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So I headed back to the airport once more. I met up with CHC Kiwi in the Air NZ premium check in area. Despite 4 agents being on duty, which ought to be ample for the late departures (there aren't too many late night Air NZ flights), there was a sizeable queue and a long wait. It seemed everyone at a counter had some insoluble problem to resolve that took much typing, scurrying away to a supervisor or other assorted actions that could not all be done quickly at the desk.
Eventually it was my turn. I was quickly checked in for the outward flight, paid departure tax. I asked for the return boarding pass but she was unable to issue it thanks to the departure date of the return being "today" whilst the departure date of the first flight is tomorrow (ie after midnight). :( I wasn't too worried by this as I knew turnarounds in the South Pacific are fairly easy, especially if don't have to wait too long at immigration (which I could ensure thanks to sitting in business class). Still, it is annoying to have to spend much of the transit waiting in the heat in a check in line instead of exploring the airport or sitting in a cool lounge. While CHC Kiwi got a few things sorted out I headed through immigration and security, to the lounge for a quick shower. But first a funny incident at the screening station. The agent was clearly new and being trained up. So she checked if one of my gels was too big. The size being in ounces instead of the expected millilitres threw her, but she took my word that 2 ounces was much less than 100 millilitres. Then she took exception to my use of the Air NZ amenity kit for the baggy. It is see through (albeit not clear plastic) and has a ziplock seal, and is smaller than 1 litre. She said, my baggy was okay this time but here let me get you a "proper" baggy so you don't run into problems. It was all I could do to stop myself bursting out laughing. Since the liquids rules first came into effect last August (yes only March in NZ but much earlier in some other countries), I have been on maybe 100 flights using the same amenity kit bag in dozens of countries and no one has taken issue with the bag. She even made me wait at the x-ray machine while she went away to get the bag. On the bright side, I am sure this incident was the reason I managed to avoid the manual search, with several regulars (who I'm sure recognised me) watching with a smirk. As I walked past the duty free I checked for the latest bargain - nothing of interest to me - and kept walking by. At the lounge entrance a koru club member was having trouble finding their guest pass. The lounge bouncer, on recognising me, waved me through instead of holding me up waiting for a boarding pass scan ^ By the time I finished showering, CHC Kiwi had arrived and we found a table to eat and drink at, as far away from a loud snorer as possible. A small gripe but as usual NZ put some nice hot food out in the conservatory in the mid evening, timed for the 2 London flights. There's a chicken and rice dish, and another hot dish I forget for the moment, both with some nice condiments, and plenty of salad things and rolls to accompany. There is also a nice vegetable soup. Of course the usual good selection of drinks. Now for the LAX, SFO and LHR flights this works well for those, like me, who go straight to the airport after work, want to grab some food in the lounge and then sleep onboard. Where it doesn't work so well is for the later flights, like the one I take this trip. For no sooner had we grabbed some soup and food, than they were taken away - no chance for seconds. Furthermore the hot dishes were rather dry having been sitting in a warmer for a couple of hours. With a NZ cabin crew member recently posting that flights departing after 0000 only being served breakfast I was beginning to think I was going to get hungry. Fortunately, supper was indeed served onboard, but of course this limited my available time for sleeping :( The lounge rapidly emptied with the departure of SFO, LAX, HKG and LHR flights. With 2 post midnight departures and only a handful of passengers in the lounge it was clear our flight would not be very full in business class. |
We made our way to the gate, past the by now closed duty free shops and cafe.
There is a delay in boarding, but with such a light load it won't take too long. A few pax get called up for new boarding passes - not op-ups but change of seat for balance reasons! You could see which of those called up flew a bit vs hardly any, in their expectant looks of an op-up and then dejection on the way back from the desk. One of the crew remembered me from a recent flight, but try as we might we couldn't pin down which flight it was. Anyway, it was nice to chat with the crew and of course CHC Kiwi also. A couple of pre-departure drinks, with a bonus half glass thrown in when my first glass was chipped (but I didn't notice until I'd drank half of it - oops :o ). We took off slightly late but had a fast flight time to make it up. Amenity kits and menus were handed out, as well as hot towels. Ahh so I will get to eat after all (by now I was rather hungry as it was 14 hours since lunch). The seat belt sign was turned off very early - we were still climbing steeply over Auckland city (at maybe 4 thousand feet). Then the usual vege crisps and some drinks, quickly followed by dinner service. With low load and the late departure, the cabin crew were very quick and efficient ^ - most pax wanting to sleep as much as possible on this redeye flight to Papeete (the Fa'a airport of the title). After dinner I managed to doze for a few hours before giving up on further sleep. A hot towel to freshen up, and a couple of glasses of drink later I felt ready for the turnaround. The views on final descent are stunning - we fly past Moorea, over the lagoon and land alongside waters edge. The airport is rather busy at this hour of day. An Air France airbus is preparing to leave (just started boarding as we pulled up alongside), an Air Tahiti Nui airbus is sitting on the other side and the usual collection of ATRs and puddle jumpers getting started on the many inter-island flights of the day. We head down the stairs and across the tarmac, crossing the path of the Air France passengers to the arrivals area. There is no transit desk open, but even if there was I'd need to clear immigration to get the onward boarding pass. I'm first off the aircraft and so waved over by the officer manning the EU passport line. He happily stamps my passport, although the turnaround seems to generate much amusement which he shares with a fellow officer before I am allowed to pass. |
AUCKLAND TO PAPEETE SUPPER MENU
Starter Cured and seared tuna with ratatouille salad, baby spinach and crayfish mayonnaise Main Course Roast eye fillet of New Zealand beef with a blue cheese and oxtail ravioli, paprika tomato broth, steamed potato and green beans Roasted chilli kelp seasoned snapper with smoked kawhai potato mash, vegetable medley and pernod cream sauce Chicken, bacon and gruyere panini with gourmet red cabbage and radish coleslaw Dessert Gourmet dessert of lemon meringue pie ice cream and manuka honey chestnut ribbon ice cream with vanilla almond wafer Beverages Spirits Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Chivas Regal Blended Whisky Jack Daniel’s Black Label Gordons Gin 42 Below Vodka Courvoisier VSOP Captain Morgan Rum Ron Bacardi Superior Port and Liqueurs Portuguese Port Grand Marnier Baileys Irish Cream Beer A selection of beer featuring Steinlager, Export Gold, Heineken and low alcohol lager Soft Drinks Mineral water, orange juice, apple juice, tomato juice, cola, lemonade, tonic water, ginger ale and a choice of diabetic drinks are available |
PAPEETE TO AUCKLAND BREAKFAST MENU
Beverages Start your day with a fruit smoothie, your choice of juice, freshly brewed or decaffeinated Gravity coffee, tea, herbal tea or hot chocolate Fruit and Cereal Fruit selection with assorted cereals and yoghurts Bakery Croissants, muffins, wholemeal and fruit toast with fruit conserve Hot Breakfast Bacon omelette with roasted tomato relish and chives, breakfast potatoes and veal sausage Creamy scrambled eggs wrapped in crepe with breakfast potatoes, golden onions and tomato Ricotta griddle cake with caramelised cinnamon bananas, apple cranberry compote and manuka honey and apple syrup Beverages Spirits Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Chivas Regal Blended Whisky Jack Daniel’s Black Label Gordons Gin 42 Below Vodka Courvoisier VSOP Captain Morgan Rum Ron Bacardi Superior Port and Liqueurs Portuguese Port Grand Marnier Baileys Irish Cream Beer A selection of beer featuring Steinlager, Export Gold, Heineken and low alcohol lager Soft Drinks Mineral water, orange juice, apple juice, tomato juice, cola, lemonade, tonic water, ginger ale and a choice of diabetic drinks are available |
Through immigration to the check in queue, where half a plane load worth of passengers are queueing. There is a separate line for business class, koru club, gold and platinum(!) passengers, which I join. 15 minutes later I'm still in the same spot - wondering whether to move over to the economy line which despite being twice as long is moving at a reasonable clip.
I get asked, in halting English, to complete a survey for a new (potential?) taxi operator. Judging by how many of my answers she ignored and checked the box she wanted, the results could be meaningless. There was another passenger on our flight also doing the turnaround, only in economy! It seemed he was not as well prepared, having multiple items to carry instead of all fitting into a small carry on, and having a large jacket which is a bit of a waste given the heat of Tahiti. Eventually I reach the front, get quickly checked in and make my way to immigration. This time nothing is said so straight through. At security I am buzzed at the WTMD and told to take my boots off. Only afterwards collecting my stuff do I realise I had taken the wrong baggy out of my carry on - the one without liquids, not the one with liquids and gels. Oh well. A few minutes to browse the shop, but prices are too dear (as expected) then up to the lounge. Just enough time to enjoy the great view across to Moorea before boarding is called. At the gate left hand side for economy and right for business and star gold. A much fuller flight. At check in I'd asked about loads and told one or two free seats in business class. Being the last business class passenger in the line (and too close to departure for any late arrivals) I was surprised to find on boarding that business class was totally full. Economy was 2/3 full so there shouldn't have been any op-ups. Once more chat with the crew, who also do the turnaround albeit they stayed on board during the transit. Have a nice smoothie and a quick bite before dozing some more. I awoke a couple of hours later and chatted in the galley a bit. Had a few drinks before arrival. Despite the late departure (due to the slow check in) we again made up time en route and arrived right on time. During the flight I noticed the flight path expected arrival time varied by about an hour! Amazing on a shortish flight. All the international gates were in use and several jets were parked up at remote stands, so glad that we managed to get a gate. There was a small delay in the airbridge thanks to someone forgetting to open the door leading into the arrivals corridor. A fast walk to immigration where there were moderate queues. Once more, upstairs immigration lanes were closed. It didn't take long to get through immigration, customs or agriculture x-ray. A QF cabin crew member seemed to have a year's worth of stuff being x-rayed, and for a moment I thought I would be stuck while they check out some items that appeared suspicious in the x-ray, however there is enough staff working efficiently for the line to keep being processed behind her. |
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
(Post 7933994)
One of the crew remembered me from a recent flight, but try as we might we couldn't pin down which flight it was. Anyway, it was nice to chat with the crew and of course CHC Kiwi also.
Thanks for your company on an enjoyable Tahitian Turnaround. :) |
A pleasure. Enjoy your upcoming trip. See if we can catch up during your transit.
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