Check-in, and how I managed to retrieve my missing bag…

I arrived at Rarotonga airport around 10 pm, 1h 15 min before departure. This may sound a bit late, but it’s definitely sufficient for such a small airport.
Even in Rarotonga they have a premium check-in line for business class passengers and star golds, but it actually moved slower than the regular line.

Once at check-in I told the check-in agent about my missing bag.
I had been told the evening before that if they found my suitcase they would send it on the next plane to Rarotonga, but the next plane to Rarotonga from Auckland was due to arrive in just a few minutes, and it would continue an hour later to Tahiti with me onboard.
The check-in woman said she would check if they had any more information about my bag and disappeared inside the office next to the check-in area.
It took quite some time before she was back, but she told me they didn’t really know if the bag was onboard the plane from Auckland, but there was a man standing in the baggage hall looking for the bag on the belt (by now the plane had landed), it was actually the same man who had helped me the night before.

We discussed how we should sort this out, it was now only an hour left before departure. After calling the man in the arrivals hall a second time she said she would print an extra baggage tag for me in case the bag was onboard, and then after passport control and security I should make my way to the immigration area where the man would wait for me.
This sounded like a good idea and I thanked her very much for her help.

Pics
The check-in area at Rarotonga airport
(the photo was taken during the day when I passed the airport on my island tour)

I proceeded to passport control opposite check-in where I found out I once again didn’t have to pay the departure tax since I had spent less than 24 hours in Rarotonga.
I continued to the security check with my extra baggage tag and business class tag in my hand (people just kept staring at me) and afterwards I made my way to the immigration hall.
There, next to the baggage belt, was the man, and next to him was my blue suitcase!! He instantly recognised me and waved at me.
I was so relieved seeing that bag again. My worst nightmare was that even if they would find the suitcase they would send it too late and it would arrive after I had left, and that could well have continued for some time with my rather tight and extensive itinerary.
I thanked him so much for all his help (this would never have worked without the fabulous staff at Rarotonga airport!!!), but he just seemed happy everything worked out well. ^
I gave him the baggage tag from check-in, and after having the bag re-tagged he brought it back onboard the plane again.
It is such a crazy story, but fortunately with a nice end!!

Air New Zealand lounge, Rarotonga

I made my way to the Air NZ lounge, yes there is actually a small lounge in Rarotonga as well.
It is completely unattended and you don’t even need a pin code or such to get in, so anybody can enter the lounge and the airline just has to assume only eligible passengers actually enter.
The lounge was one of the smallest I have ever visited, but it was quite nice.
There was a small self-service area with a good selection of drinks and nice fresh fruit and cheese to eat. Not bad at all for such a small airport!
I had some drinks and some fruit and had a seat to watch TV, I was still very relieved my bag had been found and was now loaded onboard the plane.
On TV there was a news report and they told that Air NZ would discontinue the service from Rarotonga to Tahiti and onwards to Los Angeles, the very flight I was waiting for.
What a shame!! I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the great staff at the airport who would now get a lot fewer flights to handle per week.
As far as I know Air NZ is the only international airline at the airport operating flights to Auckland, Fiji (once a week), and Tahiti and onwards to Los Angeles. Two of those destinations will hence be cut.

Just a few minutes later the boarding announcement was made for our flight to Papeete and Los Angeles and I went to the boarding area which also doubles as immigration hall for arriving passengers.
Inside the man was playing guitar and singing for us again, just like when I arrived.
At the gate an agent was checking boarding passes and passports before passengers were allowed to board, and when he saw my boarding pass he recognised my name and asked if everything was OK with my suitcase.
The entire airport seemed to have been involved in finding that missing suitcase in one way or another!
I still can’t praise the airport staff enough though for all their help, I thoroughly appreciated their efforts!

Pics
Inside the small Air NZ lounge in Rarotonga
The small self-service buffet in the lounge
The “transit hall” in Rarotonga, almost entirely outdoors!
The Air NZ Boeing 767 in Rarotonga
The combined boarding area and immigration hall, and the man is playing and singing this evening as well!
It's time for boarding

Rarotonga-Papeete, flight NZ 028 operated by Air New Zealand
Departure: 23:15
Arrival: 01:00
Aircraft: Boeing 767
Class: Business Class
Seat: 03A

The flight was operated by a Boeing 767, to complement the A320, B737, B747 and B777 I had already flown on Air NZ, that’s basically their entire fleet (propeller planes excluded).
The business class cabin onboard the B767 is quite OK, the seats are large and comfortable, but it’s not as fancy as the new Business Premier.
Pre-departure drinks were offered and I happily accepted another glass of champagne.
The cabin load was quite good, at least in business class where 80% of the seats were occupied, but fortunately the seat next to mine remained empty. The route didn’t seem very unprofitable from what I saw.
We also had a local VIP onboard (he checked in just before me so I saw what was written on his bags). He was "The Queen’s representative in the Cook Islands”, I’m not quite sure what his duties are though, feel free to enlighten me if anybody knows.

Anyway, the doors were closed and we pushed back right on time (well we didn’t actually push back).
We taxied to the other side of the runway before taking off. I took a photo as we were lining up just before departure, and you can see on the photo how dark the island actually is at night.
It was a bit sad leaving Rarotonga, I had such a nice time there and the friendly people really made an impression on me. But it’s of course always possible to come back.

During the flight they served a small snack in business class, some finger sandwiches, a fruitcake, and coffee and tea. If you asked nicely you could also get something from the bar (and guess how I know that ).
They showed an episode of some TV-series on the main screen (can’t remember which one) which you could also watch on the personal screen at the seat.
They have no AVOD onboard the B767s, but they have several movie channels in business class, however the system was not turned on due to the short flight time.

Pics
The business class cabin onboard the Boeing 767
The nice Rarotonga airport seen from my seat, time to leave!
Lining up for take-off, as you can see the island is very dark at night
Light snacks to Papeete
An episode of a TV-series (can’t remember which one) on the main screen
Soon about to land in Tahiti

Arrival in Tahiti, French Polynesia

The flight time to Papeete was quite short, around 1h 25 min, so we arrived a bit early in Tahiti around 0.45 am.

During the descent they handed out landing cards for Tahiti to passengers who were not continuing to Los Angeles.
I asked the flight attendant if I had to complete one as well since I have an EU-passport, after all French Polynesia is part of France which is part of the EU.
The flight attendant (from New Zealand, probably not very used to have EU-citizens onboad flying around the South Pacific) said all passengers had to complete it, but right on the top of the form it was written in capital letters that the form was only to be completed by non-EU citizens.

Inside the immigration hall at Papeete Faa’a airport (pronounced Fa-ah) there were once again three musicians playing, wishing us welcome to Tahiti and French Polynesia. ^
If they could only have this at more airports around the world!!
I was also given a small white flower that you should put on top of your ear, a lot of people wear them in Tahiti, both men and women.

Since I was now technically entering France there was actually an EU-line at immigration, it was a bit strange to see the blue and yellow EU flag on the signs, right on the other side of the world!
In contrast to most other passengers I did not have to complete a landing card for Tahiti and I did not have to show a return ticket, they didn’t even stamp my passport. It was just like being back in Europe.

Inside the baggage hall (a lot more modern than Rarotonga) the baggage delivery started quickly with the priority-tagged bags coming out first including both (!) my suitcases, again it felt so nice everything had worked out well.
I said “rien à déclarer” to the customs people who just smiled and went outside to try to find a taxi to get to the hotel.

Time for a well-needed rest in Tahiti!
(I actually slept 10 hours the following night and didn't wake up until just before noon)

Pics
Just arrived at Papeete Faa’a airport
The entrance to the terminal building and the immigration hall
Three musicians playing at Papeete airport
The small flower given to all arriving passengers in Tahiti