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.