Community
Wiki Posts
Search

When was your first NZ flight?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 14, 2006, 7:16 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Stanmore, Sydney, Australia.
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE
Posts: 1,360
When was your first NZ flight?

I know this is a topic that would be posted on a.net but........curious to know when was your first NZ flight....where too?...and a/c

Mine was.......TE14 AKL HNL LAX on Dec 14 1978 on a DC10. It had an unusual timing in that it left AKL around 2ish, arrived HNL about midnight where we cleared customs and immigration then onto LAX where we arrived at 8ish in the then international T2. Then caught a PSA flight to SFO.

The AKL LAX budget fare was $362 one way -. I flew back on UTA for the same price. That was a lot of money in those days - especially earning $60 pw.

The LAX SFO fare was $25 which was amazingly cheap compared to NACs domestic fares - in those days there was no advance purchase and there was only one fare type and it was bloody expensive.
MrSydney is offline  
Old Apr 14, 2006, 7:31 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,801
Lax 2 Lhr

I first started taking LAX to LHR in the summer of 2002. I love the legroom in coach. If I have to pay a full coach fare, I take Air New Zealand rather than Continental or another SkyTeam carrier.
ContinentalFan is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 12:22 am
  #3  
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,512
First ever NZ flight: NZ 082 from SIN-AKL (about three weeks ago!) Fabulous experience of the new Business Premier product. ^

I have taken 5 other NZ flights since then, and also visited 4 different Koru Clubs in a week's time.
AJLondon is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 2:02 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NORWAY
Programs: UA Gold-1MM, SAS Diamond
Posts: 742
LHR-MEL in December 2004 was my first. It was a long trip but I was very impressed of the airline. That is why I`m faithful to NZ and took it again in Sept 2005 and now again this coming Tuesday. I can`t wait!!! And I`m sooooo looking forward to see how the entertainment system is.

I`m NZ all the way. ^
Tor Viking is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 2:54 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CHC
Programs: UA, DL, AA, BD, NZ, QF, DJ, RCC, SPG, Priority Club, Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,231
1965 CHC-AKL on a Viscount aircraft. First flight ever and scared out of my wits. 41 years later and I absolutely love flying!
chchkiwi is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 3:30 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: OTP
Programs: PC
Posts: 507
3 weeks ago, WLG-CHC...would love to try them longhaul, but they're not particularly convenient from where I live
lecter is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 3:41 am
  #7  
DCF
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Programs: Etihad Guest
Posts: 1,549
TE 7 (I think) LAX-PPT in July 1981 on a DC-10 as a 12 year old.

I was loyal to the airline when I was a poor uni student, and when I started out as a wage-earner I hit silver after 1.5 Economy returns AKL-LHR.

The long-haul upgrades won my custom while my QF experiences were terrible, and now that I live in Australia I still fly NZ, but pay to fly Business, except once a year when I book Premium Economy and book confirmed upgrades.
DCF is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 8:00 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Blue, SPG Gold, Sofitel Gold, FB Ivory, BA Blue
Posts: 8,479
16 Feb 2006 - LHR-LAX-NAN

I liked the prodict so I've continued to use them while "in region".
Internaut is offline  
Old Apr 15, 2006, 11:31 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Madrid spain
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, SPG PLT
Posts: 574
1991 from Wellington to Auckland when I was only 11. It was a short haul flight and I got upgraded to business class. At that time, i knew nothing about airline miles.
flyinglan is offline  
Old Apr 16, 2006, 6:17 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Silver, UA Premier 1K, AA Gold (MM)
Posts: 390
1982

My first TE flight was CHC-AKL wrapping up a three week trip with my grandparents in 1982. We'd flown LAX-HNL-AKL on CO and were getting back to AKL for the AKL-HNL-LAX return after driving from AKL, etc.

As I recall, it was a 732 with the classic orange interior, but my memory is a bit hazy.

After that, I did an LAX-HNL-AKL-SYD-AKL-NAN-HNL-LAX on a classic livery 742 in 1984.

Most recent trip was a LAX-LHR-LAX in 2001 with my family on a 744.
mallthus is offline  
Old Apr 16, 2006, 7:13 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,130
1976 as a 9 year old. We spent three years flying to NZ for Christmas prior to emigrating in 1979. I don't recall the aircraft type or route. I do recall clearing customs in LAX, with the INS officials looking through the huge black book to see if our names matched. I can also remember the terribly officious official making sure everyone was behind the line and did not advance until told to. I seem to recall my older brother and I placing a toe or two across the line and being greatly entertained by the reaction.
taupo is offline  
Old Apr 16, 2006, 8:02 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,315
TE901, 21 November 1979.

I couldn't tell any of my next dozen NZ flights after that, but that one was of course pretty memorable for me, even without the historical context of the subsequent version of that flight.
kiwibigdave is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2006, 1:48 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: This is a personal account and my views and opinions DON'T represent those of my employer.
Posts: 450
Funny that, kiwibigdave - one of the Inflight Service Directors who has just retired was a steward on your TE901 all those years ago! I remember talking to him about it a few months back!
nz_crew is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2006, 7:23 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 25
1978 Bne to LAX via Papeete return via hnl. $660 AUD return. I was 18 years old.
Calgary is offline  
Old Apr 19, 2006, 1:02 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ, IHG, Hilton, Accor, Hertz, FoundersCard
Posts: 298
Let's see... if you count NAC, then it would have been mid 70s on an F27, when knee-high to a grasshopper.

First flight post-merger would have been mid 80s; 732 and F27 again. In my teens, I was shiz-scared of flying, & truly hated the experience. I begged to travel home overland but didn't get my way

As you might guess, I got better Seems that facing yer fears is the way to go.

justakiwi
justakiwi is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.