QUEENSTOWN to AUCKLAND (ZQN-AKL) on Pacific Blue 737-800 (inaugural flight)

Despite a number of flights to Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch there were suprisingly few people in the terminal. I guess Sundays will be busier as skiiers head home. 15 minutes before departure I headed through security. There was a guy talking on a cell phone at the xray holding people up as he tried to put his stuff through xray yet didn't want to end his call. We all went around him and shared a with the security people.

I was shocked at the gate to see just 5 people. Oh dear this looks like a ridiculously low load. Sure enough the gate agent was busy changing people's seats - presumable for balance purposes and to have someone seated in the exit row. More people arrived after me, and eventually we had 40 passengers.

Boarding was completed on time. They were eager to beat the Qantas flight out, which was scheduled at the same time. Due to the terrain and the lack of taxiway, going out second adds 10-15 minutes to the departure time at ZQN. I've often experienced races between Qantas and Air NZ here as each team strives to beat the other out.

There was a problem with the passenger count, and it took several goes to match them up. After 15 minutes they were satisfied and the doors shut. However, despite also running late Qantas had beaten Pacific Blue to push back so we had a further 10 minute wait before we could start.

The flight back had the same great views as the flight down. There were a few minor differences in service. No bubbles The charity auction raised $350 this time. There was a short quiz to win a small box of chocolate almonds.

We arrived to a still gloomy day in Auckland (again clouds only north of the Bombay Hills), but rather late. The cabin crew for the next flight were all lined up in the airbridge waiting to rush onboard. I power walked back landside for my ride out of the airport.

Thus ended my latest inaugural flights (it will be a couple of months before the next one). Rather low key - I guess a reflection of the struggle Pacific Blue is having at the moment. They are not in a good place being sandwiched by lower cost Jetstar and better service/network/business-customer friendly Air NZ in a fierce tussle in NZ and across the Tasman. In Australia they have a similar struggle with Qantas above and Jetstar and Tiger below.