In praise of AKL

[Splitpin]

Just got home (well , to Ma's place ) having spent 3 days in the big AKL , thanks to my 2 nephews .
It was full on plane spotting (as is their way)
We have seen , A-380's, 330's, MD 11 's , and everything in between .
Give me a day or two to process the pics ..... and I'll post them.(or some at least)
I have to say , AKL is a great place .... the roads are good , the drivers are good (by comparison to CHC ) and the customer service is extraordinary ( from the warehouse to a 5 star restaurant) No more Auckland bashing from me.
I flew up on Jetstar , and back on Air New Zealand , and i must say the later (ANZ) was far Superior.... and the price was the same , before the budget thing pops up.
The jetstar aircraft was dirty , i paid $4.00 for an awful cup of coffee ... but tonight , ANZ made the 1hr 10 minute flight a pleasure , i had an exit row seat (booked)same on JStar but didn't get it (more about that later) ... free coffee and cookie , Captain there to say thanks for flying ... over all , well done ANZ , I'll be back.

A couple of things interested me (on the flight home) , one was the the TOD , Im sure we were abeam Kaikoura , at FL36 , when the decent started ..... but on the way up , it was Mt Taranaki( into AKL) , maybe these are equidistant ...i thought the decent would be more steep from Kaikoura... but , no.... cant think of the second thing at the moment .... ; )
Among other things , i did get to see NGI depart on her last commercial flight out of AKL , she starts her farewell tour in the morning , and i got to see her when we landed here tonight , tucked up beside the ANZ hanger.
Sleep well forumites ... i will : )

[Ian Warren]

You did not tell us Marty .. Who got the window seat

[NZ255]

A couple of things interested me (on the flight home) , one was the the TOD , Im sure we were abeam Kaikoura , at FL36 , when the decent started ....

NZ561?
Looks like the descent started perpendicular to Cape Campbell



Looking forward to the pics!

[omitchell]

the roads are good , the drivers are good

You know Marty, living here, I will SEVERELY have to dispute you on these points.... The rest tho I agree with

[Charl]

...No more Auckland bashing from me...

Now that's nice... I and 1.5 million others feel good about this!

ANZ was far Superior....

Agree 100% I always feel somehow uneasy, flying the Other One. It's more for the gritted-teeth thrice weekly Akl-Wellington commuters I feel.

... but on the way up , it was Mt Taranaki( into AKL)

Funny I thought the other day out of Wellie we turned there too, but from 32,000ft.

Look forward to your spotpics, as you say there is some interesting traffic around NZAA

[Splitpin]

Thanks for looking , and the information guys.
Ian I had the widow seat .. both ways , boys were down the back somewhere

Owen , as a non akl resident , i was so impressed. But i understand what your saying .. same for us down here.

NZ255 , you will be right, it just looked like Kaikoura ... i was on NZ 539.

Charl , I'll start a movement

Should have some pics for you on Wednesday , when Im back at my own computer .

[Ian Warren]

Window seat is the must .. both ways .. good job .. only ever one flight I missed the window was back from KL .. complained to the pretty girls so much ended up in the front for least five hours .. guess ya have to talk the talk .. or least least get your booked seat