Today, Jo and I flew down on the 1230 flight to Queenstown for a minibreak. It’s our first travel experience in the post-Covid world. As we’re still under some restrictions in New Zealand, physical distancing is still required in public places.
As a result, there were a few quirks in our travel experience:
- Entry into Auckland airport terminal was restricted to only passengers.
- The terminal was deserted; most outlets were closed and food choices were very limited.
- The centre seats of the Airbus A320 were left vacant except for people in the same group.
- After the safety demo, an extra message was announced that passengers wearing face masks should remove them before attempting to use an oxygen mask should one fall from above!
- There was no inflight service of coffee, tea or water and the complimentary cookie. But water was available on request.
There was however, a non-Covid quirk that I noticed:
- Previously, on Air New Zealand narrow-body jets, the cabin crew have a strange assignment of responsibilities for the exits. One cabin crew is responsible for two doors in front and another one for the two at the rear. They are responsible for arming and disarming while the remaining two crew roam the cabin while that is being done.
- This is rather different from other airlines where four crew are responsible for each of the four doors. Finally, today, I noticed the Air New Zealand crew doing it this way. I wonder what caused them to change the way they operate.
Today’s flight to Queenstown approached over the Crown Range before landing. I may have come in this way before but may not have been aware as I’m not always in a window seat.
As the plane descended, we were suddenly met with the mountain range very close below us. I’d have to be doing that at night or in bad weather.
As the plane descended, we were suddenly met with the mountain range very close below us.
“Sea” of rental cars parked near the airport since there are no customers.
Kim and Greg had driven down from Auckland to Queenstown, arriving yesterday. They met us at the airport.
It was mid-afternoon by the time we reached the Pounamu apartments. The days are short and it was dark and cold a couple of hours after. We drove into the town for a dinner at a pub which offered good meals for NZD20 plus drinks at extra cost.
The town centre was pleasantly busy. It was good to see businesses making some money after the Covid-19 lockdown.