LAX-SYD On Air New Zealand

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 10:19

This flight took place in 1995 (September). The flight number was NZ015 (it has since been changed and is now offered also in code share with another airline).

We took off from Los Angeles at around 22:50. The aircraft operating the flight was a Boeing 747-400, though the -200 variant was also sometimes used. I was in seat 30A, which was a window seat on an emergency exit row, and so there was plenty of legroom. My Mum was in the next seat.

Shortly into the flight, as we headed out over the Pacific, we hit some turbulence and in the distance we could see a storm, with a bit of lightening, but thankfully it wasn't too close to us!!

The first meal to be served was chicken with butterbeans(!!) which looked as unappetising as it sounds - white meat with white beans, instead of something to provide some colour contrast. I cannot eat butterbeans, but I attempted the chicken, which was so tough my fork would not even make any impression, so I had to give up on it.

The crew on this flight were very friendly and professional, something unusual for Air New Zealand. I spent the time listening to the audio pop channel, which was very good, and watching the Air Show display as we flew over the tiny Pacific islands.

Part way into the flight, we noticed a trickle of water coming under the door of the middle aisle toilet, which was opposite our row. There had been problems with the washbasin tap, but now the tap had broken and would not stop, so we had to alert the cabin crew, who took the toilet out of use.

The flight was scheduled for 14 hours 20 minutes (my longest ever flight) and so a breakfast was served. This consisted of a scrambled egg, with a sausage and a hash brown (things I usually love) and it was nice, the strawberry yoghurt provided with the meal also added a nice touch.

The flight took place in almost continual darkness, it was my longest ever night, but it was great to fly over Australia just as it was getting light. The aircraft turned steeply over the harbour of Sydney, and offered a superb view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. It was a truly memorable experience. We landed in Sydney at around 06:30. We had set off on the night of Wednesday, and landed on Friday morning, having crossed the International Date Line on the way.

To see a photo of the aircraft involved, just after landing in SYD, hit the link below:

http://louisesite.tripod.com/louiseshomepage/id2.html

Post by **sn26567** » 20 Oct 2003, 10:23

Nice report, Comet.

Just one question: your knife, with that tough chicken, was it plastic or metal?

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 10:28

sn26567 wrote:Nice report, Comet.

Just one question: your knife, with that tough chicken, was it plastic or metal?

It was a metal fork.

Glad you enjoyed the report Andre.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 11:18

I have several more Air New Zealand reports to do, but the next one might be my first ever flights when my Mum fills in all the details!

Lien · Post by **Lien** » 20 Oct 2003, 13:38

Hi Comet,

Nice report. Isn't this flight the actual NZ001 ?

Are all flights(from USA) to NZ transitting
through SYD or MEL ?

I think the Queen took this flight some
years ago ?

Lien !

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 14:11

No, it is NZ015 like I said. NZ001 is between LHR-LAX-AKL, it doesn't call in Australia at all. NZ015 was purely LAX-SYD, nothing else.

The Queen did fly NZ001 shortly after the trip I have just written about.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 20 Oct 2003, 17:28

Louise,

It's a very nice report you've done.
I'm really looking forward to read about your first ever flight

It must have been funny to start a 14 hour flight on wednesday evening and to land on friday morning

Ciao
Chris
8)

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 18:20

Chris - I'm glad you liked my report. It was weird missing out most of Thursday, but it was like one long night on that flight! It was even weirder coming back, but I won't spoil that surprise, you'll have to wait and see what I mean!! (it will be an Auckland to Honolulu report, my first ever flight in a 767).

My report of my first ever flight won't be as good as I'd hoped owing to the difficulties with uploading photos onto Luchtzak

I'd intended illustrating it with photos my Mum had taken in the aircraft (it was a 707!!) and also some photos taken of the Iberia aircraft in the Canaries. Then there was an unusual place in North Africa which we visited for the day, I was going to show photos of that as well.

I tried to add a photo of the 747-400 to this report, but it didn't work.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 20 Oct 2003, 18:37

Comet wrote:....you'll have to wait and see what I mean!!

I think I know what you mean

Chris
8)

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 19:59

I hope a photo shows on here!!

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 20 Oct 2003, 20:01

Yep, it works fine

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Oct 2003, 21:22

At last!!!!

Well, that is the very aircraft which made the flight in the report. I took that photo just after we had left the aircraft and were on the way to immigration in Sydney airport. It was taken about 06:30 and the photo is called "Jumbo at Dawn".

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 21 Oct 2003, 09:59

I am on a different computer just now, and I can still see the photo, so maybe this new website provider is a better one for linking to.

I shall definitely illustrate more of my flight reports now I have got the right method for uploading pictures.