Auckland International Airport

I arrived at the airport in Auckland quite early as I wanted to check mails using the free wireless in the Air New Zealand Lounge. The hotel shuttle dropped me at the Qantas counters and I walked to the Premium Check in.

There were two agents on duty; one agent served a couple at this time, so I approached the available agent. Due to the several changes of the tickets since it has been issued, she need to sticker it and also adjust one e-ticket. She told me that my hand luggage was too heavy but I was able to have an additional bag to my trolley and the laptop bag, so I put my camera and my shoulder bag out of the trolley and stored my camera and a book in this bag. It was still too heavy, but luckily she was working on my ticket and probably assumed that it was now right. Off course, I did not told her …
I had the departure tax ready in 25 NZD cash and was told to head upstairs and visit the lounge.

She did not tell me that I had to fill the departure card, which was available at the desks there.

After I filled the card and cleared customs I was heading upstairs and to security. It was only a short wait, since you were right at the front of the queues.
Security was fast, but I got an additional screening for explosive material on my carry on.

Anyway, I was really fast through security and on my way to the Koru Lounge.

The lounge is very spacious and had a good selection of food. I took a glass of sparkling wine and some vegetables and took a seat and connect to the internet, checking mails.

As boarding time came, I left the lounge and headed for the gate.

Boarding had not yet begun, but did so a few minutes later with families traveling with small children before Business Class and Star Gold.

21 February 2008
AKL- SYD
[Auckland – Sydney]
NZ (Air New Zealand); Boeing 767-300 (ZK-NCL)
Gate 08
13:00 – 14:30 [effective 13:32 – 14:38]
Business Class
Seat 01 B

I was among the first passengers to board the plane and stored my belongings in the overhead compartment. A flight attendant approached and took my jacket and stored them in the wardrobe. Predeparture drinks were offered, one hat the choice of a glass of champagne, orange juice, apple juice or water.

Menus were distributed on the ground and the headphones and blankets were lying on the seat as on the inbound flight.

We were pushed back right in time and rolled to our runway after we had waited a few minutes on the tarmac. On the way to the runway the safety demonstration was done by the flight attendants. I did not really pay attention, as I chatted with my seat neighbor, who was from the Blenheim area and on the way to a dinner meeting in Sydney. He has an exchange student from Germany at this time and therefore we chatted about Germany and New Zealand.

We rolled to our runway and were airborne at 13:10. I had hoped to get some view on the QE2, which were in Auckland on her farewell cruise before Cunard took it out of service. Unfortunately the weather was cloudy and one could not see much of the ground. Therefore I was not really disappointed not to have a window seat on this flight.

Again, app. two minutes after we have left the runway the captain turned off the fasten seat belt signs. So it seems Air New Zealand is always that quick with this. Although we were requested to remain a bit longer buckled up, some passenger used the lavatories.

The flight attendants jumped in action and app. twenty minutes after we had left our gate in Auckland we were asked what we like to have as drink before the lunch service. I opted for a sparkling water. We got again some kroepoek with the pre lunch drink.

 Here is the written menu for linch service on our flight to Sydney

Lunch was served round about twenty minutes later. First our tray tables were laid with linen and than the first course arrived on the tray. I had a white wine – a Chardonnay from the Marlborough region – with lunch. Garlic bread, French rolls and dark bread was served and olive oil was available was well, I was again impressed by the service Air New Zealand offered on this short 3 hour flight to Sydney. The second course was brought individually as each passenger had finished the first course. They refilled the wine and crew was in general very attentive. I would rate them even better as the crew on the flight from Sydney to Auckland the previous Saturday. I had the lamb as main course and it was a bit dry but tasted good. I tend to say, that the food was better on the flight from Sydney to Auckland, especially the main course.

Dessert was again good, I had the ice cream and was able to get a second bowl – the flight attendant grinned as I requested it and mentioned I could have a third one as well. We got offered a dessert wine – as far as I remember a port, but we were not shown the bottle, so I cannot say which one.

The trays were cleared already before dessert was served and a cup of coffee was available with the dessert as well.

The flight time passed quickly and I chatted with my seat mate about the comparison with Air New Zealand and Qantas. I think he flew NZ more often, as he had Silver Status with them, but nothing with Qantas. His impression is that the service of NZ is varying more than that off Qantas. The later one is more constant in terms of service. I told him about Flyertalk as source for information about frequent flier miles and we both agreed that to have elite status make air travel a lot nicer.

We soon began our final descend into Sydney Kingsford Smith where we touched down at 14:28 local time and reached our gate app. ten minutes later, because we had to roll back passing the domestic and international terminal to the gates in the higher fifties.

I was among the first passengers to leave the plane. I said “good by” to my seat mate and headed for the deserted security check for international transfer passengers. I passed it quickly and was on my way to the lounge.

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