When was your first NZ flight?
Apr 19, 2006, 1:21 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 70
Very memorable as it was my first ever commercial aircraft flight, don't know the flight number but it was August 1977 DC10 MEL-AKL.
I remember I sat in the middle section next to the fattest woman I have ever seen who needed a seat belt extender.
I remember I sat in the middle section next to the fattest woman I have ever seen who needed a seat belt extender.
Apr 21, 2006, 2:17 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NTL
Programs: a3G qf(nb) va
Posts: 46
BNE - AKL in Jan 1981 for a holiday in NZ.
The return AKL-BNE was most memorable for the taxi ride, the day after the underarm bowling incident - once the cabbie heard our Aussie accents that set him ranting all the way to the airport!
The return AKL-BNE was most memorable for the taxi ride, the day after the underarm bowling incident - once the cabbie heard our Aussie accents that set him ranting all the way to the airport!
Apr 23, 2006, 6:00 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 385
I've been thinking about this for a while and finally asked my Mother @:-) It was in my bassinet when I was 3 months old in 1963 - AKL-CHC (I presume via WLG). She also confirmed that's where I was when Kennedy was assassinated 
KiwiPanda
KiwiPanda
May 3, 2006, 6:03 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
July 1, 2000. BNE-CHC. I'm thinking it was a 767-???, but really unsure.
May have the boarding pass or itinery somewhere!
Was just the first of many trips to NZ since then, although the rest have been on Pacific Blue, Lan or Qantas.
May have the boarding pass or itinery somewhere!
Was just the first of many trips to NZ since then, although the rest have been on Pacific Blue, Lan or Qantas.
Feb 10, 2011, 4:09 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Programs: NZ*E
Posts: 62
WLG to SYD on Teal (I don't think it was named Air NZ then) Elektra new years eve 1969 as an UM.
Return ticket cost $100 which was a fortune then. Funny how the fares haven't risen much, isn't competition great.
I remember I sat down the back, the peas were cold (no offence to Bruce Parton intended :-), and there were 5 people I think in the cockpit, Captain, first officer, navigator, engineer and radio operator.
Return ticket cost $100 which was a fortune then. Funny how the fares haven't risen much, isn't competition great.
I remember I sat down the back, the peas were cold (no offence to Bruce Parton intended :-), and there were 5 people I think in the cockpit, Captain, first officer, navigator, engineer and radio operator.
Feb 10, 2011, 4:47 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,196
I think it was in 1973 in an NAC F-27 Friendship WLG-WLG for an air experience flight with Air Training Corps (cadets). Included steep turns (60 degrees or 2g) and an emergency descent profile.
Little did I know then I'd end up as a F-27 captain instructing the very same stuff by 1989!!
Little did I know then I'd end up as a F-27 captain instructing the very same stuff by 1989!!
Feb 10, 2011, 5:25 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Programs: NZ*E
Posts: 62
Feb 10, 2011, 5:27 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Stanmore, Sydney, Australia.
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE
Posts: 1,360
I think it was in 1973 in an NAC F-27 Friendship WLG-WLG for an air experience flight with Air Training Corps (cadets). Included steep turns (60 degrees or 2g) and an emergency descent profile.
Little did I know then I'd end up as a F-27 captain instructing the very same stuff by 1989!!
Little did I know then I'd end up as a F-27 captain instructing the very same stuff by 1989!!
You won't belive this but I think I was on that very same flight as you. I was also in the ATC breifly. Did you ever go on the 737 one? I also did a Viscount one, as well.
What a small world it is.
Last edited by MrSydney; Feb 10, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Feb 10, 2011, 8:45 pm
#27
Ambassador: Air New Zealand
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wellington NZ
Programs: NZ Elite, EK Gold, Qatar Gold, Amex Plat, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,426
School Holidays 1968 my brother & I travelled from WLG to CHC on the new NAC 737 with our uncle and returned on a Viscount by ourselves - can't remember being an UM.
My first International flight was on a TE DC8 from WLG to SYD in April 1978.
My first International flight was on a TE DC8 from WLG to SYD in April 1978.
Last edited by WLG Base; Feb 11, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Feb 10, 2011, 9:11 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: WLG
Programs: QFF/NZ/
Posts: 98
Don't have any memory of my 1st flight but am assured it was 1953 from Paraparaumu to Gisborne with various stops along the way on an NAC DC-3 in 1953. The 1st I remember was 1956 again in an NAC DC-3 from Gisborne to Tauranga. What I remember best was sitting at the end of the runway and the engines being run up then feathered before the take-off roll.
ZK-BEU
ZK-BEU
Feb 10, 2011, 9:55 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA1MM, QF/NZ/VA/UA/DL, etc...
Posts: 516
June 1998
LAX-AKL, flight landed at approx 0530hrs. My first official job out of training was in NZ and the corporate TA in NZ managed to put myself and my partner of the time on separate PNRs, so we originally had quite separate seats.
Thumbs up to the FA onboard who held us back and got us seats together. We sat in Y (I got the middle seat) and I sat next to another pax who had been bumped from a QF flight and was forced to fly separate from his wife.
Flight was uneventful but was my first 12hr jaunt - talk about sore buns!
My next flight in late 1998 was my first on QF and was impressed, so tended to switch carriers until I became enamored with the latest NZ BP seating.
Thumbs up to the FA onboard who held us back and got us seats together. We sat in Y (I got the middle seat) and I sat next to another pax who had been bumped from a QF flight and was forced to fly separate from his wife.
Flight was uneventful but was my first 12hr jaunt - talk about sore buns!
My next flight in late 1998 was my first on QF and was impressed, so tended to switch carriers until I became enamored with the latest NZ BP seating.
Feb 10, 2011, 11:24 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 158
First flight was NZ1, LHR-LAX, April 11, 2000, on ZK-NBV in Economy.
Here's my NZ flight log ever since (not that anyone would care...allow me a bit of self indulgence)
NZ5 LAX-AKL ZK-NBS (744)
NZ1 LHR-LAX ZK-NBV (744)
NZ2 AKL-LAX ZK-NBU (744)
NZ5 LAX-AKL ZK-NBW (744)
NZ2 AKL-LAX ZK-OKE (772)
NZ19/18 LAX-RAR-LAX ZK-NCL (763)
Here's my NZ flight log ever since (not that anyone would care...allow me a bit of self indulgence)
NZ5 LAX-AKL ZK-NBS (744)
NZ1 LHR-LAX ZK-NBV (744)
NZ2 AKL-LAX ZK-NBU (744)
NZ5 LAX-AKL ZK-NBW (744)
NZ2 AKL-LAX ZK-OKE (772)
NZ19/18 LAX-RAR-LAX ZK-NCL (763)