Destination, A47 - Watch this space.

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This has been some great reading already - can't wait for more trips/insights to get posted to this thread, especially regarding lounge access and VA hard/soft product (i.e. food service/tablet availability etc.). Also, what are folks opinions here on the best PE seats for these flights? And does anyone recall if they block the front toilet for PE use only?

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

Does this mean just that - that they were dirty people? Or dirty/upset at the value you got?
 
So were those people on your return flight doing the immediate turnaround? Did they manage it?

My concern was always that if you cannot check in online for an international flight, by the time you land at the destination, race off the plane and find a transfer desk, the time for check-in will be closed. They may not even be able to check you in airside as its such an unusual occurrence and trying to quickly explain to ground staff what you are doing won't speed up the process!
 
So were those people on your return flight doing the immediate turnaround? Did they manage it?

My concern was always that if you cannot check in online for an international flight, by the time you land at the destination, race off the plane and find a transfer desk, the time for check-in will be closed. They may not even be able to check you in airside as its such an unusual occurrence and trying to quickly explain to ground staff what you are doing won't speed up the process!

On my flight there wasn't anyone doing a turnaround, however the following day Tuhin and Fraser did do the turnaround, they checked in when they landed at AKL and got their BP's before the RAR - AKL.

There would be not time and you would definitely miss your returning flight if you decided to check in at RAR, Immi will question why you are there and as the case of Tuhin and Fraser, a officer came to the gate as we were boarding to ask if they had just landed and if they were leaving, she then took their passports back to arrivals to adjust information as they were in the system to enter the country.

If anyone wants to do the immediate turnaround then they MUST obtain a BP when at AKL. Once you get off the plane make sure to find a gate that VA is boarding from and get there ASAP.

If you are doing the turnaround, once you get off the plane walk towards the entry doors, straight ahead will be a small duty free shop, to the right of that is a little door for transit.

If you are staying in RAR, once you get off the plane walk towards the entry doors, straight ahead will be a small duty free shop, to the left will be Immi, theres 2 lanes, the left one is a general lane and the right one is dedicated to parents and special needs (if my brain serves me right).

Immi will want to see a itinerary with a departing flight, after that is the baggage carousel, after that is customs.

Don't stress about travel arrangements as there are taxi's, tour and shuttle operators to greet you when you walk out, they will ask where you are staying and direct you to the designated shuttle operator. There are ANZ and Westpac ATM at the airport and around the island. Currency is NZD and I would advise not to buy currency at the airport (in transit), purchase it before at the no commission booths or use a CC.

There is WIFI on the island (yay:cool:) but it comes at a price heading north. I had a vodafone (IP5) and telstra (ipad) sim which didn't work. Telstra managed to pick up carrier on the island but that was about it.

Best way to travel around the island would be by scooter, like the locals. It cost's 25 - 35 a day and gets cheaper if its a longer rental. A scooter licence can be obtained by picking one up from the local police station (they will issue you a temporary one to get there). Cost around $15. No need for helmets as the general speed on the island is 50KM. Police seem friendly, I got pulled over, asked if I had anything to drink, said nope, and then told me to take care and have a good night. People on the island are friendly as well, everyone waved at us as we were driving along the road (could be the fact we were the only Asian couple on the island :mrgreen:)

I would recommend the best snorkelling spot to be the beach at Fruits of Rarotonga. FOR is a cafe which serves smoothies, burgers and fish and chips, as well as sell bread for the fish.
You can hire snorkel gear from them for $10 per person or sneak the gear from your hotel.

Opposite FOR is the beach, warm and still waters and PLENTY of fish, big, small, and a diverse range of colors. The snorkelling tours bring their guests to this beach to snorkel, there are stray dogs on the island, they are friendly and curious so no need to worry. Make sure you pack sunscreen!!!!
 
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This has been some great reading already - can't wait for more trips/insights to get posted to this thread, especially regarding lounge access and VA hard/soft product (i.e. food service/tablet availability etc.). Also, what are folks opinions here on the best PE seats for these flights? And does anyone recall if they block the front toilet for PE use only?



Does this mean just that - that they were dirty people? Or dirty/upset at the value you got?

The toilets are for everyone on the plane, the Y+ seats are in the same cabin, there is no separate cabin.

To me the best seats would be row 2, there's more legroom to stretch underneath the seat infront.

I was directing the dirty comment to a member who was travelling to RAR. The flight crew missed the crumbs and napkins under the seat infront! (Row 1)
 
Enjoy your flight's, you will feel it on the returning legs home. in the AKL Koru, as you walk in, walk past the food area, turn right into the no mobile zone, head towards the hammocks and turn right, you will see a little corner with 2 couches... the perfect place to catch up on sleep :cool: They don't do flight calls for VA so set your mobile alarm then head out and look on the departure screens for your gate!
 
Enjoy your flight's, you will feel it on the returning legs home. in the AKL Koru, as you walk in, walk past the food area, turn right into the no mobile zone, head towards the hammocks and turn right, you will see a little corner with 2 couches... the perfect place to catch up on sleep :cool: They don't do flight calls for VA so set your mobile alarm then head out and look on the departure screens for your gate!
Thanks. I know the AKL lounge very well ;)
 
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Can anyone confirm that the a/c operating AKL-RAR is the same one that operates the return RAR-AKL? Just got a TripIt notification that my outbound is delayed but no such news of the return. I'm assuming it'll be fine though.
 
Ok so it is the same plane as I just got the delay for the return.

However I may not even get there. My flight to AKL has been cancelled and I may have been moved to an NZ flight on an A320 in Y which I simply refuse to fly (the flight is oversold and the seat pitch on their A320's makes JQ look roomy).

My run of flawless status runs worldwide is exploding more violently than Kim Jong Un at the moment :D
 
Keep us updated!! It's good they moved you to NZ, not good on the 320, surely you could of asked to be on the 773?? :cool:
 
I have found myself in the same situation this a drewbles by the sound of things. Been moved from PE to economy on a later flight. There were J seats available on the 940 flight but they made a business decision to downgrade instead of upgrade. Oh well. Hopefully there's no issues with the connecting flight.
 
I have found myself in the same situation this a drewbles by the sound of things. Been moved from PE to economy on a later flight. There were J seats available on the 940 flight but they made a business decision to downgrade instead of upgrade. Oh well. Hopefully there's no issues with the connecting flight.

Are you on the RAR flight this evening too?
 
Yeah all things going well. Been moved to the 1130 ANZ Syd-Akl flight. About to hit the Lounge soon. What flight did they end up changing you to?
 
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Yeah all things going well. Been moved to the 1130 ANZ Syd-Akl flight. About to hit the Lounge soon. What flight did they end up changing you to?
I am sitting in the food hall landside (after an amazing VA girl has bent over backwards to do anything she can for me, she's going to get a huge email of thanks to her boss; if Velocity Frequent Flyer is reading this, Jessica at the SYD service desk is amazing, she deserves a promotion!). They're waiting till the 1130 NZ flight has checked in (T-60) and have me in an aisle with a blocked seat. It was oversold, but they're expecting no-shows and are moving people around. At 1030 I have to go back and if there are no shows, I have an empty seat next to me and i'll cope with that, and claim ORC later.

Almost got SYD-BNE-AKL, but I wouldn't have met MCT's in BNE. What seat on the Raro flight are you on? might be neighbours ;) doing the immediate turn-around?
 
Think I had the same person that was assisting me. I would agree with you there, she did a fantastic job. They managed to give me an overwing seat, and said they would block the middle seat. I am guessing that may not eventuate though with the amount of pax been moved across. For some reason they weren't able to give me a boarding pass for the AKL-RAR sector, but will pick that up in the sterile area in AKL airport. By bags, however, have been checked all the way through. Staying in RAR over the weekend and taking the early Monday morning flight back. Hope things work out for ya.
 
Keep us updated!! It's good they moved you to NZ, not good on the 320, surely you could of asked to be on the 773?? :cool:
OK so long story short, in NZ. Awaiting RAR flight.

After the amazing Jessica sorted me out, I managed to do reasonably well as far as comfort went (mind you, it was *not* premium economy and i'll be pursuing VA about that). I managed to score an empty row, on an oversold flight. Yes, it is possible somehow! The row opposite had the aisle empty. No other empty seats.

BP flashed Green at Koru in AKL, and I walked in towards the shower, only to be chased and advised that flights to the islands are not covered under the VA agreement and that i'd have to pay. I very politely mentioned to the lounge lady about my day, and she offered me a discounted access rate. It was about then I was going to cave and she got her manager, who was sympathetic, advised that there's no access but she would let me in on this occasion to 'enjoy the lounge' (and have a well needed shower!) but next time it was a no-no, and she was going to report the fault to NZ IT :(

So, after all that, I'm in the Koru lounge in AKL, catching up on some work awaiting the RAR flight (After I had to go out to gate 7 to get my BP cause SYD could not issue it due to the NZ segment I did). I was advised that BP was no issue for the return, and to get it in RAR (just go through the transit gate and you're set). They did try to print it, but they couldn't open the flight to issue me a BP for some reason.

So, knock on wood, the delay to RAR is not a bad thing as it let me get here and rest up. Had a leisurely and much needed shower, and now enjoying a few glasses of vino :)
 
At least you got into they lounge, i guess they must be clamping down on access. A whole row on a oversold flight, the shadow Gods must be in your favour :cool: hmmm getting your BP at RAR? There's no desk/ facilities available in the waiting area in RAR, the only place you would be able to get it would be at the check in desks!
 
At least you got into they lounge, i guess they must be clamping down on access. A whole row on a oversold flight, the shadow Gods must be in your favour :cool: hmmm getting your BP at RAR? There's no desk/ facilities available in the waiting area in RAR, the only place you would be able to get it would be at the check in desks!

As I just found out. Ignore what I said and you're absolutely right. Get your BP for RAR-AKL in AKL or you may miss the return. I managed to scrape in after much explaining to bewildered customs agents :)
 
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