Mini Tour of NZ
Mar 16, 2007, 4:19 pm
#91
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AUCKLAND to DUNEDIN (AKL-DUD) on NZ 737-300
Another day, another opportunity to fly a couple more routes. Another early start - I'm now getting good at snoozing on the ride out to the airport and waking up just when we arrive. Once again I arrive at the international terminal for the pleasant walk across to domestic to help fill in a few minutes. Since I have a tight domestic to international connection coming up I also check how long it takes to walk between NZ's premium check in area and the domestic prop gate lounge - about 15 minutes walking fast (I passed several passengers en route) and with little traffic. I'll allow 20 for my connection at a busier time of day and allowing a little extra to get from the far end of the prop gates to the prop gate lounge.
I check in using quick-check and change seats on one flight for a (hopefully) better view. I guess one of my flights is lightly loaded and the seat next to me is blocked out rather than occupied - so I don't change that one. On 2 other flights I have no opportunity to review seating. I guess those flights are full.
By now security has opened and I make my way through and up to the lounge. Again the escalator isn't going - why can't they turn it on when security opens?
I grab some coffee and watch some of the cricket before my flight is called. The flight is only half full and yes there were plenty of blocked seats ^ I notice that of the first half dozen rows I am the only passenger with a carry-on - what a contrast to flights within USA where the overhead bins are often full to overflowing.
We take off on time and soon climb through the cloud cover. Unfortunately no great views today which is a shame as this flight nearly the length and breadth of the country affords some fantastic scenery. The cloud breaks up over the Canterbury Plains, with classic Northwest Arch cloud formation (high wave clouds pushed over the Southern Alps by strong westerlies).
The service on the flight is a little disappointing. Shortly after take off the FAs go through offering the recently expanded buy on board offerings (as well as crisps, snacks etc there is now also sandwiches, yoghurt, and salads - plus the obligatory beer, wine, soft drink and juice). Tea, coffee and water (all free) follows immediately after. There is no more biscuit - this was removed from NZ's 737 flights earlier in the week, and being pursued by the NZ Herald as a hot topic (must be a slow news month
). There is no second run through offering drinks (only collecting the rubbish). Also at the time the drinks are offered (ie start of the flight), the basket with serviettes and sugar, which used to have the biscuits, had the lollies traditionally offered at the top of descent. They did not offer the basket to those declining a drink or purchasing a drink, nor did they pass it around at descent. So undoubtedly very few passengers got a lolly.
Only fairly recently has IFE been re-introduced on NZ's domestic 737 flights. However despite this flight being the longest domestic flight they forgot to play it. So from about 30 minutes in to the flight, when the buy on board advertising video finished, there was nothing on the tv screens. In the few weeks that tv shows have been played on NZ's domestic flights, I am yet to have a flight where it has worked properly. Either there are no headphones, or not enough, or FA forgets to tell passengers they can buy (yes buy for $2) headphones onboard, or in this case nothing played. Hardly an encouraging start of this added amenity, and still a long way to go to catch up to Qantas' domestic IFE offerings. Qantas has several different tv shows and music videos, several audio channels, free headphones, only a few minutes of advertising at the start of each flight.
Another day, another opportunity to fly a couple more routes. Another early start - I'm now getting good at snoozing on the ride out to the airport and waking up just when we arrive. Once again I arrive at the international terminal for the pleasant walk across to domestic to help fill in a few minutes. Since I have a tight domestic to international connection coming up I also check how long it takes to walk between NZ's premium check in area and the domestic prop gate lounge - about 15 minutes walking fast (I passed several passengers en route) and with little traffic. I'll allow 20 for my connection at a busier time of day and allowing a little extra to get from the far end of the prop gates to the prop gate lounge.
I check in using quick-check and change seats on one flight for a (hopefully) better view. I guess one of my flights is lightly loaded and the seat next to me is blocked out rather than occupied - so I don't change that one. On 2 other flights I have no opportunity to review seating. I guess those flights are full.
By now security has opened and I make my way through and up to the lounge. Again the escalator isn't going - why can't they turn it on when security opens?
I grab some coffee and watch some of the cricket before my flight is called. The flight is only half full and yes there were plenty of blocked seats ^ I notice that of the first half dozen rows I am the only passenger with a carry-on - what a contrast to flights within USA where the overhead bins are often full to overflowing.
We take off on time and soon climb through the cloud cover. Unfortunately no great views today which is a shame as this flight nearly the length and breadth of the country affords some fantastic scenery. The cloud breaks up over the Canterbury Plains, with classic Northwest Arch cloud formation (high wave clouds pushed over the Southern Alps by strong westerlies).
The service on the flight is a little disappointing. Shortly after take off the FAs go through offering the recently expanded buy on board offerings (as well as crisps, snacks etc there is now also sandwiches, yoghurt, and salads - plus the obligatory beer, wine, soft drink and juice). Tea, coffee and water (all free) follows immediately after. There is no more biscuit - this was removed from NZ's 737 flights earlier in the week, and being pursued by the NZ Herald as a hot topic (must be a slow news month
). There is no second run through offering drinks (only collecting the rubbish). Also at the time the drinks are offered (ie start of the flight), the basket with serviettes and sugar, which used to have the biscuits, had the lollies traditionally offered at the top of descent. They did not offer the basket to those declining a drink or purchasing a drink, nor did they pass it around at descent. So undoubtedly very few passengers got a lolly.Only fairly recently has IFE been re-introduced on NZ's domestic 737 flights. However despite this flight being the longest domestic flight they forgot to play it. So from about 30 minutes in to the flight, when the buy on board advertising video finished, there was nothing on the tv screens. In the few weeks that tv shows have been played on NZ's domestic flights, I am yet to have a flight where it has worked properly. Either there are no headphones, or not enough, or FA forgets to tell passengers they can buy (yes buy for $2) headphones onboard, or in this case nothing played. Hardly an encouraging start of this added amenity, and still a long way to go to catch up to Qantas' domestic IFE offerings. Qantas has several different tv shows and music videos, several audio channels, free headphones, only a few minutes of advertising at the start of each flight.
Mar 16, 2007, 4:24 pm
#92
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Still we get reasonable views of the Canterbury Plains and Otago Hills. Fly past the peninsula and descend by Dunedin - the city draped over the coastal hills. Into the valley and land to a fine day.
The one airbridge at the airport is in use so we get to use the stairs. Moments later I am in the Dunedin Koru Club. This is a nice lounge and relatively uncrowded today. I am in time to see the end of the cricket (nice win).
The 2 computer terminals, amazingly, are set up to not allow the Air NZ website work properly (bookings, arrival/departure info, schedules, etc)! Madness
The beer count is 20 different ones, in the fridge, plus a few more on tap. 11 wines. 13 teas, coffee, 3 different juices, water. Sandwiches, several different biscuits and slices, bread and fruit. Yum!
The one airbridge at the airport is in use so we get to use the stairs. Moments later I am in the Dunedin Koru Club. This is a nice lounge and relatively uncrowded today. I am in time to see the end of the cricket (nice win).
The 2 computer terminals, amazingly, are set up to not allow the Air NZ website work properly (bookings, arrival/departure info, schedules, etc)! Madness
The beer count is 20 different ones, in the fridge, plus a few more on tap. 11 wines. 13 teas, coffee, 3 different juices, water. Sandwiches, several different biscuits and slices, bread and fruit. Yum!
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Mar 16, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Mar 16, 2007, 6:36 pm
#93
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DUNEDIN to CHRISTCHURCH (DUD-CHC) on NZ ATR 72-500
The flight is called in the lounge fairly late and so I'm the last to board (yes again). I ask the FA if I can sit in the spare row at the back to give myself and the pax seated next to my allocated seat more room. She gives an unconvincing lie that there may be another passenger allocated that seat. Later in the flight once tea coffee and water are served (yes with biscuit for it is only the 737 which is now biscuitless - the distinction being other a/c do not have buy on board), the FA takes that seat for herself. Still she partially redeemed the situation by asking the other pax to switch to an empty row further forward.
We take off to the south and turn around for Christchurch, retracing the path I flew down earlier in the day. We fly over the city and peninsula and take the direct path across the sea to Christchurch. Out the left hand side we have good views of the Canterbury plains and foothills, but the Southern Alps are obscured by cloud.
The northwesterly fohn wind has been building and lowering to the ground, thus our approach is rather bumpy as is the landing (quite a gusty crosswind) - reminded me of some landings in Wellington. It is unseasonably warm for the short walk across the tarmac, despite being well into autumn it is one of the warmest days of the summer.
The flight is called in the lounge fairly late and so I'm the last to board (yes again). I ask the FA if I can sit in the spare row at the back to give myself and the pax seated next to my allocated seat more room. She gives an unconvincing lie that there may be another passenger allocated that seat. Later in the flight once tea coffee and water are served (yes with biscuit for it is only the 737 which is now biscuitless - the distinction being other a/c do not have buy on board), the FA takes that seat for herself. Still she partially redeemed the situation by asking the other pax to switch to an empty row further forward.
We take off to the south and turn around for Christchurch, retracing the path I flew down earlier in the day. We fly over the city and peninsula and take the direct path across the sea to Christchurch. Out the left hand side we have good views of the Canterbury plains and foothills, but the Southern Alps are obscured by cloud.
The northwesterly fohn wind has been building and lowering to the ground, thus our approach is rather bumpy as is the landing (quite a gusty crosswind) - reminded me of some landings in Wellington. It is unseasonably warm for the short walk across the tarmac, despite being well into autumn it is one of the warmest days of the summer.
Mar 16, 2007, 6:40 pm
#94
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FLYING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldn’t be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Don’t get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards – say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal – to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) – particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and I’ll mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
From/To Hamilton
From/To Wellington
From/To Nelson
From/To Christchurch
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldn’t be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Don’t get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards – say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal – to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) – particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and I’ll mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
- AKL-KAT first flown 2007 (Auckland - Kaitaia)
- AKL-KKE first flown years ago (Auckland - Bay of Islands / Kerikeri)
- AKL-WRE first flown 2006 (Auckland - Whangarei)
- AKL-HLZ first flown 2006 (Auckland - Hamilton)
- AKL-TRG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Tauranga)
- AKL-WHK first flown 2006 (Auckland – Whakatane)
- AKL-ROT first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Rotorua)
- AKL-TUO first flown 2006 (Auckland - Taupo)
- AKL-GIS first flown 2006 (Auckland - Gisborne)
- AKL-NPE first flown years ago (Auckland - Napier/Hastings)
- AKL-NPL first flown 2006 (Auckland - New Plymouth)
- AKL-WAG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Wanganui)
- AKL-PMR first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Auckland - Palmerston North)
- AKL-WLG first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland - Wellington)
- AKL-BHE first flown 2007 (Auckland – Blenheim)
- AKL-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Nelson)
- AKL-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland – Christchurch)
- AKL-ZQN first flown 2006 (Auckland - Queenstown)
- AKL-DUD first flown 2007 (Auckland – Dunedin)
From/To Hamilton
- HLZ-PMR first flown 2007 (Hamilton - Palmerston North)
From/To Wellington
- WLG-WRE not yet flown (Wellington – Whangarei)
- WLG-HLZ first flown years ago (Wellington - Hamilton)
- WLG-TRG first flown 2007 (Wellington – Tauranga)
- WLG-ROT not yet flown (Wellington – Rotorua)
- WLG-TUO first flown 2007 (Wellington – Taupo)
- WLG-GIS first flown 2007 (Wellington – Gisborne)
- WLG-NPE first flown years ago (Wellington - Napier / Hastings)
- WLG-NPL first flown 2007 (Wellington – New Plymouth)
- WLG-WAG first flown 2007 (Wellington – Wanganui)
- WLG-PMR not yet flown (Wellington – Palmerston North)
- WLG-BHE first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Blenheim)
- WLG-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Nelson)
- WLG-WSZ first flown 2006 (Wellington - Westport)
- WLG-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Wellington - Christchurch)
- WLG-TIU first flown 2006 (Wellington - Timaru)
- WLG-DUD first flown 2006 (Wellington - Dunedin)
From/To Nelson
- NSN-HLZ first flown 2007 (Nelson - Hamilton)
- NSN-PMR not yet flown (Nelson – Palmerston North)
From/To Christchurch
- CHC-HLZ not yet flown (Christchurch – Hamilton)
- CHC-ROT not yet flown (Christchurch – Rotorua)
- CHC-NPE not yet flown (Christchurch – Napier / Hastings)
- CHC-PMR first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Palmerston North)
- CHC-BHE first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Blenheim)
- CHC-NSN first flown years ago (Christchurch – Nelson)
- CHC-HKK first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Hokitika)
- CHC-OAM first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Oamaru)
- CHC-WKA first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Wanaka)
- CHC-ZQN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Christchurch – Queenstown)
- CHC-DUD first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Christchurch – Dunedin)
- CHC-IVC first flown years ago (Christchurch – Invercargill)
Mar 17, 2007, 2:16 pm
#95
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CHRISTCHURCH to QUEENSTOWN (CHC-ZQN) on NZ ATR 72-500
I have enough time for lunch in the lounge and catch up on emails etc.
There is a delay after boarding as Qantas cancelled their flight and moved passengers across. Once the paperwork is sorted we taxi off a little late. The first part of the flight is bumpy so there is a small delay before the drinks service starts.
Another little difference between NZ and QF is that on this shortish flight, NZ offers tea, coffee and water (and biscuit if not on a 737). While QF offers water and biscuit but claims the flight is too short to offer tea and coffee. Somehow, nearly a decade ago (is it really that long), NZ and Ansett offered full meals and free flowing bar on flights of this length.
I forgot to mention for the flight up from Dunedin that lollies are handed out on descent. Same for this flight.
While we get views of the Canterbury Plains and the lake country, the Southern Alps are hidden in cloud. The flightpath taken on descent through the mountains into Queenstown is straighter than normal (at least on all the 737 flights I have taken) and thus also much steeper. It really feels we are being flown down into a hole. Whereas the more usual flightpath zig-zags around or even circles around the basin like water going down the drain.
I have enough time for lunch in the lounge and catch up on emails etc.
There is a delay after boarding as Qantas cancelled their flight and moved passengers across. Once the paperwork is sorted we taxi off a little late. The first part of the flight is bumpy so there is a small delay before the drinks service starts.
Another little difference between NZ and QF is that on this shortish flight, NZ offers tea, coffee and water (and biscuit if not on a 737). While QF offers water and biscuit but claims the flight is too short to offer tea and coffee. Somehow, nearly a decade ago (is it really that long), NZ and Ansett offered full meals and free flowing bar on flights of this length.
I forgot to mention for the flight up from Dunedin that lollies are handed out on descent. Same for this flight.
While we get views of the Canterbury Plains and the lake country, the Southern Alps are hidden in cloud. The flightpath taken on descent through the mountains into Queenstown is straighter than normal (at least on all the 737 flights I have taken) and thus also much steeper. It really feels we are being flown down into a hole. Whereas the more usual flightpath zig-zags around or even circles around the basin like water going down the drain.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Mar 17, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Mar 18, 2007, 4:58 pm
#96
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QUEENSTOWN to AUCKLAND (ZQN-AKL) on NZ 737-300
Despite flying this route several times on Qantas this was the first time with Air NZ. All my Air NZ flights to/from Queenstown have been via Christchurch.
With the late arrival I have only a few minutes to enjoy the lounge (7 beers and 6 wines if you're interested - number of different ones, not my own consumption). A couple of computers, snacks, views, etc.
Since my last visit to Queenstown a month ago the 2 gate lounges have been combined in to one (slightly smaller than the combined sizes when they were separate) and the available seating cut to less than half. As the schedules often have 2 737s and an ATR flight all leaving around the same time, the new gate lounge is woefully inadequate in my view. Another reason to wait as long as possible before going through security.
Speaking of which, Queenstown airport is a bit of an anomaly for domestic airports. For NZ's regulations require jets (or more strictly aircraft over a certain number of seats which happens to coincide with jet/prop split) to have WTMDs and screening while props do not. At most airports either all aircraft are props, or they have separate gates with screening for the prop flights. At Queenstown there are limited number of gates and thus all flights get screened whether needed or not.
With the gate lounges being combined there are now 2 WTMDs available for use. Despite this, and despite having (at least) 6 security staff on duty, only 1 WTMD is being used today. A lot of people standing around doing not a lot
Anyway, with Qantas' flight being cancelled again lots of passengers transferred across and we have a full flight and another small delay for departure.
The sun shines brightly nearby Remarkable Ranges, shimmering silver thanks to the extensive mica and schist rock formations. We take off with a 270 degree pirouette around the peninsula before heading over the Southern Alps. With the cloud cover we only get glimpses of the Mount Cook region below and then not much at all until close to landing.
There is a moderate amount of turbulence but not too bad.
Despite flying this route several times on Qantas this was the first time with Air NZ. All my Air NZ flights to/from Queenstown have been via Christchurch.
With the late arrival I have only a few minutes to enjoy the lounge (7 beers and 6 wines if you're interested - number of different ones, not my own consumption). A couple of computers, snacks, views, etc.
Since my last visit to Queenstown a month ago the 2 gate lounges have been combined in to one (slightly smaller than the combined sizes when they were separate) and the available seating cut to less than half. As the schedules often have 2 737s and an ATR flight all leaving around the same time, the new gate lounge is woefully inadequate in my view. Another reason to wait as long as possible before going through security.
Speaking of which, Queenstown airport is a bit of an anomaly for domestic airports. For NZ's regulations require jets (or more strictly aircraft over a certain number of seats which happens to coincide with jet/prop split) to have WTMDs and screening while props do not. At most airports either all aircraft are props, or they have separate gates with screening for the prop flights. At Queenstown there are limited number of gates and thus all flights get screened whether needed or not.
With the gate lounges being combined there are now 2 WTMDs available for use. Despite this, and despite having (at least) 6 security staff on duty, only 1 WTMD is being used today. A lot of people standing around doing not a lot
Anyway, with Qantas' flight being cancelled again lots of passengers transferred across and we have a full flight and another small delay for departure.
The sun shines brightly nearby Remarkable Ranges, shimmering silver thanks to the extensive mica and schist rock formations. We take off with a 270 degree pirouette around the peninsula before heading over the Southern Alps. With the cloud cover we only get glimpses of the Mount Cook region below and then not much at all until close to landing.
There is a moderate amount of turbulence but not too bad.
Mar 18, 2007, 5:15 pm
#97
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AUCKLAND to CHRISTCHURCH (AKL-CHC) on NZ 737-300
Another day, yet more travel to be done. Another couple of previously unflown domestic routes, plus a new international destination (at least new flying Air NZ), several different aircraft types, several different lounges.
Again I set off in the early darkness for the airport, have a walk, check in and play the blocked seat lottery (is the lack of available forward seats to select due to flight being full or due to blocked middle seat for elites?), clear security and up to the lounge. Oh and I spend some time on the observation deck watching the comings and goings - all international flights at this time of day. Some very early departures, which I'm glad not to be on today.
I grab breakfast and check email and FT. The computers seem even slower today. The flight is full. As with yesterday extensive cloud cover most of the way. We hit some unexpected turbulence with a couple of big stomach churning drops over north Canterbury. The patchy very low cloud around Christchurch delays our arrival as there is greater than normal separation between flights.
This time I remembered to get a sweet at the time of the drink service.
In marked contrast to Christchurch yesterday it is a chilly autumnal day and almost 20C colder - brrr.
Another day, yet more travel to be done. Another couple of previously unflown domestic routes, plus a new international destination (at least new flying Air NZ), several different aircraft types, several different lounges.
Again I set off in the early darkness for the airport, have a walk, check in and play the blocked seat lottery (is the lack of available forward seats to select due to flight being full or due to blocked middle seat for elites?), clear security and up to the lounge. Oh and I spend some time on the observation deck watching the comings and goings - all international flights at this time of day. Some very early departures, which I'm glad not to be on today.
I grab breakfast and check email and FT. The computers seem even slower today. The flight is full. As with yesterday extensive cloud cover most of the way. We hit some unexpected turbulence with a couple of big stomach churning drops over north Canterbury. The patchy very low cloud around Christchurch delays our arrival as there is greater than normal separation between flights.
This time I remembered to get a sweet at the time of the drink service.
In marked contrast to Christchurch yesterday it is a chilly autumnal day and almost 20C colder - brrr.
Mar 18, 2007, 5:25 pm
#98
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CHRISTCHURCH to NELSON (CHC-NSN) on NZ Saab 340
After a while spend in the warm lounge it is time to brave the cold outside to cross the tarmac and board the next flight of the day. The flight is fairly empty so I have room to spread out and put my bag in an empty seat rather than trying to jam it into the tiny overhead bin or take up my legroom.
Most of the very low cloud has dissipated and so beneath the high cloud we have views across the plains to the hills and mountains. As we fly north we pass through this cloud. This is a shame as I'd been looking forward to this flight, for much of the way is over mountain ranges and valleys. On the Nelson side we break free of the cloud just before we reach the small plain. We do a sharp low altitude 180 degree turn just off Tahunanui Beach, the wingtip seemingly just a few metres off the water, before flying over the golf course and landing back into the strong wind. We are buffetted around a lot and so the landing is rather rough.
When we park up outside the terminal the FA waits several minutes for the propellers to stop turning before realising the wind is strong enough to keep them going around. The aircraft is rocking on the ground, and this motion causes me to mis-step coming down the stairs. I avoided a nasty tumble but got a bruised shin for my efforts.
After a while spend in the warm lounge it is time to brave the cold outside to cross the tarmac and board the next flight of the day. The flight is fairly empty so I have room to spread out and put my bag in an empty seat rather than trying to jam it into the tiny overhead bin or take up my legroom.
Most of the very low cloud has dissipated and so beneath the high cloud we have views across the plains to the hills and mountains. As we fly north we pass through this cloud. This is a shame as I'd been looking forward to this flight, for much of the way is over mountain ranges and valleys. On the Nelson side we break free of the cloud just before we reach the small plain. We do a sharp low altitude 180 degree turn just off Tahunanui Beach, the wingtip seemingly just a few metres off the water, before flying over the golf course and landing back into the strong wind. We are buffetted around a lot and so the landing is rather rough.
When we park up outside the terminal the FA waits several minutes for the propellers to stop turning before realising the wind is strong enough to keep them going around. The aircraft is rocking on the ground, and this motion causes me to mis-step coming down the stairs. I avoided a nasty tumble but got a bruised shin for my efforts.
Mar 18, 2007, 6:03 pm
#99
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NELSON to PALMERSTON NORTH (NSN-PMR) on NZ Beech 1900D operated by Vincent Aviation
I got the code for the lounge, and headed there to escape the overcrowded terminal. Eek the lounge is standing room only. So I head outside instead. The terminal isnt large enough to cope with several flights in a short interval - a couple each to Wellington & Christchurch, one to Auckland, Palmerston North and Hamilton. The strong wind obliterates the PA so I head back inside 5 minutes or so before I expected boarding to be announced.
We board 5 minutes before departure. The pax in front of me has gone to the wrong aircraft on the tarmac - good job this was spotted. This flight confused me a little when I checked in, for the seatmap matched the Beech 1900D and not the Beech 1900C that I was expecting (all my other flights with Vincent Aviation have been on 1900C). I wondered if, since the time of booking, the flight had reverted to Air NZ's subsidiary Eagle Air which has Beech 1900D. So I selected a seat that I'd be happy with on either aircraft just in case.
While waiting for the pilots to complete their checks and ground crew to do their things, the aircraft was rocking violently in the wind. A couple of passengers went green even before we started taxiing.
We take off and have a bumpy flight along the eastern ranges, past D'Urville Island and across Cook Strait. In Manawatu the cloud cover is patchy creating an irregular pattern of shadows superimposed on the more regular pattern of fields. Quite hypnotic effect. We fly low over the city and have a very rough landing - so much so that I tensed myself ready to brace if needed.
I got the code for the lounge, and headed there to escape the overcrowded terminal. Eek the lounge is standing room only. So I head outside instead. The terminal isnt large enough to cope with several flights in a short interval - a couple each to Wellington & Christchurch, one to Auckland, Palmerston North and Hamilton. The strong wind obliterates the PA so I head back inside 5 minutes or so before I expected boarding to be announced.
We board 5 minutes before departure. The pax in front of me has gone to the wrong aircraft on the tarmac - good job this was spotted. This flight confused me a little when I checked in, for the seatmap matched the Beech 1900D and not the Beech 1900C that I was expecting (all my other flights with Vincent Aviation have been on 1900C). I wondered if, since the time of booking, the flight had reverted to Air NZ's subsidiary Eagle Air which has Beech 1900D. So I selected a seat that I'd be happy with on either aircraft just in case.
While waiting for the pilots to complete their checks and ground crew to do their things, the aircraft was rocking violently in the wind. A couple of passengers went green even before we started taxiing.
We take off and have a bumpy flight along the eastern ranges, past D'Urville Island and across Cook Strait. In Manawatu the cloud cover is patchy creating an irregular pattern of shadows superimposed on the more regular pattern of fields. Quite hypnotic effect. We fly low over the city and have a very rough landing - so much so that I tensed myself ready to brace if needed.
Mar 18, 2007, 6:10 pm
#100
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PALMERSTON NORTH to AUCKLAND (PMR-AKL) on NZ ATR 72-500
I've reported on this route recently so will keep this short.
This is my fourth flight today (so far), fourth different aircraft type, and fourth airline. (This is despite all flights having NZ flight numbers - for the 737 flight was Air NZ mainline, Saab 340 was Air Nelson, Beech 1900D was Vincent Aviation, ATR 72-500 was Mount Cook Airlines - only Eagle Air for Beech 1900D and Zeal320 for A320 are missing.)
The flight was rather bumpy all the way. Again rocking on the tarmac while waiting to start. Flight was totally full and delayed leaving. Lost further time due to headwinds.
For the next flight today, head over to a warm embrace of the tropics.
I've reported on this route recently so will keep this short.
This is my fourth flight today (so far), fourth different aircraft type, and fourth airline. (This is despite all flights having NZ flight numbers - for the 737 flight was Air NZ mainline, Saab 340 was Air Nelson, Beech 1900D was Vincent Aviation, ATR 72-500 was Mount Cook Airlines - only Eagle Air for Beech 1900D and Zeal320 for A320 are missing.)
The flight was rather bumpy all the way. Again rocking on the tarmac while waiting to start. Flight was totally full and delayed leaving. Lost further time due to headwinds.
For the next flight today, head over to a warm embrace of the tropics.
Mar 18, 2007, 8:26 pm
#101
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FLYING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldn’t be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Don’t get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards – say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal – to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) – particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and I’ll mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
From/To Hamilton
From/To Wellington
From/To Nelson
From/To Christchurch
Continuing with the increasingly badly titled mini tour of New Zealand I pause for a moment of indulgence.
After lots and lots of international travel in the past few years, my schedule for 2007 was looking like I wouldn’t be able to fit much longhaul travel in. Don’t get me wrong, I still expect to do quite a bit by non-FT standards – say 2 or 3 round the world trips plus some other trips, however this is well down on the past few years. Instead my schedule currently suits short domestic trips.
Having recently flown to the last few of the 26 domestic destinations served by a major airline in New Zealand, I decided to set myself a new goal – to fly all 50 current domestic routes. I had previously flown quite a few of them, but the network schedules will pose some challenges to fit into my time constraints (as well as booking engine constraints) – particularly the routes served only once a day.
While I will collect a modest amount of mileage thanks to sector minimums, this is not a mileage run. Fare rules in New Zealand do not permit routings other than the most direct possible, and the cheapest domestic fares on Air New Zealand are non-mileage earning (with Qantas only having 6, soon to be 5, routes almost all flights are on Air New Zealand).
The current routes are listed below, and I’ll mark them off as I go.
From/To Auckland
- AKL-KAT first flown 2007 (Auckland - Kaitaia)
- AKL-KKE first flown years ago (Auckland - Bay of Islands / Kerikeri)
- AKL-WRE first flown 2006 (Auckland - Whangarei)
- AKL-HLZ first flown 2006 (Auckland - Hamilton)
- AKL-TRG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Tauranga)
- AKL-WHK first flown 2006 (Auckland – Whakatane)
- AKL-ROT first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Rotorua)
- AKL-TUO first flown 2006 (Auckland - Taupo)
- AKL-GIS first flown 2006 (Auckland - Gisborne)
- AKL-NPE first flown years ago (Auckland - Napier/Hastings)
- AKL-NPL first flown 2006 (Auckland - New Plymouth)
- AKL-WAG first flown 2006 (Auckland - Wanganui)
- AKL-PMR first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Auckland - Palmerston North)
- AKL-WLG first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland - Wellington)
- AKL-BHE first flown 2007 (Auckland – Blenheim)
- AKL-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Auckland - Nelson)
- AKL-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Auckland – Christchurch)
- AKL-ZQN first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Auckland - Queenstown)
- AKL-DUD first flown 2007 (Auckland – Dunedin)
From/To Hamilton
- HLZ-PMR first flown 2007 (Hamilton - Palmerston North)
From/To Wellington
- WLG-WRE not yet flown (Wellington – Whangarei)
- WLG-HLZ first flown years ago (Wellington - Hamilton)
- WLG-TRG first flown 2007 (Wellington – Tauranga)
- WLG-ROT not yet flown (Wellington – Rotorua)
- WLG-TUO first flown 2007 (Wellington – Taupo)
- WLG-GIS first flown 2007 (Wellington – Gisborne)
- WLG-NPE first flown years ago (Wellington - Napier / Hastings)
- WLG-NPL first flown 2007 (Wellington – New Plymouth)
- WLG-WAG first flown 2007 (Wellington – Wanganui)
- WLG-PMR not yet flown (Wellington – Palmerston North)
- WLG-BHE first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Blenheim)
- WLG-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Wellington - Nelson)
- WLG-WSZ first flown 2006 (Wellington - Westport)
- WLG-CHC first flown years ago, and again in 2006 (Wellington - Christchurch)
- WLG-TIU first flown 2006 (Wellington - Timaru)
- WLG-ZQN (seasonal route) first flown years ago (Wellington - Queenstown)
- WLG-DUD first flown 2006 (Wellington - Dunedin)
From/To Nelson
- NSN-HLZ first flown 2007 (Nelson - Hamilton)
- NSN-PMR first flown 2007 (Nelson – Palmerston North)
From/To Christchurch
- CHC-HLZ not yet flown (Christchurch – Hamilton)
- CHC-ROT not yet flown (Christchurch – Rotorua)
- CHC-NPE not yet flown (Christchurch – Napier / Hastings)
- CHC-PMR first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Palmerston North)
- CHC-BHE first flown 2007 (Christchurch - Blenheim)
- CHC-NSN first flown years ago, and again in 2007 (Christchurch – Nelson)
- CHC-HKK first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Hokitika)
- CHC-OAM first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Oamaru)
- CHC-WKA first flown 2006 (Christchurch - Wanaka)
- CHC-ZQN first flown years ago, and again in 2006 & 2007 (Christchurch – Queenstown)
- CHC-DUD first flown 2006, and again in 2007 (Christchurch – Dunedin)
- CHC-IVC first flown years ago (Christchurch – Invercargill)
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Mar 24, 2007 at 5:17 pm Reason: add WLG-ZQN seasonal route re-confirmed for 2007
Mar 24, 2007, 6:03 pm
#102
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Qantas / Jetconnect unreliability
A break from my usual format to give an example of Qantas / Jetconnect unreliability. From my experience of hundreds of domestic flights in NZ, Qantas (or rather NZ subsidiary Jetconnect) is rather less reliable than Air NZ. If I have to be somewhere at a certain time, or connect to an overseas flight, I fly Air NZ or pad in several hours into the schedule to allow for delays. That isn't to say there are always delays. However, with Qantas there is a much, much higher chance of delay than with Air NZ (up to 50% QF vs under 10% NZ).
There are a few reasons I think. One is that Qantas only has a few aircraft flying domestic on any given day (roughly half their current fleet is utilised on secondary trans-tasman flights and the other half on domestic NZ flights). So any problems that arise have a tendency to compound.
Secondly, NZ's weather is such that from time to time disruptions occur. This affects Air NZ also. However proportionately there is a bigger effect on Qantas - not only less aircraft available standing by to take up any slack, but also Qantas has a higher proportion of their flights into / out of Queenstown which is the main problem airport. Queenstown airport is surrounded by mountains (flying in to Queenstown is one of the best routes anywhere as thread through the valleys on approach) and thus is restricted at night time and also when clouds are low. To a lesser extent the other airports served by Qantas (Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland) can be closed by fog, Wellington can be closed in severe winds, and Christchurch and Auckland in severe thunderstorms.
Enough of the background lesson. I was taking a round trip between Auckland and Queenstown. This was partly using up 2 flights held over from last year when on a trip Queenstown flights were cancelled (combination of weather and running out of crew hours). I had the choice of ridiculously low credit or refund (something like $10), or fly those sectors another time, which of course I chose. Unfortunately Qantas would only let me rebook in the original booking class (unless I applied it as the small credit)
As I arrive at the Auckland domestic Qantas Club I found out that earlier in the day Christchurch had some fog, which soon cleared. Nonetheless 2 aircraft were impacted (one from CHC the other from AKL). The one from AKL was unfortunately the one I would be later flying on (due to the small number of aircraft and flights it is relatively straight forward to track progress of an aircraft through the day, except when they swap equipment).
The online arrival and departure were showing this aircraft as flying AKL-(WLG unscheduled)-CHC-ZQN-CHC-ROT-CHC-ZQN-CHC-AKL. I was to fly the bolded bit. One thing that I find a bit silly with the online arrival and departure data is that delays are not propagating through the rest of the day. So have silly cases where can see an aircraft is due in to CHC say at 1100 and depart at 1040. Clearly not possible. But if not savvy enough with the schedules a first glance would make the second flight appear as on time.
So I see the aircraft is running about 1.5 hours late. I was booked on a different flight back from Christchurch, which I projected to be about 0.5 hours late (at this stage). This means either I'd misconnect or flight would need to be held for me and anyone else making that connection.
I asked the lounge agent if I could be rebooked onto the same aircraft's flight CHC-AKL in order to be protected. After some checking it seems the flight was full but I was put on waitlist. With my status, and the likelihood passengers would be shuffled between the 2 flights I was reasonably confident I would clear the waitlist. This later proved to be the case, with status passengers flying CHC-AKL (only) on the significantly delayed flight moved across to the less delayed flight, freeing up space for me to be moved in the other direction.
So far so good. As time passed (in AKL and again in CHC) I monitored the situation. The delays crept out. So the next question was whether we would get to Queenstown or fail to make the curfew. Qantas got all the passengers at the gate ready for a rapid turnaround, abandoned cleaning the aircraft and got everyone off the inbound flight and completed boarding for the outbound in under 15 minutes. There was an anxious few minutes while they completed paperwork. This took us right until the go / no go time I'd been told earlier.
We took off into the setting sun. We must have had more power applied than normal for despite there being no tailwind we shaved off several minutes from the normal flight time on this relatively short sector.
On landing at Queenstown there was a flurry of activity from all the ground staff - they are normally very laid back. Trying to beat the approaching darkness so we wouldn't be stranded there (I can think of much worse places to be stranded but I did really need to get back to Auckland that night). Murphy's Law prevailed. We had 2 wheelchair passengers and another with crutches - this at an airport that only has stairs so a slow process to deplane.
I had just enough time to pick up the stuff I'd come for, and back through security to the gate. Boarding had already started but I was glad I didn't hold up the flight.
The sun had already gone as we taxiied and I was a bit stressed that we weren't going to make it. (I had another trip to Queenstown where cloud descended while we taxiied and we ended up taxiing back to the terminal.) Turn at the end of the runway and immediately gunned back down it. As we climb the skies darkened - the Southern Alps and other surrounding mountains make for a short dusk. Phew just made it.
Coming in to Christchurch the city lights were partly obscured by dense fog patches. The fog from the previous night had settled off the coast during the day and returned with the cool of evening - albeit returning rather earlier than forecast. Would we be able to land? At this stage I wasn't too worried, thinking if we couldn't the alternative would be to fly to Wellington and head to Auckland from there (most likely first thing the next morning). Fortunately the airport runways were just clear enough to land - conveniently the thicker fog was over some taxiways and not the runway. This was surreal. Parts of the airport obscured and other bits clear, even over very short distances.
While in transit the fog thickened and delays continued (they finally cleaned the aircraft and recatered). So now wondering if we'll get out tonight. We had a very slow taxi out to the runway, during which the pilot comes on to announce the conditions are still just good enough to take off. The lights were on high - the fog glowing around us, yet still could not see much out the side windows other than the taxiway and side runway lights. Hopefully they could see more out the front!
So successfully completed my flights and less than 2 hours late. It could have been worse. The lounge staff were brilliant, even following up on the waitlist status for me and keeping me informed. Refreshingly they didn't BS about the delays, realising that I realised the expected arrival and departure times on the website and lounge monitors where a load of rubbish. Cabin crew were also good.
But, I checked out how Air NZ did on the same day. They had a few flights delayed an hour, but seemed to recover time during the day. Qantas generally lost more time as the day wore on (except the last flight was fast, as it often is and made up 20 minutes).
I've had lots of trips without significant delays, but my track record with Qantas domestic is not good. As shown in this little report, service recovery can vary between excellent (yesterday) and bad (the aborted trip referred to last year).
A break from my usual format to give an example of Qantas / Jetconnect unreliability. From my experience of hundreds of domestic flights in NZ, Qantas (or rather NZ subsidiary Jetconnect) is rather less reliable than Air NZ. If I have to be somewhere at a certain time, or connect to an overseas flight, I fly Air NZ or pad in several hours into the schedule to allow for delays. That isn't to say there are always delays. However, with Qantas there is a much, much higher chance of delay than with Air NZ (up to 50% QF vs under 10% NZ).
There are a few reasons I think. One is that Qantas only has a few aircraft flying domestic on any given day (roughly half their current fleet is utilised on secondary trans-tasman flights and the other half on domestic NZ flights). So any problems that arise have a tendency to compound.
Secondly, NZ's weather is such that from time to time disruptions occur. This affects Air NZ also. However proportionately there is a bigger effect on Qantas - not only less aircraft available standing by to take up any slack, but also Qantas has a higher proportion of their flights into / out of Queenstown which is the main problem airport. Queenstown airport is surrounded by mountains (flying in to Queenstown is one of the best routes anywhere as thread through the valleys on approach) and thus is restricted at night time and also when clouds are low. To a lesser extent the other airports served by Qantas (Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland) can be closed by fog, Wellington can be closed in severe winds, and Christchurch and Auckland in severe thunderstorms.
Enough of the background lesson. I was taking a round trip between Auckland and Queenstown. This was partly using up 2 flights held over from last year when on a trip Queenstown flights were cancelled (combination of weather and running out of crew hours). I had the choice of ridiculously low credit or refund (something like $10), or fly those sectors another time, which of course I chose. Unfortunately Qantas would only let me rebook in the original booking class (unless I applied it as the small credit)
As I arrive at the Auckland domestic Qantas Club I found out that earlier in the day Christchurch had some fog, which soon cleared. Nonetheless 2 aircraft were impacted (one from CHC the other from AKL). The one from AKL was unfortunately the one I would be later flying on (due to the small number of aircraft and flights it is relatively straight forward to track progress of an aircraft through the day, except when they swap equipment).
The online arrival and departure were showing this aircraft as flying AKL-(WLG unscheduled)-CHC-ZQN-CHC-ROT-CHC-ZQN-CHC-AKL. I was to fly the bolded bit. One thing that I find a bit silly with the online arrival and departure data is that delays are not propagating through the rest of the day. So have silly cases where can see an aircraft is due in to CHC say at 1100 and depart at 1040. Clearly not possible. But if not savvy enough with the schedules a first glance would make the second flight appear as on time.
So I see the aircraft is running about 1.5 hours late. I was booked on a different flight back from Christchurch, which I projected to be about 0.5 hours late (at this stage). This means either I'd misconnect or flight would need to be held for me and anyone else making that connection.
I asked the lounge agent if I could be rebooked onto the same aircraft's flight CHC-AKL in order to be protected. After some checking it seems the flight was full but I was put on waitlist. With my status, and the likelihood passengers would be shuffled between the 2 flights I was reasonably confident I would clear the waitlist. This later proved to be the case, with status passengers flying CHC-AKL (only) on the significantly delayed flight moved across to the less delayed flight, freeing up space for me to be moved in the other direction.
So far so good. As time passed (in AKL and again in CHC) I monitored the situation. The delays crept out. So the next question was whether we would get to Queenstown or fail to make the curfew. Qantas got all the passengers at the gate ready for a rapid turnaround, abandoned cleaning the aircraft and got everyone off the inbound flight and completed boarding for the outbound in under 15 minutes. There was an anxious few minutes while they completed paperwork. This took us right until the go / no go time I'd been told earlier.
We took off into the setting sun. We must have had more power applied than normal for despite there being no tailwind we shaved off several minutes from the normal flight time on this relatively short sector.
On landing at Queenstown there was a flurry of activity from all the ground staff - they are normally very laid back. Trying to beat the approaching darkness so we wouldn't be stranded there (I can think of much worse places to be stranded but I did really need to get back to Auckland that night). Murphy's Law prevailed. We had 2 wheelchair passengers and another with crutches - this at an airport that only has stairs so a slow process to deplane.
I had just enough time to pick up the stuff I'd come for, and back through security to the gate. Boarding had already started but I was glad I didn't hold up the flight.
The sun had already gone as we taxiied and I was a bit stressed that we weren't going to make it. (I had another trip to Queenstown where cloud descended while we taxiied and we ended up taxiing back to the terminal.) Turn at the end of the runway and immediately gunned back down it. As we climb the skies darkened - the Southern Alps and other surrounding mountains make for a short dusk. Phew just made it.
Coming in to Christchurch the city lights were partly obscured by dense fog patches. The fog from the previous night had settled off the coast during the day and returned with the cool of evening - albeit returning rather earlier than forecast. Would we be able to land? At this stage I wasn't too worried, thinking if we couldn't the alternative would be to fly to Wellington and head to Auckland from there (most likely first thing the next morning). Fortunately the airport runways were just clear enough to land - conveniently the thicker fog was over some taxiways and not the runway. This was surreal. Parts of the airport obscured and other bits clear, even over very short distances.
While in transit the fog thickened and delays continued (they finally cleaned the aircraft and recatered). So now wondering if we'll get out tonight. We had a very slow taxi out to the runway, during which the pilot comes on to announce the conditions are still just good enough to take off. The lights were on high - the fog glowing around us, yet still could not see much out the side windows other than the taxiway and side runway lights. Hopefully they could see more out the front!
So successfully completed my flights and less than 2 hours late. It could have been worse. The lounge staff were brilliant, even following up on the waitlist status for me and keeping me informed. Refreshingly they didn't BS about the delays, realising that I realised the expected arrival and departure times on the website and lounge monitors where a load of rubbish. Cabin crew were also good.
But, I checked out how Air NZ did on the same day. They had a few flights delayed an hour, but seemed to recover time during the day. Qantas generally lost more time as the day wore on (except the last flight was fast, as it often is and made up 20 minutes).
I've had lots of trips without significant delays, but my track record with Qantas domestic is not good. As shown in this little report, service recovery can vary between excellent (yesterday) and bad (the aborted trip referred to last year).
Mar 31, 2007, 4:55 pm
#103
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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AUCKLAND to CHRISTCHURCH (AKL-CHC) on NZ 737
Another day, another few more new routes plus connecting flights. Again an early start out to the airport in the dark. I'm on the earliest domestic flight. When I arrive there are quite a few passengers connecting from the early international arrivals milling around waiting for security to open.
The quick check machine touchscreen doesn't seem to be working so I head to the *G / Koru Club queue. A small wait and I'm soon checked in. Only the first 4 boarding passes get printed automatically - so I ask for the remaining ones. I'm dismayed with the pre-allocated seats on some flights.
NZ has recently extended the OLCI trial from main trunk flights to all domestic flights. Unlike most airlines, OLCI can be done any time once booked - yes even 11 months before departure. Most booking engines do not allow pre-selection of domestic seats (except on international tickets), and few people bothered to call Air NZ to request specific seats on domestic flights. This old system thus worked well for elites - always got a forward seat and if load is light enough I'd get seat blocking too. When the OLCI launch was announced I tried to OLCI for this flight, but the system could not retrieve my booking I had similar problems during the trial for main trunk routes.
Today are my first NZ flights since OLCI opened to all flights. Hopefully it is just coincidence but it is not a good start. I ask if I can be re-seated and told those are the best seats currently available.
I head over to the Qantas terminal to stretch my legs while waiting for security to open up, and to meet up with serfty.
Once security is open I head to the lounge, where I have just enough time to catch up on emails before the flight is called.
The load is light (maybe 70%) so seat blocking is in effect for elites ^ The IFE which is supposed to be playing on 737 flights of an hour or longer is not played at all. Also there is no announcement made about buy on board (tea coffee water and lolly are free), catching some passengers unawares when the trolley comes down the aisle.
Despite some cloud mainly to the west of us, it is a magnificent day for flying. Great views in the soft early morning light. The Marlborough and nothern Canterbury Hills in particular throwing great patterns in the shadows.
We hit some bad turbulence in clear skies descending over the plains. It seems the nor'wester is picking up today - an ominous sign for my onward flights. In the final approach, the low sun angle highlights the sinuous paths traced by old riverbeds. What from the ground and higher altitudes appears as a pancake flat landscape is revealed to be hundreds of built up and worn down riverbeds criss-crossing their way down from the mountains to the sea.
Another day, another few more new routes plus connecting flights. Again an early start out to the airport in the dark. I'm on the earliest domestic flight. When I arrive there are quite a few passengers connecting from the early international arrivals milling around waiting for security to open.
The quick check machine touchscreen doesn't seem to be working so I head to the *G / Koru Club queue. A small wait and I'm soon checked in. Only the first 4 boarding passes get printed automatically - so I ask for the remaining ones. I'm dismayed with the pre-allocated seats on some flights.
NZ has recently extended the OLCI trial from main trunk flights to all domestic flights. Unlike most airlines, OLCI can be done any time once booked - yes even 11 months before departure. Most booking engines do not allow pre-selection of domestic seats (except on international tickets), and few people bothered to call Air NZ to request specific seats on domestic flights. This old system thus worked well for elites - always got a forward seat and if load is light enough I'd get seat blocking too. When the OLCI launch was announced I tried to OLCI for this flight, but the system could not retrieve my booking
I had similar problems during the trial for main trunk routes.Today are my first NZ flights since OLCI opened to all flights. Hopefully it is just coincidence but it is not a good start. I ask if I can be re-seated and told those are the best seats currently available.
I head over to the Qantas terminal to stretch my legs while waiting for security to open up, and to meet up with serfty.
Once security is open I head to the lounge, where I have just enough time to catch up on emails before the flight is called.
The load is light (maybe 70%) so seat blocking is in effect for elites ^ The IFE which is supposed to be playing on 737 flights of an hour or longer is not played at all. Also there is no announcement made about buy on board (tea coffee water and lolly are free), catching some passengers unawares when the trolley comes down the aisle.
Despite some cloud mainly to the west of us, it is a magnificent day for flying. Great views in the soft early morning light. The Marlborough and nothern Canterbury Hills in particular throwing great patterns in the shadows.
We hit some bad turbulence in clear skies descending over the plains. It seems the nor'wester is picking up today - an ominous sign for my onward flights. In the final approach, the low sun angle highlights the sinuous paths traced by old riverbeds. What from the ground and higher altitudes appears as a pancake flat landscape is revealed to be hundreds of built up and worn down riverbeds criss-crossing their way down from the mountains to the sea.
Mar 31, 2007, 5:55 pm
#104
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Posts: 71,422
CHRISTCHURCH to ROTORUA (CHC-ROT) on NZ ATR 72-500
Since I have a bit more time in between flights I turn the corner from the gate and into the lounge (what a surprise!). Only one of the 3 computers seems to be working so I let the lounge agent know and grab a coffee while I wait for the computer to come free. I did manage to surf FT for a while and later saw the other computers had been fixed.
By the time boarding comes along the fohn nor'wester has reached the ground, is blowing hard and has warmed the temperature to unseasonably high levels.
Unlike most of my recent ATR flights the load is less than full with maybe a dozen empty seats.
We had a bumpy flight until we had climbed far enough above the wind (about 20 minutes). The eastern side of the Southern Alps was clear - good views of the low rolling Canterbury hills giving way to the more angular and eroding mountains of Marlborough, pierced by deep gouges along the faultlines. To the west a thick blanket of clouds piled up over the main divide. We crossed a stormy looking Cook Strait and continued northwards. The peak of Mt Taranaki was poking above the cloud cover to our west. We passed the small Manawatu plains and the hill country behind.
Over the central plateau we were close enough to Mt Ruapehu to see the milky crater lake, the deep gouge of the lahar of a couple of weeks ago clearly visible. There was an enormous amount of debris pulled down the mountain for it to be so clearly seen piled up even at this height. The closeness which it came to polluting Taupo's trout fisheries was seen by the narrow gap between the lahar flow and the rivers which make the headwaters of NZ's longest river, the Waikato River.
We flew across Lake Taupo and descended over the geothermal valleys. A straight in approach past the small city of Rotorua.
One thing I noticed was that, like the earlier flight, the crew seem to only do one run through with drinks and one to collect rubbish (also hand out sweets on ATR but not on 737). It doesn't seem that long ago that cabin crew would do a minimum of 2 runs through with drinks so that you could have a top-up drink if desired. I guess that aspect of service has been traded away for something - although I don't know what it could be.
Since I have a bit more time in between flights I turn the corner from the gate and into the lounge (what a surprise!). Only one of the 3 computers seems to be working so I let the lounge agent know and grab a coffee while I wait for the computer to come free. I did manage to surf FT for a while and later saw the other computers had been fixed.
By the time boarding comes along the fohn nor'wester has reached the ground, is blowing hard and has warmed the temperature to unseasonably high levels.
Unlike most of my recent ATR flights the load is less than full with maybe a dozen empty seats.
We had a bumpy flight until we had climbed far enough above the wind (about 20 minutes). The eastern side of the Southern Alps was clear - good views of the low rolling Canterbury hills giving way to the more angular and eroding mountains of Marlborough, pierced by deep gouges along the faultlines. To the west a thick blanket of clouds piled up over the main divide. We crossed a stormy looking Cook Strait and continued northwards. The peak of Mt Taranaki was poking above the cloud cover to our west. We passed the small Manawatu plains and the hill country behind.
Over the central plateau we were close enough to Mt Ruapehu to see the milky crater lake, the deep gouge of the lahar of a couple of weeks ago clearly visible. There was an enormous amount of debris pulled down the mountain for it to be so clearly seen piled up even at this height. The closeness which it came to polluting Taupo's trout fisheries was seen by the narrow gap between the lahar flow and the rivers which make the headwaters of NZ's longest river, the Waikato River.
We flew across Lake Taupo and descended over the geothermal valleys. A straight in approach past the small city of Rotorua.
One thing I noticed was that, like the earlier flight, the crew seem to only do one run through with drinks and one to collect rubbish (also hand out sweets on ATR but not on 737). It doesn't seem that long ago that cabin crew would do a minimum of 2 runs through with drinks so that you could have a top-up drink if desired. I guess that aspect of service has been traded away for something - although I don't know what it could be.
Mar 31, 2007, 6:26 pm
#105
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I have a bit of time before my next flight. So I take a short walk in the sunshine and wind, and return to do some work and read the last of the newspaper. There is no lounge at Rotorua airport, and with a couple of 737 flights as well as a couple of flights on smaller aircraft the airport is rather busy at this time of day. A contrast to the last time I was here when the terminal resembled a ghost town with employees outnumbering passengers by a sizeable margin.
While I work a bus disgorges a large group flying on Qantas to Queenstown (via Christchurch). I'm amazed at how much luggage some people have, even for a 3 week holiday (which I learn through their rather loud conversation). One couple in front of me had no less than 11 bags. All oversized. In contrast another couple in the same group had just a modest wheelaboard. Perhaps some FTers?
I pay the NZ$5 employment tax. Officially it is an airport development levy, but I call it the employment tax since, as with the other local airport taxes at Hamilton and Palmerston North, it seems to be mainly used to fund the people who collect the payment and scan the boarding passes for the sticker at the gate.
While I work a bus disgorges a large group flying on Qantas to Queenstown (via Christchurch). I'm amazed at how much luggage some people have, even for a 3 week holiday (which I learn through their rather loud conversation). One couple in front of me had no less than 11 bags. All oversized. In contrast another couple in the same group had just a modest wheelaboard. Perhaps some FTers?
I pay the NZ$5 employment tax. Officially it is an airport development levy, but I call it the employment tax since, as with the other local airport taxes at Hamilton and Palmerston North, it seems to be mainly used to fund the people who collect the payment and scan the boarding passes for the sticker at the gate.