VHVXB From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5517 posts, RR: 20 Posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 12426 times:
Once again it was time to take my obligatory end of year trip to visit friends and family in New Zealand. With NZ occasionally scheduling the 772 on the AKL-SYD-AKL sector I was hoping that I could find some special deal. Unfortunately this was not the case, instead I found a deal with 2 of the more exotic carriers which service this route in LAN Chile in Y and Aerolineas Argentinas in J for a bargain considering it was during peak travel period. It would also give me the chance to fly on 2 new aircraft types in the A340-300 and A340-200 and 2 new airlines.
Date: 30/12/2007
Flight: LA 800
Origin: SYD
Destination: AKL
Aircraft: CC-CQF Airbus A340-313X
Scheduled departure time: 1055
Actual departure time: 1120
Scheduled arrival time: 1555
Actual arrival time: 1610
Seat: 33L
I arrived at the airport 2.5hrs prior to departure and was only confronted with small queue with quite few passengers coming from Brisbane and Melbourne. As you would expect the process was relatively painless.
The check-in area.
Spotting at Sydney
HL7486
One World Carriers
QF A333 and B744.
N198UA arriving from LAX as UA839
My ride to AKL CC-CQF
CX A333
I believe this will become another area for an A380 capable gate
G-VMEG taxiing to the cargo stand
EY A345 and VS A346
VH-OJM sitting at the cargo bay
VH-OGA to Noumea
Heading to the departure gates. The "Qantas Pier"
Another A380 Capable gate
Spotting airside
9V-SKA and HL7486
HS-TJR heading to BKK as TG 994
HL7500 - operating the late running service to ICN as OZ 602
Buzzing with aircraft - CC-CQF - LAN 800 to SCL via AKL, VH-QPJ - QF 123 to BOM via DRW, 9V-SKA - SQ 220 to SIN and A6-EBG arrival from DXB via BKK as EK 418
A6-EBG
9V-SKA
VH-OJP - QF 63 to JNB
VH-OJI - QF 74 to MEL
ZK-OJF - NZ 742 to WLG
B-6092 - Air China arrival from PEK via PVG.
9M-MPN - arrival from KUL. As you can see the 2007 titles have been removed
Both UA and QF off to MEL
B-2056 - arrival from Guangzhou
Gate 32
Boarding was delayed for 20 minute for some unknown reason. Oneworld Elite, business and first class passengers were given priority eventually followed by economy class passengers.
Sitting at the gate for roughly 20 minutes because of "high traffic". In other words several other aircraft pushing back for departure at the same time.
PTV - Not the crash hot system you would find EK, SQ, MH, NZ and others as their is a limited selection available to sample but it gets the job done.
PTV Controls
Telephone
Oh my QF 763s out of their place. You certainly don't see this everyday, a QF (VH-OGE) sitting on the "Other Side" of the international terminal. OGE would later depart to AKL as QF 43. Clearly shows there are shortage of gates at certain times of the day.
Air Canada 773ER
BA 772ER
N120UA - Will head back to the international terminal for its return flight to SFO.
General Holmes Drive
Flying over Northern Sydney
Over the North Shore and CBD
The CBD & the harbour
SYD in the distance - with the international terminal on the right and domestic terminal on the left.
Heading to New Zealand
Shortly after takeoff F/As distribute headsets and started the meal/snack service. Unlike NZ, QF and EK LAN offers only one choice for meal along with fruit salad or dessert. So for those who have strict dietary requirements do chose your meal in advance when travelling both LAN and AR.
Meal Service consisted of some warm ham and cheese sandwich and fruit salad and along with beer, wine, fresh juice and water. I didn't bother with the sandwich and just handed it over to my seat mate. As you can see catering is not so flash compared to the locals and EK though one thing I did notice was there was no plastic knife, all stainless steel cutlery
Inflight magazine and duty free
IFE guide
IFE - Limited choice in movies/TV but plenty of music to listen to and games play. Also has fleet information and neat little survey which you can complete about your experience with LAN
Cabin Shot
Duty free anyone?
Airshow - approaching AKL
Land in sight
Airport in sight. Head past it make a few right turns and touchdown
passing a Pacific Blue 737 whilst taxiing to the gate.
deplaning was quick with many passengers continuing their journey to Santiago which meant no queues at Customs and MAF. Overall the experience with LAN was a pleasant one
Date: 03/01/2008
Flight: AR 1182
Origin: AKL
Destination: SYD
Aircraft: LV-ZRA Airbus A340-211
Scheduled departure time: 0911
Actual departure time: 1010
Scheduled arrival time: 1111
Actual arrival time: 1120
Seat: 7D
I arrived at check-in 90 minutes prior to the scheduled departure and used the dedicated check-in queue for business class passengers. NZ carries out all check-in procedures for AR passengers. I was told by the cheerful check-in agent that flight was running late this morning and that I could make use the NZ lounge. After check-in headed to the Travelex to pay the mandatory $25 departure fee. Hopefully this will change sometime in the future and $25 is included in the ticket price.
Departure hall - plenty of duty free shops
Observation deck
ZK-NBS
B-HXG and ZK-OJG
ZK-MCC
VH-OJI - saw her in SYD on the day I departed.
Emirates Lounge - will be buzzing with activity come 3pm
NZ Koru Lounge - A spacious lounge with all the facilities you would expect to be available from Newspapers and magazines, to PCs with internet access , PSP for the kids and a nice selection of food and drinks
hmm breakfast.
AKL - Departure gates.
Shots taken from gate 8
Taking me to SYD - LV-ZRA
ZK-OKB - Saw this one in SYD as well on the day I departed. I believe she was heading to NRT Koruman's favourite destination on the NZ network
I don't know where this one was heading. Possibly MEL or BNE??
Boarding announcement was made with business class and passengers with children given priority followed by economy class passengers. Boarding was separated from transit passengers and AKL originating passengers. I was welcomed by the purser who kindly directed me to my seat.
Pre-take off drink was offered once the doors were closed. Champagne or Orange Juice
Shortly after take-off the meal service began. Once again only one option was given. 2 sandwiches and spinach/vegetable patty and lamb skewer along with piece of cake, dried crackers, warm bread roll with South American wines, beer, fruit juice and water. After breakfast tea and coffee was offered as well as another drinks round.
Flying over the Tasman.
Some cabin shots.
Business Class - Notice there is no middle overhead because of the projector.
Economy Class - full of Brazilian school students on an overseas study program.
Once again the experience with Aerolineas was pleasant one and well worth the price.
My next trip across the Tasman I'll be sure to get NZs 772 as well as QFs new 332s
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8278 posts, RR: 56 Reply 2, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 12082 times:
Nice report, many thanks.
What a great choice, AR and LA & 3 different A340 models, I'd have chosed these 2 carriers also.
Good to note both flights looked pretty full.
I was in SYD following the A380 first flight, hope to go back next year, all being well AR will still fly the 342 on this route, I'll be looking for a flight!
Chrisrad From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1008 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 11530 times:
Wow Mr VHVXB, this supreme trip report is another glowing example of your sheer tenacity to capture the beauty of travel on so many different facets. Though there is a notable absence of Coco Ng and Judy Free. Congratualtions well done.
Welcome aboard Malaysia Airlines! Winner of Best Cabin Staff 2001,2002,2003,2004,2007,2009,2012
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16598 posts, RR: 11 Reply 4, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 11464 times:
Great TR
Really like all the pics. Love when it is a lot of pics in a TR
So which did you like the most, the A343 or the A342??
Powercube From Australia, joined Jul 2007, 265 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 11421 times:
That was a great TR. I was out spotting at SYD both those days, so I am sure in some manner I accidentally wished you a hello. I'm very impressed with the amount AR gives you in J for such a relatively short flight. Not sure if I'd want to spend any longer in that cabin, though.
Abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4919 posts, RR: 55 Reply 7, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 11121 times:
Quoting Powercube (Reply 5): Not sure if I'd want to spend any longer in that cabin, though.
= Completely agree. I don't know if that cabin is worth spending money on. I don't mind those seats as much as the fact that the cabin looked super cramped.
Quoting INNflight (Reply 6): I'd have preferred Economy on your return though.....awwww
Well, after trying AC's flagship route and their flagship J product (TR posted of course ). They have one more time to impress me or I am taking my transpacific business back to SQ... Permanently.
Zkpilot From New Zealand, joined Mar 2006, 4740 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (5 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 10764 times:
Quoting VHVXB (Thread starter): VH-OJI - saw her in SYD on the day I departed.
Yeah I flew on her back to AKL later that day...
Quoting VHVXB (Thread starter): ZK-OKB - Saw this one in SYD as well on the day I departed. I believe she was heading to NRT Koruman's favourite destination on the NZ network
now now...we all know that PVG is his favorite and that he would like NZ to fly there more
Quoting VHVXB (Thread starter): Shortly after take-off the meal service began. Once again only one option was given. 2 sandwiches and spinach/vegetable patty and lamb skewer along with piece of cake, dried crackers, warm bread roll with South American wines, beer, fruit juice and water. After breakfast tea and coffee was offered as well as another drinks round.
That cart looks like it came over from a 707 or other ancient aircraft...just look at it! If a cart is to go out in J class it really should have a cloth cover over it as QF and I'm sure others do.
Well, after trying AC's flagship route and their flagship J product (TR posted of course ). They have one more time to impress me or I am taking my transpacific business back to SQ... Permanently.
Um sorry but I don't see the connection with this TR?
Aaden From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 832 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 9996 times:
Quoting Chrisrad (Reply 3): Wow Mr VHVXB, this supreme trip report is another glowing example of your sheer tenacity to capture the beauty of travel on so many different facets
VHVXB From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5517 posts, RR: 20 Reply 16, posted (5 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 9890 times:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 1): Its great to be able to fly them on such routes.
Indeed! Nice to try new airlines and tick off the new aircrafts travelled on. All theres left is the A340-600 and I've travel on all A340 series aircraft
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 2): all being well AR will still fly the 342 on this route, I'll be looking for a flight!
I don't think much will change. They currently operate 4 weekly and they may increase.
Quoting Chrisrad (Reply 3): Wow Mr VHVXB, this supreme trip report is another glowing example of your sheer tenacity to capture the beauty of travel on so many different facets.
Thank you Mr. Chrisrad for your dazzling comments. I'm glad you enjoyed my trip report.
Quoting Chrisrad (Reply 3): Though there is a notable absence of Coco Ng and Judy Free
Well instead of Coco there was Jose and Maria
Quoting B747forever (Reply 4): Really like all the pics. Love when it is a lot of pics in a TR
Thanks
Quoting B747forever (Reply 4): So which did you like the most, the A343 or the A342??
there is no one thing that made either aircraft better than the other. I was happy that I was able to complete a flight on the A342 as it is not a very prevelant aircraft compared to its older brother the A343
Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 10): Yeah I flew on her back to AKL later that day...
I think she was running late as well
Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 10): we all know that PVG is his favorite and that he would like NZ to fly there more
Of course how could I forget good old Shanghai :P
Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 10): just look at it! If a cart is to go out in J class it really should have a cloth cover over it as QF and I'm sure others do.
VHVXB From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5517 posts, RR: 20 Reply 18, posted (5 years 5 months 4 days ago) and read 9388 times:
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 17): - I know, but this years holiday dates are pretty much all allocated to getting married - loss of valuable spotting time!
Oh dear. At least another thing to look forward to
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