SimonM
Member
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2008
- Posts
- 234
My usual hop over to NZ (Gold Coast to Auckland) wouldn't normally generate much interest for me, but my trip last week had a few more highlights than usual.
JQ's timing works out well for me, so I travelled over on JQ239 leaving at 09:15. I booked a seat on the port side for the flight over so I could have a chance to spot Elizabeth Reef. I've only seen it a couple of times and got lucky this day too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roopaw/5427477463/
I have seen the even more elusive Middleton Reef once too, but not this time.
Our arrival into AKL was probably one of the best I've ever had. We crossed the coast overhead Muriwai (see my Flickr page) and then passed over the southern CBD, so that we had an awesome view of the city, harbour and North Shore. Best ever. Sadly the hostie sitting across from me would have frowned had I snapped away with my iPhone, so no photos.
While walking from the gate to the main terminal, I saw ANZ's new Black Magic A320 cruising down the runway, accompanied by a black Jetranger, filming I guess, and an awesome sight.
And then when leaving AKL for WAG, I noticed our co-pilot taking some photos on the tarmac. It's another new ANZ plane, the 777-300ER.
After a few days in WAG, I got a ride down to PMR to catch my late flight to AKL, where I'd overnight before JQ238-ing my way home the next morning. We'd heard that PMR was diverting some flights due to fog, but decided to give it a try anyway. After checking in, we were informed that the plane had diverted to WAG, so I had to head back to the place I'd just come from. My brother had waited, so I went back with him rather than take the provided bus.
When we got to WAG, a bus was just leaving with the PMR-bound folks and the ANZ crew was hanging around the terminal. We said hi and asked how the flight down was, etc. The FA was apparently starving, so my brother took her into town and shouted her a meal at Macca's. We finally got to AKL about midnight, an hour and half delayed. Sadly this was too late for a young doctor heading to LHR and on to a job interview, who's TA had only left one hour between flights. She was going to try to get on a delayed Shanghai flight leaving at 3:00am and whatever from there.
AKL Int arrivals was still very busy when I arrived there at about 00:20. I went off looking for the quiet seats up past the bar, but they were already taken, so I went back downstairs. The place quietened down a lot after about 2-ish, when the delayed passengers to Shanghai went through airside.
JQ238 was about 30 mins or so late getting in, but no explanatory announcements were made and the sole JQ-er at the gate took to looking out the window for the plane, then disappeared. The PAX were just getting to the stage where they start talking to each other, wondering what's going on, when the boarding call was made.
I had seat 1F on the way back and have decided I prefer it to 1A, if I'm going to have a window, as the door blocks legroom in 1A. The loo wasn't too fragrant on the way over, but I didn't notice it at all on the way back from 1F. Perhaps it was my neighbour and not the loo on the way to NZ!
I'd also like to mention how great the border procedures are now that I have ePassport and use the new machines. Travelling with hand luggage only, I was though NZ's system in 5 minutes and didn't even have to have my bag scanned by quarantine. Arriving back into OOL was almost as quick for the official time and overall much less due to the shorter distances to walk. Great stuff.
JQ's timing works out well for me, so I travelled over on JQ239 leaving at 09:15. I booked a seat on the port side for the flight over so I could have a chance to spot Elizabeth Reef. I've only seen it a couple of times and got lucky this day too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roopaw/5427477463/
I have seen the even more elusive Middleton Reef once too, but not this time.
Our arrival into AKL was probably one of the best I've ever had. We crossed the coast overhead Muriwai (see my Flickr page) and then passed over the southern CBD, so that we had an awesome view of the city, harbour and North Shore. Best ever. Sadly the hostie sitting across from me would have frowned had I snapped away with my iPhone, so no photos.
While walking from the gate to the main terminal, I saw ANZ's new Black Magic A320 cruising down the runway, accompanied by a black Jetranger, filming I guess, and an awesome sight.
And then when leaving AKL for WAG, I noticed our co-pilot taking some photos on the tarmac. It's another new ANZ plane, the 777-300ER.
After a few days in WAG, I got a ride down to PMR to catch my late flight to AKL, where I'd overnight before JQ238-ing my way home the next morning. We'd heard that PMR was diverting some flights due to fog, but decided to give it a try anyway. After checking in, we were informed that the plane had diverted to WAG, so I had to head back to the place I'd just come from. My brother had waited, so I went back with him rather than take the provided bus.
When we got to WAG, a bus was just leaving with the PMR-bound folks and the ANZ crew was hanging around the terminal. We said hi and asked how the flight down was, etc. The FA was apparently starving, so my brother took her into town and shouted her a meal at Macca's. We finally got to AKL about midnight, an hour and half delayed. Sadly this was too late for a young doctor heading to LHR and on to a job interview, who's TA had only left one hour between flights. She was going to try to get on a delayed Shanghai flight leaving at 3:00am and whatever from there.
AKL Int arrivals was still very busy when I arrived there at about 00:20. I went off looking for the quiet seats up past the bar, but they were already taken, so I went back downstairs. The place quietened down a lot after about 2-ish, when the delayed passengers to Shanghai went through airside.
JQ238 was about 30 mins or so late getting in, but no explanatory announcements were made and the sole JQ-er at the gate took to looking out the window for the plane, then disappeared. The PAX were just getting to the stage where they start talking to each other, wondering what's going on, when the boarding call was made.
I had seat 1F on the way back and have decided I prefer it to 1A, if I'm going to have a window, as the door blocks legroom in 1A. The loo wasn't too fragrant on the way over, but I didn't notice it at all on the way back from 1F. Perhaps it was my neighbour and not the loo on the way to NZ!
I'd also like to mention how great the border procedures are now that I have ePassport and use the new machines. Travelling with hand luggage only, I was though NZ's system in 5 minutes and didn't even have to have my bag scanned by quarantine. Arriving back into OOL was almost as quick for the official time and overall much less due to the shorter distances to walk. Great stuff.
