New Zealand: October 2023: Day 1: United's inaugural flight LAX-AKL

New Zealand

Day 1: LAX-AKL inaugural

Little over 2 hours before the flight, not much at the gate except for some flags, balloons, and a backdrop.

Boarding in 85 minutes, departure in 2hr 15.

Quick snack at the Polaris Lounge.

Announcements.

Sarah Handley, General Manager, Americas and Europe at Tourism New Zealand.

Mostly employees who seemed excited.

New Zealand dancer.

Roped in an employee and one kid from the audience.

Inaugural flight crew gets to pose.

Captain JJ Till, Purser Scott, and at far left, Daniel Park rocking the kiwis. Posing.

Posing.

Impromptu speeches.

Ribbon cutting.

Ribbon cut!

Annoucing boarding. Biometrics fail, most of us had to scan boarding passes.

Ground staff posing.

That is a sad balloon.

Almost ready to board.

New Zealand flags.

Onboard.

The updated Saks Fifth Avenue blankets and packaging.

Home for the next 12 or 13 hours.

Claude Kameni limited edition blanket. Felt new.

Oatmeal cookie as a boarding gift.

Water and sparkling wine.

$12 sparkling wine. Menu.

Menu.

Not the worst place to spend the next 12 hours and change.

United's inaugural flight from LAX to Auckland, UA 642, is now in the air.

Warm nuts and a beverage.

The seared cod was actually good, and that was a proper green salad.

Chilled ginger beef is not bad either.

Still no hot fudge, but chocolate chips and cherries do the job.

Of three new routes (techncially two resumptions of service, only one truly new route) this weekend, Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand was probably the smallest and least-busy route of them all. Business class (Polaris) cabin was full but premium economy was laughably empty (2 of 21 seats) and economy was way less than half full. Ducked in to the Polaris Lounge before the pre-flight party for a quick snack, too.

The party at the gate was tiny, with one traditional New Zealand dancer, a backdrop, some New Zealand flags, and some super sad balloons. Sarah Handley, General Manager, Americas and Europe at Tourism New Zealand gave a brief speech, they roped Captain JJ Till into speaking... aside from that and some LAX ground staff, no VIP's present. The crew onboard was great, with Scott (purser) and John working the front along with two of United's most senior flight attendants. Not sure how long Linda has been with UA, but she and Sharon (50+ years, she's #38 system-wide so a country code (!)) were also onboard, making this a very experienced crew.

Captain TIll and his crew of three first officers (Paul, David, Chad) were all ex-US Navy pilots, so a little weather forecasted later in the flight didn't remotely faze them, and the seared cod for dinner was actually good. Chilled ginger beef is a bit odd but was not bad, and always nice to see a proper green salad.