LHR - LAX With Air New Zealand

[Comet]

Flight number NZ001, departing from London Heathrow at approximately 17:00. Aircraft type was Boeing 747-400 (the best in-service Boeing!)

We were lucky (?) enough to get a window seat on this flight, as Air New Zealand pre-allocate all seats before check in, so checking in early is absolutely no guarantee of a decent seat!

My delight at having secured a window seat for this normally-superb route over Iceland, Greenland and Canada was soon soured shortly after take off. As I was settling down to enjoy the view, it was time to screen the first film. And, because the film was being screened, all windows had to have the blinds pulled down to make it dark inside the aircraft! I did not want to watch the film (it was a rubbish one) and I did not want to read either!

The in-flight meal was served - some nameless kind of fish in an equally nameless sauce and accompanied by a piece of soggy broccolli! It was thoroughly vile and I left most of it.

Several hours into the flight I decided to brave the wrath of the cabin attendants and open the window blind a small amount to see daylight. The cabin attendants, who were usually no where to be seen if you actually wanted to ask something, were pretty much on the ball with passengers who wanted to look through the window. One stewardess raced down the aisle, leaned across the two people (one of whom was my Mum) in the seats beside me, and slammed the blind shut.

I saw one of the stewards take a passenger up to the flight deck, so I decided I would try and see if I could go up and see the controls. I was lucky!!! The steward took me up, with no other passengers, onto the flight deck of my favourite aircraft!

It was lovely and sunny up on the flightdeck, and seeing the mountains we were flying over made me realise exactly what I was missing by having to keep the blind closed. It was also great being able to see the controls of a 747-400 (glass cockpit as opposed to the old needle and dial displays).

After my flight deck trip I went back to the dismal cabin.

We were eventually allowed to open the blinds when we were in American airspace, but by then it was getting dark, we were due to land in Los Angeles at 20:30 (quite a good time as it avoids the problem of jet lag). The approach into LAX is superb at night, with all the lights below. I enjoyed watching the "Airshow" display which shows the position of the aircraft, height, cruising speed and outside air temperature.

As the US immigration forms were handed out, we saw an example of the ignorance of the majority of Air New Zealand cabin staff. As the steward (not the one who had taken me to the flight deck) handed out a form to someone in the row in front he said "the British are never capable of filling in these forms properly". Not a good move!! We had to smile as the woman gave him a dressing down "how would you like it if we said that the bloody Kiwis were inept?"

I have never come across cabin crew like this on any other airline!

The landing in LA was good, smooth, and afterwards the aircraft carried on its way to Auckland without us.

[sn26567]

Very nice report, Comet, as usual.

For as far as I remember, most airlines ask that the blinds of the windows be closed during the films. But usually a steward will ask you politely if you would mind closing it.

Several years ago, when I saw that NZ was foing to its home country westward (via LAX) rather than eastward (via SIN), I thought it would be a nice experience to fly an "exotic" airline to go to LAX. After reading your report I saw I was well inspired not to to use them.

[Comet]

You made a very sensible decision Andre!

I love LA, but it is hard to find a good airline to fly there with, certainly direct from the UK.

A couple of years ago, we were planning another trip, quite a tortuous route it would have been but worthwhile if it could have been possible:

MAN-BRU BRU-Chicago (or Dallas) and then on to LA.

Two flights on Sabena (including one long haul from Brussels, which I always wanted to do) and then two flights on American Airlines.

Now we have to consider Air Canada from MAN via Toronto!

I really want a Belgian airline to fly to LAX!!

(there's also more on Air New Zealand to come!! We had a multi-stop holiday with them taking in Sydney, Auckland and Hawaii, that is just the first part!)

[Avro]

Very nice report Comet

This story about the window reminds me of my flight from CVG-BRU on a Sabena B747-300.

After the supper when it was dark, many people started to sleep, but I didn't wanted to sleep since I was too excited. So I decided to look out of the window even if it was totally dark. I was able to see the anticollision lights flashing on the wing

While I was doing so, the stweardess came and told me I had to close the window, because other people wanted to sleep This makes no scence of course, because it was dark outside, but I did what she asked. During the flight I sometimes took a quick look while she wasn't paynig attention

Regards
Chris
8)

[nwa757]

I've had a similar experience. One time on a NW flight to Orlando, the guy that was sitting behind me reached over into my row and closed MY window shade. Now I was extremely angry with this guy because he has no business putting his arms in my row and it was on a 757 and I love turning my head around and watching the engine blades spinnng on aircraft with wing mounted engines.

[Comet]

There is nothing worse than having to fly with closed window blinds when you just want to admire the view outside!

nwa 757 - I know what you mean about watching the engines, on my last VLM flight I had a propeller view, and I filmed them on video, thoguh they looked on the video to be going alot slower than they really were.

[Captain]

I flew back from LAX to LHR with Virgin Atlantic on a 747.

First part of flight was great: entertainment, food, comfort, etc.

Half way through the flight I decided to go to sleep so I pushed my chair back about half way.

I woke up about an hour later and the person behind me pressed the button and pushed my seat to the upright position.

I thought I might have accidentaly pressed button whilst I was asleep.

So I pushed seat back half way again and woke up later to find the guy pushed it up again.

What an idiot! I have people who push their seats all the way back but considering I only put it half way how rude for a person to push your seat back up!!!!!

[Comet]

Captain - I can imagine how gross that was for you, it is hard enough to get comfortable as it is on these long haul flights in economy, but when you have problems like that it makes it quite unbearable.

That is something else about Air New Zealand, they don't like you to put your seat back. On my flight to LAX I had my seat back slightly, and the steward told me I had to have it upright because the passenger behind was being made too uncomfortable. It was the worst long haul flight I can remember (my first one was pretty bad, but I don't remember much about it, I was only five at the time!!)

I've not finished saying about Air New Zealand, I've had many flights with them, and they will all go down on here. They were all pretty memorable!

[A318]

I flew back from LAX to LHR with Virgin Atlantic on a 747.
First part of flight was great: entertainment, food, comfort, etc.
Half way through the flight I decided to go to sleep so I pushed my chair back about half way.
I woke up about an hour later and the person behind me pressed the button and pushed my seat to the upright position.
I thought I might have accidentaly pressed button whilst I was asleep.
So I pushed seat back half way again and woke up later to find the guy pushed it up again.
What an idiot! I have people who push their seats all the way back but considering I only put it half way how rude for a person to push your seat back up!!!!!

Well all dpends on the people ofcourse.
Last weekend on my flight back I was sitting on the right windows and had two seats for myself en my wife had the 3 seats in the middle all for herself. My seat was totally (if you can speak from that in a 767 ) backwards when I heard a girl behind me talking to her friend/husband "I can hardly move, look my knees are in the seat in front of me". I turned around and asked her if she wanted me to put the seat up to sit a little more comfortable, she said please if you can do that, so I put it half up, I was still comfortable in my 2 seats and she was also sitting much better. Don't get angry, just ask in a decent way if they have problems with your seat, window or whatever. You will see you get a much more friendy response then just do something. If somebody just put your chair up, turn around and ask the person what his/her problem is and tell him/her that you can help him/her out if he/she just asks you to give him/her more space. Be friendly to other ones and you will see you take all their "vocal" weapons out of their hands. Think about it next time, remember what A318 adviced you

Because you know I am,

[747sp]

A few years back I travelled with good old Lufthansa from Frankfut Am Main to Singapore. I didnt had any problems similar to those that Comet had, I had the beautiful experience of watching the breathtaking Landscpae and the Cloud formation. But then again I suppose this was due the fact that i was travelling business class

[Lien]

You all seem to have flown a lot.

Lien !

[sn26567]

You all seem to have flown a lot.

Didn't you?

[Comet]

I have seen this scenario somewhere before on another forum.....

[sn26567]

I have seen this scenario somewhere before on another forum.....

What do you mean, Louise? Which scenario?