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We've got the aisa now here's the pacific |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
PM |
Well you will have heard the news about Air NZ. Not the same airline any more. Great Pity. It is becoming a budget carrier domestically - in fact its becoming a giant FreedomAir now. No Tucker, No Business Class and No Leg Room. So I am not quite sure what the long term future is for "our airline". If the P800 is released whilst you are there get it for sure. I may even bring one back with me when we return early September although I am really looking for an IPAQ 3975. Ain't it great to be a bloke...
Mike
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Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
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Oh yes, got to have toys! Yeah heard all about Air NZ, but they do need about 250 engineers between CHC and AKL and I've been told that a job won't be a problem, I think the only reason Air NZ went to meals and bar service on domestic was because of Ansett NZ in the first place, I remember about 1992 fitting the business class seat in the domestic fleet and wondering why for such a short flight, but still it was nice. As long as they don't cram them in like easyjet do here then they should be ok. The poor old hostie's were rushed off their feet trying to serve a meal then clean up between CHC and WLG. They earn their money. It's still the best one of the best airlines I've seen as far as maintenance is concerned. Some of these carriers in the UK are a bit dodgy, there are airlines here I won't go near, I've worked for them as a contractor and seen what they expect, very very scary. Really can't wait to get home, when are you coming over? Maybe we could go for a beer, and watch a Tri-nations game. My wife is from South Africa, makes for a fun time during the games. |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
PM |
I agree... AirNZ is still the best. Their cabin service is better than just about anyone else I have tried including Singapore and yes, we will not miss Business Class domestically. But they are closing the seat pitch to the point of it being uncomfortable. I could not understand why they have to provide a full meal service on a 27min WLG/CHC sector anyway, but it did help. Interestingly we had a meal service on a WLG/ROT service the other week in a SAAB340. Actually AirNZ have always had a meal service. I can remember flying domestically in the 70/80's well before Ansett came along and having meals.
We get out of hear early August and leave the UK for US in the first week of September. So we may get time to meet for a beer. I will have the PC with me and the forum is on WAP so we should be able to work something out. My wife's a good local Kiwi girl, so she loves a beer and watching a good game of "footie" also - especially against "them".
Cheers Mike |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
PM |
Yeah their service is great, the missus gives me a hard time when we're flying on other airlines about saying how much better Air NZ is, I do it now just to wind her up. Should be an interesting Tri-Nations this year, let me know when you're in town or close and we'll sort something out, we're in Watford just out of London, only about 20 mins away on the train so it's not a problem for us to get in there. |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
PM |
OK look forward to that. We will be staying in London with family. The AB's have a fair bit of work ahead of them for the Tri Nations. They cleaned up in their last two games, but the Irish really showed them a thing or two about Rugby. Boy they were good to watch, really aggressive in the Rucks and at Line Out. So the AB's are going to have to get much better when they face South Africa especially on their own turf.
Cheers Mike |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
PM |
SA are better than people give them credit for, I have to say that. I hope we do well, the super 12 final was almost NZ vs Aus. I'm surprised they're not playing better together, but I've missed quite a bit being over here so I'm not really up to date, nzoom has been good at keeping me informed though. Really can't wait to get home. It's nice having a lady that's interested in the rugby, I'm sure you'll agree, a lot of my friends at home have wives/girlfriends that just don't want to know, they get a hard time. My wife knows more about it than I do.
[ This Message was edited by: Fingers on 2002-07-03 22:01 ] |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
PM |
Oh yeah, and don't eat the beef while you're here, don't know if you know but any body that's lived in the UK for longer than six months is not allowed to give blood in NZ. Fair enough I guess, it usually takes a while before the public are told whenever there's been another incedent of BSE. |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
PM |
Goodness, is it that bad. I had heard about the blood donor issue here. Guess they are being really carefull. Oh and remember to clean your boots before you get back here. Agriculture are still really sensitive to UK visitors and if your boots are dirty they get really curious.
Cheers Mike |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
PM |
There hasn't been one for a while but the problem is that they don't tell the public until a little has slipped through. I like the fact that NZ is so strict with anything coming in to the country, when we came back for our Christmas holiday a couple of years ago they x-rayed ALL our bags on the way in, saw my wifes passport and asked if we had any biltong too, we didn't bit of a shame I love it. Clean and green, the way I like it. |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
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Hi Fingers, just out of curiosity - what is Biltong?
Mike |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
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Dried meat, usually rubbed with herbs and spices, usually beef, ostrich, or some kind of buck, similar to beef jerky but not as processed, it's great. When you've been on pretty much a red meat free diet it hits the spot. Makes you thirsty as f**K though |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
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OK well that sounds ahh OK. I was going to ask your advise on Pay As You Go. Know anything about that? We will be in the UK for nearly a month and figured that PAYG would be much better for keeping in touch with the "boss" whilst we are there. Otherwise we have to call each other through NZ and that is a real pain, plus the quality is not too good. Any recomendations as to PAYG providers - Orange, T-Mobile, BTCellnet? We will be in London and north of Manchester (i.e. Rochdale). Any help of advise would be appreciated.
Mike
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Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
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I think it's an aquired taste. I'm on Vodafone and coverage is pretty good, personally I wouldn't go with anybody other than Voda or O2 (BT Cellnet) as they have the best coverage, you could have a look at all their websites for rates, I've got no idea, there's also Virgin mobile, but they use the T-mobile network so have the same kind of coverage. See how you go. |
mruane
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 56
From: New Zealand
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OK Thanks, its much more difficult in the UK. Here its dead easy, there is only one actual provider for GSM so the question of who has the best coverage does not arise. I have started doing some research on rates but the main issue was coverage.
Cheers Mike
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Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
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Certainly, glad to help, I've never had any trouble with the Vodafone coverage and I've had to go all over the UK for work, but a friend of mine on T-Mobile can't even get a signal in his living room. I'm not basing my information on just that though, I've read it in many of the Mobile magazines over here and know of other people who have used T-Mobile and Virgin that have had no end of trouble. I don't know much about Orange, they're good but not up to the same coverage as Vodafone yet.
[ This Message was edited by: Fingers on 2002-07-09 08:06 ] |
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Posted: 2002-07-02 21:16
