Yesterday I started my world tour by flying LAX-AKL-SYD on a UA 777 on the first leg. I purchased an economy class ticket but upgraded to business class using my mileage. The flight was fantastic. I had 4 Johnny Black labels almost immediately, then ate an amazing Filet Minon dinner. I pretty much slept the rest of the 12 hour 15 minute journey, putting my seat back as far as possible, and putting on the blinders and ear plugs. I slept through the midflight snack and breakfast. Once in Aukland, I went the the UA/NZ lounge and discovered that they had shower facilities. I was unaware of this, as I was about to settle for AKL’s public shower facilities as I had last time. These are very nice as well, for those that don’t have access to a lounge. There’s nothing like a good hot shower after a 12 hour flight. I then enjoyed my 3 hour layover by relaxing in the lounge, having continental breakfast and a bloody mary, did some duty free shopping, and took some photo’s of the NZ planes from the terminal. AKL is a great airport, by the way, albeit, rather small. Prior to boarding my UA codeshare flight with NZ on the AKL-SYD leg aboard a NZ 767-200, I was called up to the podium to have my passport checked, and was informed that I would be flying business class on that leg, as well. This was a pleasant surprise, as I was informed to the United reservation agent that my mileage upgrade only applied on the UA segment, not the NZ segment. Ask and ye shall receive, sometimes. So that made me happy, as I enjoy NZ’s business class cabin and service, plus I’d never flown on their 767’s before. They served a tremendous english breakfast en route. The sun started peeping through in Aukland at about 7:30-7:45 in the morning. That’s pretty late! I hope my pictures that I took after the sun completely came up, come out.
GD1
By: monster500 - 10th July 2002 at 23:49
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
one to sin
one to bkk
at pretty much the same time
By: greekdude1 - 10th July 2002 at 23:34
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
I guess chillin’ in Chiangi can’t be all that bad, since I’ve heard it’s the best airport around. I’ll get to do that in a couple of weeks. But I’m actually staying the night there on the outbound, and have a 17 hour layover on the inbound. It’s all good either way. This is totaly off the subject now, but yesterday I went to take some pictures at SYD right near runway 34/16, and I saw 2 BA 744’s take off within 45 minutes to an hour of each other. Are their schedules that close together, or was the first one likely delayed? Unless one was going to SIN and the other to BKK, perhaps?
GD1
By: mongu - 10th July 2002 at 21:36
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
Outbound:
LHR-SIN – 12 hours
SIN-MEL – 6.5 hours
Inbound:
MEL-SIN – 8 hours
SIN-LHR – 13.5 hours
With about 2 hours to chill at Changi on both legs. I would dread to take a non stop flight!
By: greekdude1 - 9th July 2002 at 23:42
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
Well, depending on the route you take, it’s 12-14 hours. Flying westbound, it takes 14 hours from LAX to SYD, 12 hours to AKL. AKL-SYD is another 3 hours, if you’re doing it that way, which I have the last 2 times in order to maximize my mileage. Not only that, but UA started using 777’s on the LAX-AKL run which offers personal video screens in economy, whereas the 744’s do not. I also like to take a shower in AKL, before I continue on to SYD. So basically, stopping in AKL, has many advantages for me, aside from taking longer to arrive in SYD. That does not bother me, however. Your flight Mongu, I would imagine contained 2 segments of roughly 10 hours a piece, correct?
GD1
By: mongu - 9th July 2002 at 17:28
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
Lucky guy!
I just got back from Melbourne, and flew economy class on BA and Qantas. Not especially pleasant on a leg of that length, which must be pretty similar to yours.
About the only frequent flyer advantage I got was being able to check in really late and still get an aisle seat!
By: greekdude1 - 8th July 2002 at 23:55
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
I realize that Kabir, but I was told by the UA reservation agent that my one-way upgrade, wouldn’t apply to the segment flown by the partner airline(even though they were a star member), only the segment flown by UA itself. Oh well, I’m not complaining. It’s all good.
GD1
By: KabirT - 8th July 2002 at 10:01
RE: LAX-AKL-SYD flight
thanx for the report GD1….a very simple reason for your upgradtion to business class on the NZ B767…..United and Air New Zealand both are members of Star Alliance.
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July 8, 2002 at 1:43 am