Leaving home for hometown
Today, I make my way back to hometown, Kuching, for Chinese New Year. Rather than go back through the usual route of Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, I travel through Bali and Jakarta to use the relatively new service on AirAsia from Jakarta to Kuching.
I fly Air New Zealand on a staff ticket today with a departure time of 1340. With about 120 spare seats on the flight today, I had been confirmed on (rather than wait on standby till the flight closes 45 mins prior to departure).
Leaving home at 1000, it was an easy run being Waitangi Day, a public holiday in New Zealand. I checked-in on the app on the way to the airport and was given a Business Class seat!
I was happy to be in Economy, as I was virtually guaranteed 3 seats in the extra legroom area or in Premium Economy where I would have a spare seat (or two) next to me. But I was also happy with the Business Class seat (paid for at a staff rate) as I would get to try the airline’s new Business Class cabin.
Getting to the airport at 1030, I went straight airside through priority lane (not that there was a queue in the normal lane). I had never seen the check-in area, immigration and security so quiet and was in the lounge in about 5 mins. It was faster than domestic travel.
Today, I used the Air New Zealand lounge rather than the airport company’s lounge. It was only cold food till 1200 when some hot options were served.
It didn’t bother me and I ate lightly, working away on my new laptop on our Pakistan road trip in September. Also, at this stage of my life, and having hit 75 kg, I no longer eat and drink because it is free.
Inflight
The new seats gave more privacy than the old and a little roomier. The meals were really good and the crew friendly and obliging.
I had one hour lie-down during the flight but didn’t’ sleep. It was a good flight with only one hiccup.
My seat belt didn’t seem to be adjustable and was stuck in super loose position. It eventually worked itself free from the tongue, which was stuck in the buckle.
If it had freed itself while unbuckled, I probably would have crawled around looking for it.
I managed to rethread it but when it repeated, I got help from a crew member. She looked at the setup in another seat and rethreaded it correctly.