Full trip video: Air New Zealand ZK-OJO NZ898 Melbourne - Christchurch
Do watch and experience the trip.
Introduction
This trip report covers flight to New Zealand in 2018. Had booked the flight few months ago.
Arriving at Airport
Drove on the Tullamarine Freeway to airport. Being a weekday, started early to avoid the traffic. Parked car at Long Term Parking and took shuttle bus to terminal 2.
Long Term Parking
Check-in
After reaching the departure area, checked the flight check-in counter.
Check-in area
Check-in Counter J
Had already check-in the flight before arriving at the airport. Baggage was drop was through self check kiosk.
Had to scan passport, answer question regarding content and dangerous good. Baggage tags printed for number of bags. Since had booked seat + bag, got the tags. stuck them to bag and took bag to drop off area. Baggage was weighed, scanned and passed over conveyor belt.
Breakfast
Headed for breakfast as this flight had Buy-On-Board [BOB] service. View of tarmac from restaurant.
View of Qantas Domestic flights
Immigration and Security
First was security, which was quick. Followed by Immigration which was through self-check kiosk,
Duty Free Shops
Flight Schedule
Walk to gate
Flight departing from Gate 6
Long walk
Air China Special Livery
Waiting Area
As had arrived before gate open, waited for the boarding call. Boarding started around 9.00 a.m.
Singapore Airlines 9V-SWO - Boeing 777-312(ER)
Boarding
Gate 6 had two flight of Air New Zealand. Gate 6A for Christchurch and 6B for Queenstown. Boarding for the Queenstown flight was called first , followed by Christchurch. Air New Zealand ZK-OJO was operating to Christchurch. Boarding pass was scanned and passengers were called by name when handing back the boarding card. My name was not called.
Aerobridge
Queue was formed to board the aircraft. Boarding pass was checked at the door and directed to seat. The flight was full and overhead bins had no space for additional bags.
Side view of NZ A320
Settled in seat
Window view
Boarding completed
Boarding was completed quickly, Announcement was made with details of flight. The aircraft had arrived from Christchurch and was returning on same route.
Cabin crew carried out pre-flight checks
Pushback and Taxi
Pushback commenced while Antarctica themed safety demonstration video was displayed on individual seats. Crew pointed to the exit in case of emergency.
Taxi to cross runway at Tullamarine
Main runway was used for landing. While both runways were being used for departure.
Queenstown bound Air NZ departing
Flight details
Holding
Held for few minutes on the runway while a Virgin Australia B737 departed from the main runway.
Ready to depart
Window view
Headed West after departing before turning South East
Seat view
Port Melbourne
Melbourne Beaches
South East Melbourne
Flight details
Flight map
75th Anniversary of Air New Zealand
Watched video on the IFE
McDonald Douglas DC10
Flight path
Reading material
Found a magazine in seat pocket along with safety card and sickness bag.
Immigration Card
Crew distributed New Zealand immigration form to all passengers after departure.
Safety card
Air New Zealand A320R Safety card
Destination information
Cabin Service
Cabin service started with water being provided. Crew came with trolley and handed food packets to those who had purchased The Works ticket. For other passengers, it was buy on board. As had booked Seat + Bag, skipped the food on board.
Tea or coffee was provide free for drinks to all passengers. Meal and drinks can be ordered through the seat IFE for charge.
Tea
Flight map
Entertainment
Entertainment was buy on board for movies with first 5 mins being free. Didn't watch any program and rested.
Flight closer to NZ
Flying over the Tasman sea, it was sunny outside. Kept the window shades down most of the way till sometime before landing.
Flight information
Cabin view
Cabin didn't have partition, being an all economy flight,
Flying over the Clouds
Lollies
Crew distributed lollies to all before descend commenced.
Cloudy over West Coast of South Island
Window view of the mountains
Descending on approach to Christchurch
Announcement was made regarding arrival into Christchurch. Flight would be reaching few minutes early.
Flight map
Outside view
Flight information
On approach
Flight map
Landed in Christchurch runway 20
Exiting runway
Flight map
Flight Information
Arriving at gate 28
Air New Zealand and Emirates
At gate 28
On reaching gate, doors were disarmed, passengers queued in aisle to exit aircraft.
Disembarkation
Air New Zealand ZK-OJO preparing for next flight
Towards immigration
Immigration
After passing through duty free shops, arrived at the immigration. At immigration there was no queue. Tried to use the self-check kiosk, which didn't work. Had to use immigration counter, got a "S" written on the immigration form.
Baggage Collection
Baggage arrived at carousel after about 5-10 mins,
Bio-security Check
Long queue was formed at Bio-security check. Took approx. 25-30 mins. Someone checked the immigration form then directed to another officer. Who asked If carrying any food stuff. Answered "No", was asked to head for bag to be X-rayed. Understood the meaning of "S" on the card. Put the bags through x-ray scan was allowed to exit.
Near the exit door an officer came with dog and sniffed the bags, made me wonder purpose of the million dollar machines.
Annoyed not for the dog sniffing the bag but officer laughing about it with another officer.
In Australia, that dog sniffing is done at the bag carousel,which is fair. Wasn't happy with what I saw as I had been to to New Zealand twice before never experienced this kind of unprofessional act.
Exiting the terminal
After exiting, headed to the rental car provider, took car keys and headed for the parking. It took about an hour to exit the Terminal.
First things on the list was to head to Countdown for grocery and local sim.
Realtime Driving: Christchurch Airport to Memorial Avenue
Hope you enjoyed the trip, Thanks for reading.
End of trip
:)
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Verdict
Air New Zealand
6.9/10
Cabin8.0
Cabin crew7.5
Entertainment/wifi6.5
Meal/catering5.5
Melbourne - MEL
8.0/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0
Christchurch - CHC
5.4/10
Efficiency5.0
Access6.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness5.5
Conclusion
Air New Zealand was punctual, crew was friendly. Meal and entertainment was BOB as I didn't choose those services, can't comment. Melbourne was self check-in as I knew the process was quick with baggage drop. Immigration was self check kiosk which was quick. Security queue was long but processed quickly. Christchurch Airport self kiosk at immigration didn't work for me or others before me. Baggage arrived in reasonable time. Bio-security queue was long with only a A320 flight. Dread a A380 with full load. Took almost an hour to exit the airport. The overall trip was pleasant to be spoilt by the experience at the exit.
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