Trip Report: ZQN-CHC
New Zealand has given me many firsts: hiking on a glacier, snowboarding, and now, flying on a commercial airplane with no security screening! What a trusting country. And airline.
My flight from Queenstown (ZQN) to Christchurch (CHC) began with checking in 1 hour 30 minutes before departure in a totally empty airport. I was really early. So I hung out in the little Koru Club. This was my first domestic flight on Air New Zealand, and didn't realize that you just scan your boarding pass at the entrance and walk in. The attendant who was chatting with some other people finally got up and did it for me. But I guess if she's not looking, you really can just walk in.
This is a "landside" lounge, which means that you don't have to go through security to get to it. So when the attendant called boarding 20 minutes before departure, I was in a big rush to leave. I still had to go through security! But nope. You just go downstairs, and scan your own boarding pass (no ID required), and walk onto the tarmac right to the plane!
It was the trusty ATR-72, which I also flew in Laos. On board, we were served a "biscuit," water, tea or coffee. And before landing, we got the usual Air NZ hard candies.
One of the best parts about the flight is the amazing views of the Southern Alps and lakes along the way. I had actually considered taking a scenic flight back from Milford Sound, since the views from the light aircraft are supposed to be amazing. Unfortunately, it was an approximately US$200 upgrade, so I had to give it a pass. While we didn't fly through a fjord, I think at US$37 including taxes and fees, my Air NZ flight was the better value! If you fly northbound from ZQN to CHC, sit on the left hand side of the plane for views of the alps (the other side looks onto the Pacific Ocean which is probably not too bad either).
