NEW ZEALAND & Emirates J back to Sydney
Jul 29, 2009, 12:38 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Stanmore, Sydney, Australia.
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE
Posts: 1,360
Hiddy,
That was truely superb. I just loved the photos of NZ and you and Mrs Hiddy.
I cannot wait to hear about the BA installment which I gather from the BA forum was disappointing.
That was truely superb. I just loved the photos of NZ and you and Mrs Hiddy.
I cannot wait to hear about the BA installment which I gather from the BA forum was disappointing.
Jul 29, 2009, 12:43 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brighton England
Programs: AA Plat, various hotels
Posts: 1,220
Thanks for a great report.
It reminded me so much of my trip to New Zealand, i took a picture of my partner standing next to that bird too !!
Glad Emirates were impressive, i'm taking my first flights with them at the end of November in First, looks like im in for a good time.
Excellent quality photo's by the way, must learn how to embed them myself.
It reminded me so much of my trip to New Zealand, i took a picture of my partner standing next to that bird too !!
Glad Emirates were impressive, i'm taking my first flights with them at the end of November in First, looks like im in for a good time.
Excellent quality photo's by the way, must learn how to embed them myself.
Jul 29, 2009, 12:48 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
Nice report HIDDY.
I see it was a 6 star service on EK.
Ah the South Island of NZ is a beauteous thing indeed. I really must see more as I have only done the area around Queenstown and only on a 'rest' day in the middle of a ski holiday.
Re departure tax - I didn't have to pay it at the airport the last time I left AKL as it was included in the ticket price.
Perhaps another well known poster here could explain. Is it a CHC thing or an EK thing that is the differential here?
I see it was a 6 star service on EK.
Ah the South Island of NZ is a beauteous thing indeed. I really must see more as I have only done the area around Queenstown and only on a 'rest' day in the middle of a ski holiday.
Re departure tax - I didn't have to pay it at the airport the last time I left AKL as it was included in the ticket price.
Perhaps another well known poster here could explain. Is it a CHC thing or an EK thing that is the differential here?
Jul 29, 2009, 12:49 am
#9
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
Nice report HIDDY ^^^
No security for prop flights on NZ domestic, but there is for jet. Hence the Qantas a/c parked at the other end of the terminal (where there is a WTMD). You can take as many liquids as you like though, and no nonsense about belt or shoes off.
Did you beat the Qantas a/c to Queenstown? (It used to fly ROT-CHC-ZQN about the same time as the Air NZ flight on the same route.)
Preferred seats are at the back on ATR. Normally service is done simultaneously from both ends.
The "mini Mt Fuji" is Mount Taranaki (aka Mount Egmont) which stood in for Mount Fuji in the movie "The Last Samurai" (and other films).
Yes the flight into Queenstown is spectacular - I never tire of it.
Did you beat the Qantas a/c to Queenstown? (It used to fly ROT-CHC-ZQN about the same time as the Air NZ flight on the same route.)
The ATR72 which would take us to Christchurch first then on to Queenstown arrived on stand and not long after we were boarding and finding our seats in row 2 C/D. The plane was almost full with just one or two seats unoccupied. Soon after take off, the FAs got in to action. Luckily for us they started serving from the front and after being given a small carton of water they came back round serving tea/coffee and a small biscuit.
The scenery along the way was very nice with snow covered mountains one of which was like a mini Mt Fuji – anyone have an idea of what it is called?
The scenery along the way was very nice with snow covered mountains one of which was like a mini Mt Fuji – anyone have an idea of what it is called?
The "mini Mt Fuji" is Mount Taranaki (aka Mount Egmont) which stood in for Mount Fuji in the movie "The Last Samurai" (and other films).
The scenery was getting grander the further south we got although more cloud was about. We started our descent into Queenstown. It’s a pretty thrilling experience flying in between the mountains especially as we were going in and out of cloud at the same time. We touched down safely and on time.
Jul 29, 2009, 12:52 am
#10
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
International
Exempt for children and if spend less than 24 hours in NZ, but see caveat below.
AKL charges both an arrivals and departures tax, and both are collected at ticketing. Thus on separate tickets with <24 hours in between you will still be dinged the tax.
All other international airports in NZ charge NZ$25 at the airport, payable at foreign exchange bureau.
Domestic
A handful of airports have a domestic departure tax, payable at the airport. Amount NZ$3-5 varies by airport.
Hamilton, Rotorua, Palmerston North.
Jul 29, 2009, 5:18 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,350
Another great report HIDDY. ^
Those pics of New Zealand are superb, it really makes me want to visit!
Emirates seem like a top-notch airline, I've read a lot of good things about them. They do seem to have a very inconsistent hard product, but their soft product (as with most Asian/Middle Eastern carriers) is certainly five star.
Looking forward to your BA First TRs.
Those pics of New Zealand are superb, it really makes me want to visit!
Emirates seem like a top-notch airline, I've read a lot of good things about them. They do seem to have a very inconsistent hard product, but their soft product (as with most Asian/Middle Eastern carriers) is certainly five star.
Looking forward to your BA First TRs.
Jul 29, 2009, 8:22 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Cheers MrSydney - wee report on Sydney as well in the next one. 
Let us know how it goes - enjoy. ^
Thanks Moomba - "Superb" flight indeed. It was a great end to a perfect stay in NZ. ^
Thanks for the info Kiwi Flyer regarding Taranaki and the Domestic security. ^ Not sure if the QF flight beat us to CHC or not to be honest. I wasn't paying attention. 
Thanks baggageinhall.
Probably a lot of Y.
Thanks Genius1.
NZ is a great place and certainly deserves more time than we gave it. EK? - I'm sure they can dish up some poor flights just as much as any of the others. Thankfully we've yet to experience it though.
Good point about the seat - they don't have a consistent product in the seat department across their fleet.
Cheers sobore.
Thanks Moomba - "Superb" flight indeed. It was a great end to a perfect stay in NZ. ^
Thanks baggageinhall.
Probably a lot of Y.
Another great report HIDDY. ^
Those pics of New Zealand are superb, it really makes me want to visit!
Emirates seem like a top-notch airline, I've read a lot of good things about them. They do seem to have a very inconsistent hard product, but their soft product (as with most Asian/Middle Eastern carriers) is certainly five star.
Looking forward to your BA First TRs.
Those pics of New Zealand are superb, it really makes me want to visit!
Emirates seem like a top-notch airline, I've read a lot of good things about them. They do seem to have a very inconsistent hard product, but their soft product (as with most Asian/Middle Eastern carriers) is certainly five star.
Looking forward to your BA First TRs.
NZ is a great place and certainly deserves more time than we gave it. EK? - I'm sure they can dish up some poor flights just as much as any of the others. Thankfully we've yet to experience it though.
Good point about the seat - they don't have a consistent product in the seat department across their fleet.
Cheers sobore.