Above: Long wait for the caterers to enter the aircraft.
Today I travel internationally for pleasure for the first time in about 17 months, with travel being difficult due to Covid-19. I had spent the last few days monitoring the situation in Australia, with outbreaks in Melbourne and Sydney that have led to partial suspension of quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia. Fortunately, things seem OK in Queensland.
I woke at 0600 and go to Auckland airport at 0700 for my 0915 flight to Brisbane. The international terminal was crazy-busy, despite the general absence of international flights to anywhere apart from Australia and the Cook Islands. I’m guessing all the flights are leaving about the same time.
Despite the crowds, kiosk check-in and bag drop were all done in 10 mins. Upstairs, immigration and security took a further 10 mins. Australia and Queensland need two separate declarations of one’s travel history and health. Ground staff did a cursory check to ensure that people had done the Australian one; they looked for the existence of a barcode but did not check details such as name or date.
Walking through airside, limited shops and eateries were now open, as opposed to none at all. I had about 1h45 to kill.
I looked down at my gate and saw my B787 pull in from Tokyo. Cargo was unloaded but no one disembarked; the airbridge wasn’t even connected. The catering trucks pulled up and the staff knocked on the doors. There must have been no cabin crew onboard to give them the OK to enter. They waited about 15 mins before someone gave them the OK to open the doors and enter.
We commenced boarding rather late, about 20 mins prior to the flight. Because the flight wasn’t very full, we closed up on time and left a little late.
On board, I chatted briefly with one of the crew, Barbara whom I knew from years back. She was working in my area.
The early morning and not eating till late was starting to give me a headache and neckache.