch a short movie - with gate to gate IFE there might just be enough time to see one. However, if the flight time was short I'd miss the tail end so I opted instead for some tv shows. No newspaper offered, but fortunately I'd grabbed one in the lounge.
We left a few minutes late. The first 30 minutes of the flight were rather turbulent with strong & gusty cross-winds - a classic nor'wester (aloft at least). Meal and all other service was suspended until we reached Cook Strait when our flight became more settled.
A snack was on offer - no menu card. A few bits of cold meat, cheese and rocket. Accompanied by some fruit or a sponge cake. Plus drinks.
IFE was turned off while we approached over AKL. So much for gate to gate
A good portion of the Air NZ longhaul fleet was parked up at AKL for the day - 3 747's at remote stands, plus a couple of 777's. We got a gate at the end, thus Air NZ did it's bit to help us work off the food and booze consumed onboard with the long walk to immigration. As a domestic passenger no point in stopping by duty free, and I rush to the shared domestic/APEC/aircrew line at the far right. I had a small wait for an officer to man the desk. Then through to customs and waved through there. The guy on x-ray may have been new as he wanted a completed arrival form from me (no immigration forms on departure or arrival for "D" passengers) and also wanted to x-ray my stuff. His supervisor waved me through.
It was a good time of day for non-"D" passengers too, with no queues at immigration or customs.