Well my experience was back in late December 1969.Flying Fiji airways HIR-POM on an HS748.I had just finished University ,went to the Solomon Islands and spent 6 weeks there-4 weeks sailing around the Islands on the medical boat doing clinics.
When the time came to start my journey home I was at Henderson Field a little early.I was laying down,my head on my backpack outside the Nissen hut that was the terminal when this fellow in uniform walks over-"are you drron?".Yes."Do you want to go now as you are the only one on today's flight?"No worries.So the Captain carried my back pack to the plane handing it off to the baggage handler and off we went.
It just happened to be my birthday-I told the 2 FAs,the flight engineer came back to check and they opened up the bar.A great trip.I arrived at POM in a quite merry condition.
But the story didn't end there.At POM they were expecting the arrival of the Australian Governor General.As the door of the HS748 opened up and drron was escorted down the stairs,an FA on each arm,the military band struck up with the National anthem.It took them a couple of minutes to realise that this slightly inebriated young Aussie was not the G-G.
I have never had such a reception since.