Originally Posted by
evanroberts
Auckland is AKL. Here is the story:
http://articles.latimes.com/1985-04-...urope-vacation
Now that NZ flies SFO-AKL (and is my preferred route to do MSP - WLG), several times a year I have a conversation with people in Minnesota where they ask "how do you get from MSP to WLG", and I say "well you fly to San Francisco, and then to Auckland." Then a look of puzzlement comes over their face and I know they are hearing "Oakland" instead of "Auckland".
That is absolutely hilarious. Here's what the wayward passenger had to say:
Lewis insisted Tuesday evening after returning from New Zealand, courtesy of the airline, that, "They didn't say
Auckland. They said
Oakland. They talk different."
* * * *
"There were two agents next to the stairways as the passengers disembarked advising 'transit passengers to Auckland' to go to the lounge," Hempel said.
He Heard 'Oakland'
"They announced over the speakers that all passengers to Oakland should wait in the waiting lounge," Lewis insisted Tuesday.
When the plane was ready to continue on, Lewis reboarded with the Auckland-bound passengers. There, Hempel said, Lewis took the seat he had previously used--only to find it occupied by another passenger. An airline staff member intervened and asked Lewis if he was going to Auckland, and Lewis said yes, Hempel said.
Then the staff member asked to see Lewis' ticket receipt, but it was crumpled and unreadable. So he again asked Lewis if he was going to Auckland--and once again, Lewis said yes, Hempel said. As a result, Lewis was allowed to remain on board.