There was no queue for priority check-in but unfortunately the sole premium desk (which seems to have had it’s overhead monitor text changed from when I last took a picture of it – it now says “Koru Club-Gold”) was busy checking in a group of about 10 from an erstwhile generation (though they were premium pax – confirmed by their later presence in the Koru Lounge). I was called up by an International agent without too much wait.
Anyway after that ordeal (once again check-in took a long time) I proceeded through the public concourse up to the Koru Lounge. Unsurprisingly I didn’t see anyone I knew –remember this is the public area. Once again after entering the Koru lounge which, as I suspected was quite empty I drew my camera without delay
…and headed straight for the food selection
On first glance the food selection looked to be the same as last week but on closer inspection I noticed the difference – there was Chicken on the hot plates. It really was good.
There were scones on one servery and cream on the other – quite a strange arrangement.
Luckily the lounge was empty enough for me to get a photo down the side of the buffet – without getting too many strange looks…
I went to the beer cabinet but could only count a mere 14 beers today !
The wines were limited to Sileni – you can see that they’re pushed for space
I settled back into my usual seat and watched the baggage handlers working the apron – watching several suitcases drop out of a Saab 340A and onto the tarmac.. oh well
I looked back in that display case but couldn’t recognise the autographs on that lowest 747 model – though someone had scribbled “What an amazing way to fly” on the wings.
For solely evaluative purposes I flicked through the magazines – some choice, but not much
Boarded my flight in the usual fashion – except this is an ATR which boards through the rear so I had seats 16AB (the highest row number I’ve had on any aircraft in years). I had forgotten how narrow these seats were but managed to get myself comfortable – or as comfortable as you can be in an aircraft which has been parked smack bang in the middle of the Wellington crosswinds.
The Captain came on the PA and advised us of his and the First Officers name “on the flight deck” while <insert cabin crew names here> were “on the flight deck” also. We had a full power takeoff to the north (Military style) but we still rotated quite far down the runway. We had barely lifted off that thing that pass’s for a tarmac at WLG when the winds started to through us. We then ended up in some very severe turbulence – dropping several meters vertically before the captain managed to regain control and move us forward a few metres when again we dropped even more. Someone quipped up about rollercoaster’s – but I tell you this was
much better than that. The airframe rocked around, all of this happening contemporaneously as I was trying to pour myself a beverage. Highly engaging – WLG never ceases to entertain (the smaller the airframe the better) ! By now we were almost over the Hutt Valley before the pilot commenced a step bank to turn south, providing us with a wonderful view of the Harbour City. We rose rapidly trying to get to above 20,000 feet to avoid flying through lower turbulence. Throughout the trip we repeatedly changed flight level’s trying to dodge it. You could tell the pilot’s really where earning their keep on this one.
The FAs (all 2 of them – instead of 1 for the Q300) handed out water but not hot beverages (ostensibly for safety reasons). Those 150Ml waters really don’t fill you, I or anyone – luckily I had had supplies packed.
Anyhow the flight continued in a relatively uneventful fashion though we did track out to sea more than usual before turning in round the peninsular to land, where we went into full reverse thrust – a full 5 minutes late ! Just as well – I’m still justified in calling the airline Air Delayed. The runway was wet, so quite greasy but you wouldn’t have noticed it. Despite an air bridge being available we parked up on a stand to use the inbuilt stairs to disembark. There was a large delay while we waited for some engines somewhere-er-rather to be switched off before we were allowed to disembark. The indignity of it all ! Luckily (for them) all was forgotten as I disembarked and found myself looking at an EK 777.
After hustling off this flight and through security I saw my flight was starting to board – but nevertheless I busted upstairs and into the Koru Lounge to use the lav’s and was planning on doing a few other things – but there was no time. The doors on the cubical seem to automatically shut so I always give them a good knock/wack. I hoofed it back downstairs to board my flight – followed by just 1 other person. Oh well, not quite last. That brings me to a “security” point – If an ATR fly’s from anywhere to CHC and uses one of the many gates beyond security it would result in the screened and unscreened mingling !
The service today only had 52 pax – so 14 free seats… make that 12 because 17AB is perpetually blocked for the flight crew to use to socialise in flight (nevertheless I quite happily commandeered the other seats). There was a short wait while some luggage was loaded (not mine though as you’ll find later), and then we were off across the apron. We held short of joining the taxiway which runs parallel to the runway for a NZ 737 which seemed to get slower and slower until eventually the pilot had established that indeed it was waiting for us. We accelerated down the taxiway before spirally neatly onto the runway and had another wonderful takeoff – hitting some turbulence of course. That 50 knot nor westerly was really proving a problem. Not to worry though – the weather improved as we flew south -at one time the wind was at a mere 4 knots.
Once again the FAs passed out water, but “for safety reasons” flagged on the coffee service (much to the annoyance of many pax on this flight for some reason). Then the pilot ordered everyone into their seats and for the FAs to prepare the cabin for landing – some 200km from the destination ! One FA went up the aisle and stopped to return virtually every second pax’s seat to the upright position, including the cow who reclined her seat right into me basically forcing me to recline mine. They didn’t realise till after landing and a pax had pointed it out that they hadn’t collected the trash – so they did the right thing and made a PA announcement to leave the trash on the seats and they’ll collect them after all passengers had disembarked (I must say I was quite surprised – I would have thought they would have asked everyone to take their rubbish with them).
We flew along at around 6,000 feet before diving through various levels to 8,000 feet as the wind dropped. The wind then picked up though, making for a quite bumpy approach (but nothing compared to my earlier flight from WLG). Alas still no go around to report !
Had a good look at the new DUD terminal – which is only half completed but is a substantial improvement. All 8 bags were out in 13 minutes after disembarking, though they weren’t sorted in priority order (Hence why my bags weren’t being loaded last). While I was waiting I watched many bags come out on the new carousel too far over – they just fall on off.
Ratings for these services
Check In 7/10
Spent a long time at the desk, and staffer was quite patronising
Lounge 9/10
The Food was better than last time – though I still wonder what those consultant chef’s are thinking sometimes ! Magazine selection had improved but had a long way to go
Luggage Delivery 6/10
They didn’t break/lose anything and it was a bit quicker than at some other stations – but still nothing like my last visits