Auckland to Nelson (AKL-NSN) on NZ Q300

At the NZ domestic terminal there were the expected huge queues everywhere, so I used the quick check machines near to where security used to be. Somehow most people overlook these 2 machines and so no wait for me (the other quick check machines near mainline check in have people queueing up). Even though I was checking in early there was no option to change seat. Fortunately the one I’d been assigned was good.

A bit of a wait at security – lots of infrequent travellers flying at the moment. Through and up to departures I head to the haven of the lounge. The lounge is quieter than usual and so a tranquil respite from the chaos outside.

There were lots of flights departing with aircraft strewn everywhere. Even some jet flights had to use stairs. With the congestion it was no surprise that the boarding call was a few minutes late. Once again the call in the lounge was a little bit late and so I hadn’t even reached the prop gate area when I was called for boarding along with another pax who was also using the lounge.

Some others have commented about the lack of space for carry ons in this aircraft type. While the overhead bins are indeed too small to fit a rollaboard, the flight attendant was happy to put any such bags in the hold tagged for collection on the tarmac on arrival. I didn’t have a rollaboard with me but instead other carry on with stuff for several days, Christmas and wedding presents and had more than enough room to stow all this.

Doors closed immediately after I boarded, and we soon joined the queue of aircraft waiting to take off. I confess I fell asleep, tiredness catching up with me, and only woke up over the wide western extremity of Cook Strait where we had great views of the mountains of both islands and the long curved tongue of sand enclosing Golden Bay, that is Farewell Spit. We descended along the shoreline, flying past Nelson City and its protective Boulder Bank (like Farewell Spit but made of boulders instead of sand) and over the beach. The motor camp was bursting at the seams, as is normal for this time of year. We buzzed some golfers metres before landing at a busy Nelson airport. Since I didn’t have checked bags I could quickly move through the throngs in the terminal and meet my ride outside.