Destination, A47 - Watch this space.

[dzinh]

Clearly the Sofitel is spoiling us well with an upgrade to a Junior Suite with club access, as well as a bottle of sparkling wine as well as strawberries and chocolate. What a exceptional way to start this holiday

 

[dzinh]

Hello from the Koru lounge at Sydney.


Check in was smooth via the priority check in desk and Amy checked us through to RAR, no questions asked or comments regarding fares.


To those who are doing the turnaround unfortunately they cannot issue return boarding passes. (At sydney) I hear you can ask to check in and get them issued at AKL.


Express cards were given out and immigration and customs were delightful, not a question asked or a eyebrow raised.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Hello from the Koru lounge at Sydney.


Check in was smooth via the priority check in desk and Amy checked us through to RAR, no questions asked or comments regarding fares.


To those who are doing the turnaround unfortunately they cannot issue return boarding passes.


Express cards were given out and immigration and customs were delightful, not a question asked or a eyebrow raised.

Thanks for the update, keen to hear it all! (August for me)

 

[dzinh]

Taking us to AKL is ZH - PJB. She been refitted and is bearing the new livery. I guess I'm accustomed to the private J cabin as I was looking for the wall dividing W from Y

 

[dzinh]

 

[smit0847]

Do people actually pay the asking price for this short-haul Y+? What do you get that a WP or SG on a Flexi fare would not get?

 

[Fruitcake]

Do people actually pay the asking price for this short-haul Y+? What do you get that a WP or SG on a Flexi fare would not get?

In Y+ you'd get a guaranteed empty middle seat, slightly wider seat cushion, guaranteed extra legroom (I think row 3 might have the same pitch as rows 1-2, but I'm not sure), open bar and snack trolley.

Of course a WP might get a shadow and might get row 3 with a bit of extra legroom. If you happen to do that, and you know where the magic button is, then you will be able to fold down the middle table and give yourself the wider seat. And then the FA also might forget to ask you for payment for stuff off the trolley. So there's a possibility you can replicate most of the Y+ experience when travelling on a Flexi with status but it would rely on a lot of luck.


Having said all that, I agree with you that I would not pay the going cash rate on these flights, and I'd be extremely unlikely to book it via points at the rack rate either.

 

[smit0847]

In Y+ you'd get a guaranteed empty middle seat, slightly wider seat cushion, guaranteed extra legroom (I think row 3 might have the same pitch as rows 1-2, but I'm not sure), open bar and snack trolley.

Of course a WP might get a shadow and might get row 3 with a bit of extra legroom. If you happen to do that, and you know where the magic button is, then you will be able to fold down the middle table and give yourself the wider seat. And then the FA also might forget to ask you for payment for stuff off the trolley. So there's a possibility you can replicate most of the Y+ experience when travelling on a Flexi with status but it would rely on a lot of luck.

Having said all that, I agree with you that I would not pay the going cash rate on these flights, and I'd be extremely unlikely to book it via points at the rack rate either.

But the open bar and snack trolley is just going to be the standard menu isn't it? Im not sure how many pringles and meat pies I would eat? I would have thought there would be better quality food in the Koru Lounges. Even if I absolutely gorged myself and got smashed I doubt I could get through more than $100 worth of f&b onboard and from memory the Y+ is priced much higher than this over a Flexi.

I guess it's more aimed at honeymooners who want to make a once-a-year trip more special. Oh well. A fool and their money are soon parted!

 

[drewbles]

But the open bar and snack trolley is just going to be the standard menu isn't it? Im not sure how many pringles and meat pies I would eat? I would have thought there would be better quality food in the Koru Lounges. Even if I absolutely gorged myself and got smashed I doubt I could get through more than $100 worth of f&b onboard and from memory the Y+ is priced much higher than this over a Flexi.

I guess it's more aimed at honeymooners who want to make a once-a-year trip more special. Oh well. A fool and their money are soon parted!

At $10 for a G&$ ($7 for the G and $3 for the T), it's not inconceivable to go through $100.

say:
6 x G&T = $60
1 x Juice = $3.00
1 x Pie = $10
1 x Savoury Mix = $5
1 x Cookie = $4
1 x Soft Drink = $3

That's $85. It's a pinch yes, but if Big Merv can set a tinnie record, I'm sure I could give a G&T record a red hot go

Food in the AKL Koru is average at best. The coffee there is awful too (well the few times i've had it). The lounge itself is quite nice, but IMHO the QF lounges in AU are better (the AKL QF Lounge is terribly dated, and the F lounge is pokey). Koru wins hands down for decor/comfort.

 

[dzinh]

Hello from RAR! It's been a long day but we are finally here!

 

[wallacej]

Hello from RAR! It's been a long day but we are finally here!

Enjoy...I enjoy the rawness of RAR....

 

[Major]

Looking forward to the rest of this trip

 

[dzinh]

Everyone here is so, so nice and lovely! Snorkeling at Fruits of Rarotonga is fabulous!

 

[dodgeyhack]

Everyone here is so, so nice and lovely! Snorkeling at Fruits of Rarotonga is fabulous!

Will check it out in a weeks time.
Keep the recommendations coming =)

 

[dzinh]

Will check it out in a weeks time.
Keep the recommendations coming =)

The food at trader jacks is amazing! Of you have time them swing by for great food! Especially the Tuna sashimi!

 

[Mak404matt]

Where did you end up staying?

 

[dzinh]

Where did you end up staying?

I decided to go with edge water resort! Booked a lagoon room and got upgraded to a VIP beachfront deluxe! Very nice sceney here especially in the morning and sunset!

 

[wallacej]

I decided to go with edge water resort! Booked a lagoon room and got upgraded to a VIP beachfront deluxe! Very nice sceney here especially in the morning and sunset!

Great choice! Stayed there ourselves. Go to the police station, get your licence and rent a car, drive around the island...
Also that resort had a buffett night, and they had this green stuff, cooked in coconut milk. Apparently it puts "lead in your pencil" according to locals. I can not recall what it is called, but tastes great.

Have fun!

 

[dzinh]

Thanks for the tips Wallacej, we hired a scooter in house and didn't need to go get a license due to it was a one day hire!
Unfortunately the buffet is on selected nights so we had coughtail happy hour watching sunset!

 

[dzinh]

In the Koru lounge waiting to fly back to Sydney, very exhausted and can't wait to hop into bed once we arrive home! Had a lovely chat with Tuhin and Fraser (both did the turnaround) RAR customs asked for their passports once they were at the gate due to being register as entering the country, airport and flight crew were shocked as why they were doing it.

CSM and pilot on flight were extremely persistent to know why the guys were doing the turnaround and kept asking why and what a SC run was.

On a side note, who ever was in 1&2 D & F were very very dirttyyy