It only takes three tries to get all the bags within New Zealand Air carryon and checked bag rules while keeping in mind that we have to get all that stuff in our little campervan too. Ultimately its (2) checked bags and one small carry-on plus backpacks. Manageable. Thanks, Brian for chauffeuring us to the airport then we begin the hurry up and wait that is air travel. Easy bag check-in and smooth through security. Since people don’t listen and announcements are garbled boarding is about as messed up as with US carriers. It is all good though, here we are in row 50 of 61 on a B777 300W. Quite a few kids on board but it’s a big plane! No virus-scare face masks, that’s a good start. Seats are surprisingly roomy and there are lots of entertainment choices to help the time pass. Kent and I both doze off and on occasionally awakened by a bout of turbulence. That seems unusual to me at over 30000 ft but the crew says no, happens regularly on this route. Jet stream maybe? Meals break up the time; dinner, including a sampling of New Zealand wine then breakfast. I catch the entire Chernobyl Mini Series, a bit heavy but very engaging. The ride is long but not miserable as we touch down in Auckland in the dark of early morning, 5:30 AM.
While we slept, we crossed the Equator and the International Date Line.