My flatmate and I decided to go away for a couple of days because we actually had three days off work and he had Air Canada Aeroplan Miles to burn, so we headed off on a sojorn to Queenstown. We went the long way there to get as many flights as we could, it cost double the miles, but it was worth it. Managed to get 3 733's, 1 762 and 1 BAe146.

When I talk about the meals in this report just note that we had 2 meals: His was the regular menu, and mine was vegetarian.


25th December 2001
NZ 434
Business Class
Wellington - Auckland
Aircraft: Boeing 737-300
Reg: NK-NGN
Sched flight time: 1 hour
Actual flight time: 49 mins
Dep Time: 1130hrs

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Photo © Glen Reid

Got to the airport an hour before the flight because we weren't too sure what sercurity there was in Wellington for Air NZ, but checked in after waiting in line for about 1 min, and the lady said she couldn't remember had to check us in (as a joke) because we were just travelling on one flight without luggage. She was manning the International Connections Desk where she would have been through checking people to all over the world all morning. I think she saw us as a wee god send  . Got our boarding passes to Auckland and proceeded up to the Koru Lounge/Business Class lounge where the attendant on the door was really friendly and remembered me from May and asked how everything was. A nice touch I thought.

We had some nibbles from the breakfast buffet and watched from the lounge as planes come and go (and including ours arrive from Christchurch). The lounge in Wellington has views over the runways and had all glass walls except for the entrance wall which doesn't look over the runway so who cares  

We went down a few minutes before the boarding call to board the flight, and the queue to get into gate 16/17 was huge. There was a Freedom Air flight to Christchurch departing at the exact time as ours to Auckland. Progress took about 10 mins to get though. Once on board we were seated in 2EF (Aisle/Window). before take off we had a glass of bubbles and some peanut/bhuja mix. Num nums.

Once we took off the service began. They bought out our trays with the entrees on them with:

Vegetarian Entree: Sliced veges served chilled on leafy greens that had been chargilled

Normal Entree: Sliced cold meats served chilled on leafy greens

Once we had that, they took our entrees and bought the mains

Vegetarian Meal: Vegetables Julienne, A Pumpkin and Cous Cous Cake with Saffron Rice

Normal Meal: Vegetables Julienne, A slice of Salmon, A slice of a unknown white fish, and steamed rice with peas. (The unknown white fish wasn't so good, and didn't match the rest of the meal)

Then for desert which was already on the tray was fresh fruit and cheese and crackers for both of us.

As always, the drink (alcoholic or non alcoholic) was free flowing.

And seeing it was Xmas day, the F/A came around with a little packaged Xmas Cake and Chockies for all the Business Class Passengers.

Another excellent flight on Air NZ.






25th December 2001
NZ 647
Business Class
Auckland - Queenstown
Aircraft: Boeing 737-300
Reg: ZK-NGI
Sched flight time: 1 hour 50 mins
Actual flight time: 1 hour 40 mins
Dep Time: 1425hrs


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Photo © Frank Schaefer


Once in Auckland, we deplaned and went to the Air NZ counters to check in for the flight to Queenstown. There was no queues at any off the Counters there, so check-in was real fast.

Went upstairs to the Air NZ Koru lounge which also affords views on the runway, however this view is blocked by planes using gates 31, 32 or 33.

The attendent in the lounge was very pleasant, and when we left she took us down in the lift as I had hurt my leg a week before and couldn't really bend my leg very well because it's in a brace, so this saved me the shame of using the stairs.

Once again passing through security which was fast and up to the departing flight which was departing from gate 29 which appears to be a new gate as I really don't remember it from previous visits to Auckland Airport and the who area looked new and had plenty of seating.

Once boarding commenced we boarding and went to the same seats as the last flight, 2EF.

Once on board the F/A attendent "Aimee" came over and introduced herself to us and told us that she would be looking after us today (a nice touch) and then we had the pre-flight bubbles and some cashew/rice snacks before take off.

Once airborne the meal service started again and she bought out the trays:

Vegetarian Entree: Roasted Pumpkin tossed with some oil dressing and sesame seeds served chilled

Normal Entree: Chargrilled veges served chilled on leafy greens

and then for mains

Vegetarian Main: Mixed tofu with shitake mushrooms, a spring roll filled with mushroom, baby corn and celery, and plain steamed rice

Normal Main: Breaded Lamb Cutlets with a tomato and onion based sauce with pumpkin, zuchinni and steamed rice

and then:

Vegetarian Desert: Assorted melons, strawberries in Jelly

Normal Desert: Cheese and crackers

Aimee was really nice and looked after the 3 of us in Business Class really well, and even made sure my little glass was never empty of Sauv Blanc  

About 20 mins out of Queenstown she pointed out a little village on a mountain side and told me it was one of the lord of the rings sets.


27th December 2001
NZ 5874 (Air NZ Link - Mount Cook Airlines)
Economy Class
Queenstown - Christchurch
Aircraft: BAe 146-200
Reg: ZK-NZN
Sched flight time: 45 mins
Actual flight time: 42 mins
Dep Time: 1255hrs


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Photo © Frank Schaefer


We were bored this morning so we were at the airport at 10:45am for a 12:55pm flight.

We went to the Business Class line and there was one person at the counter in front of us being served so an economy class counter attendant called us over as she had nothing to do and checked us through to Auckland via Christchurch. Again no wait there. Had to ask to go to the Koru Lounge, it wasn't offered which surprised me. She had to give me the pin number on a card, as the lounge isn't attended, and you need the code to get in via the pin pad.

The lounge in Queenstown is small and the range in the lounge is small. I guess this is because it's a "Regional" lounge vs the normal lounges. But it's still nice to be able to sit in the lounges.

Once time for boarding came, we went down to gate 5 which is the international gate for Queenstown, but since 9/11 it is the departure lounge for everyflight as there was already security there so the airport hasn't had to install any new sercurity.

We took our seats 2EF but there were economy class this time and I was surprised to see the all the seats and front walls upholstery are still in the oringal Ansett New Zealand colours.

Once we took took off we were served a light snack enroute to Christchurch:

Vegetarian Snack: A club sandwhich filled with cucumber, tomato, carrot and raisins with a tub of orange juice, some melon and grapes.

Normal Snack: a chocolate santa filled with caramel, a tub of water, 1/2 a bagel with cold meats with relish and egg and a choc covered shortbread

Tea and coffee was also offered.

The landing in Christchurch has to be one of the smoothest landings I have ever encounted!!!

27th December 2001
NZ 520
Business Class
Christchurch - Auckland
Aircraft: Boeing 767-200
Reg: ZK-NBA
Sched flight time: 1 hour 20 mins
Acutal flight time: 1 hour 10 mins
Dep Time: 1440hrs


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Photo © Glenn Alderton



Went straight to the Koru Lounge which was rather busy and sat by the window and watched the planes coming and going. Saw an Air Canada 767 land operating as QF45  

We boarded on time and took our seats 2AB. Asked the hostess for a bubbles before take off and she said no, we only serve that after departure which surprised me but we didn't say anything, we just let it go.

Once airbourne the snack came out:

Vegetarian snack: Chargrilled artichokes and capsicums served chilled

Normal snack: a sausage roll, a vegetarian samosa which a some cheese/crackers and fruit on the side

And then for some reason, I was the only person in the cabin to get a main!! (Business Class was totally full on this flight by the way - 24 pax up front)

Vegetarian Main: Pinenut and curried potatoes stuffed into pasta which plain steamed rice (VERY NICE)

I have to say, the flight attendents on this flight weren't bad or horrible, they just didn't give the same service/warm feeling that most Air NZ employee's exude!

The flight was a little bit choppy here and there and the cabin heat was sooo hot! They don't have individual air vents on the Air NZ 762's and it was very uncomfortable.

Landed in Auckland and taxing to the gate we had left from 2 days before

27th December 2001
NZ 451
Business Class
Auckland - Wellington
Aircraft: Boeing 737-300
Reg: ZK-NGN
Sched flight time: 1 hour
Actual flight time: 52 mins
Dep Time: 1700hrs


Click for large version

Photo © Glen Reid


We went down stairs and checked in again for our flight home. The lines at the 2 Freedom Air counters were almost out the door so I was glad to find the Business Class counter for Air NZ with no queue. Got checked in and heading to the Koru lounge for our brief stopover.

We boarding the aircraft and took, you guessed it 2EF and were offered drinks before take off but I just didn't feel like it.

Just before take off the Captain came over the P/A and warned us that there would be chop on the flight and especially coming into Wellington.

We took off about 20 mins late (the only delay) due to a delay in loading the luggage. The food on this flight was the same food we had from Auckland to Queenstown, but for some reason both of our meals weren't very nice today, I so just settled for Sauv Blanc and my flat mate for Bubbles.

Vegetarian Entree: Roasted Pumpkin tossed with some oil dressing and sesame seeds served chilled

Normal Entree: Chargrilled veges served chilled on leafy greens

and then for mains

Vegetarian Main: Mixed tofu with shitake mushrooms, a spring roll filled with mushroom, baby corn and celery, and plain steamed rice

Normal Main: Breaded Lamb Cutlets with a tomato and onion based sauce with pumpkin, zuchinni and steamed rice

The tea and coffee service was stopped due to the turbulance and the F/A's ordered to be seated, then they jumped up and in a flash had removed the trays from both cabins and were ready for landing.



Once again I have to say I love Air NZ, but the flight from CHC - AKL has slighty tarnished them, but I will get over it  


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