First--Southwest is friendly, the seats leg room is not entirely awful but the plane doesn't actually work-- making us all have to leg it to make our connection in Baltimore. Secondly--no one on any leg mentions food--for sale or otherwise. We can have soda or water or peanuts--but no food. Passengers start sharing Dentyne and cheese sticks from the bottoms of purses and briefcases. It's a long nine plus hours.
Once in LA it's a quick trundle to T1 and Air New Zealand but a mystery to find the departures elevator required for carrying a red wagon( a nice Chilean national escorts me as none of the platform ground staff have a clue). NZ checks it in as well and hands- free I eye those checking in at Business class to see if any would like to invite me to the lounge but they look like the cruise set and unlikely to feel neighborly so I hang out in the one bar near the gate for a drink and then in the gate itself next to the teenaged girls writing journals in large felt tipped marker and four small children whose parents are soundly napping.
I am at the very back of the 744 three seat plane section (62) with two nice people and we quickly work out a toilet run scenario which works well for us. Dinner is filling (surprisingly) and the two thimbles of wine okay but I am not looked on as popular when I request a third and lock myself away with headset for remainder of 12 plus hour journey which has the seatbelt sign on for most of it. I make the mistake of watching Boy in Striped Pajamas and sit bolt upright remainder of flight. Breakfast is v tasty omelette and tea and when we at last roll in at low tide to Auckland I am more than ready to get off. Am able to walk--just as impossible to circuit plane enroute due to things in aisles.
Immigration is easy--baggage check is not and my tight connection getting tighter I have to run (still pushing the box with the red wagon) following the blue/white line to the 'twelve' minute walk/ run domestic terminal to catch New Plymouth shuttle which is attended by fourteen year old cabin staff. Very casual domestic NZ--no security at all--no one hates New Zealand (except maybe Australia rugby?).
query--what would happen if economy airlines had leg rests -- less dvt risk and the majority of passengers saying, 'Aaaaaah'? NZ PE looked tatty--and totally not worth the huge extra fare--except for the leg rests. After all--it's down back pays the bills.
cheers,
RR
Roadrunner
