I Didn’t Expect THIS Flying on New Zealand’s Little Known Airline
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ค. 2024
- I flew a little known airline in New Zealand which turned out to be anything like how I expected!
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Hats off to the line staff of a tiny airline who saw an opportunity to leverage a small gesture in customer service into priceless good marketing vibes for their company. I hope their employer appreciates them.
It's great to have a youtube channel with half a million subscribers. It makes it worthwhile for airlines to do things to get more good free advertising. Noel put in alot of years to build his channel up.
It's only really genuine marketing if they offer this "free upgrade" on every flight. I am 100% convinced if I were to take this flight that I'd be in the main cabin.
I've flown on Sounds Air quite a lot over the years, it's pretty common to ask if anyone wants to sit up front when the plane is full, the pilots love to have a yarn with any avgeeks who want to ride in the right seat!
@@listey I can confirm that if you ask the gate staff, they will let you sit there.
Have sat in that seat 3 times out of 6 flights with them.
Often get to ride shotgun on the local airline to me
I love the fact that someone who obviously loves aviation, gifting another AV enthusiast a memorable flight. Things like that that make the AV community so special. Thanks as always for the video.
yeah only if u make aviation content lol
@@aus-reviews8462that’s obvious 😂😂😂 😊
@@TangerineTulip can you buy me a ticket so i can start the vloggin journey
@aus-reviews8462 No Sounds Air and other small NZ airlines often do have passengers sit in the right hand seat up front. There is an element of randomness to it and possibly also an aircraft balance part as well. My 12 year old daughter has flown in this seat as I was in row 3.
@@aus-reviews8462 , fortunately not true. Once got to ride on the jump seat on a commercial flight just because chatted up the crew of the flight in a restaurant a few days prior :)
What a gesture of the captain. That was special hope you appreciated that
Yes, but what happened to the First Officer? 😅
Nice one Captain Liam
@@oldmanc2left on the runway lol
@@oldmanc2 On a PC-12?
@@oldmanc2 PC12 can be operated single pilot
New Zealander here. So awesome to see one of our favourite TH-camrs in our neck of the woods!
Me too, kiwi here ❤, Noel’s definitely one of my top 3 channels 😊
Kiwi speaking... just stumbled upon this guy, he's my newest subscribed creator :)
Great to see he made it here too..Welcome to NZ
Great seeing our backyard from another's perspective.
Ohh I feel all goosey😂
The kindness of New Zealanders is phenomenal to say the least, years ago I stayed in NZ for 3 months and I instantly fell in love with this gem of a country and its lovely people.
I have to agree. I just flew back to Canada on an AirNZ flight a couple days ago. The people are just so kind and lovely. Completely genuine vibes I get from the ones I had the pleasure of interacting with on my travels.
Right? Diametrically opposite of the Australians, which I think are some of the rudest people i've ever had the "pleasure" meeting...
@@alexanderordinary2110As an Australian, I can say that I feel very sorry for you. It’s a shame how some people can ruin your perspective of a country. I know there are a lot of kind Australians out there and I think that some people just let us down.
@@TheMergeBuff45 ummhmm I have met 6 aussies in my life, didnt like any of them. One of them even had the balls to tell me, aussies are pretty much obnoxious ...
@@alexanderordinary2110 It's likely "a-ordinary" has been given the brush off by a well-mannered Australian lady somewhere along the track.
Best you drag your coat-tail somewhere else.
That was so cool, flying in the cockpit 😎 That was a nice bit of Kiwi Hospitality!
11:22 This is sooooo cool! I love when the airline employees recognize you and give us all a seat upgrade and some even cooler content then we would otherwise been treated to.
The staff look very happy in their work very friendly and happy. That can make a great customer experience.
What a wonderful upgrade, directly into the co-pilot's seat. So nice of Captain Liam.
Your reputation precedes you, Noel. I'm sure he knows you are a pilot as well.
New Zealand is so beautiful, and the people are great.
Wait Noel is a pilot?
Yes. He flies his own small aircraft.
I had no idea Noel was a pilot too. I wanted to become a pilot myself (not a commercial one mind you), but I have an eye disease called keratoconus. I know it usually doesn't disqualify becoming a pilot, but after I got diagnosed with it, I got contacts that give me 20/30 vision, and from what I read it needs to be correctable to 20/20. That, and I sure as hell don't have the money to buy, much less store, a small plane anywhere so.....yeah, lol.
Really interesting video... and the people at the airline all seem so nice and friendly - can't get better marketing than just being that nice.
Great video! I think you have your NZD / USD backwards. $115 NZD would be only around $70 USD.
Yep correct
I was thinking Noel’s calculator must of needed a battery change 😂
Numbers flip around in the Southern Hemisphere.
We have certainly had a good run of weather in Wellington for the last couple of weeks..good timing. Could see my house when you took off from Wellington.
@@fixpacifica
What a heart warming episode. All the crew and staff at Sounds Air, please take a bow - you made Noel and his viewers pretty happy today.
Hi Noel. Hope you had a wonderful time in New Zealand.
Next time you should fly with Air Chathams. I am a flight attendant and an aviation enthusiast myself. Been following your channel for a long time now. Come and fly with Air Chathams. We are based at Auckland domestic terminal. We service directly from Auckland to regional city/towns to Whanganui, Paraparaumu-Kāpiti Coast, Whakatāne, Chatham Islands and Norfolk Island (Australia)/ seasonal.😊 We operate SAAB 340s, ATR 72-500, DC3 for (scenic flights and seasonal only).
I heard you travelled with us so I was really looking forward to seeing your experience. I'm not surprised we did that for you given the extra lengths Sounds Air goes to for customers.
Thank you for promoting Sounds Air on your youtube channel. The company I work for also look after a few other regional airlines within this country. Seeing this has put a huge smile on the face.
It's fantastic to see the experience you had. The Wellington check in made me laugh and it's great that the directions to the check in desk helped. I highly recommend you take the flight down to Wanaka from Christchurch when you're next back or go from Wellington to Taupo. Two fabulous journeys with amazing scenery.
My Jaw just dropped.........
Smiles and smiles unbelievable
Wow how thoughtful and kind of everyone involved in making this stunning video. Thank you
That was some honor riding in the flight deck. The view was spectacular. The only thing you can’t do on the PC-12 is do a _loo review_ , but hey, that was a super cool ride which more than makes up for it. 😉
Was wondering where the loo review was open the cockpit window I guess lol
It needs a pilot relief tube like the king air’s have
What a great airline. Such a rare treat, won't get that on the big ones for sure. Captain Liam was wonderful, letting you sit up front and the staff were so friendly. Such a great video as always, I was smiling along with you!
Welcome too NZ, I was an Ork (extra) on 'Lord of the Rings'!
And I was a Laketown resident in 'The Hobbit'. We're everywhere.
You should consider flying with Stewart island flights at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand, it’s a small airline that connects the South Island to Stewart island and operates out of Invercargill airport with daily flights to Stewart island. Their fleet consists of two bn2a islanders, one pa32, and one Cessna 185. The main flight is about 10-20 minutes from Invercargill to Oban (the only town on Stewart island)
Absolute must fly. And if you're lucky enough with the winds your flight can be redirected to Mason Bay for a sandy beach landing like in Barra
Those BN Islanders must have some age on them.
I did that flight in 2022. As an Aucklander it was fairly unique but loved flying over bluff and into the island. Would recommend
@@68404 I was jumping out of them in the 80's so...yes! EDIT: They are still in production! Holy crap that s a good long run!
Please consider not visiting Stewart Island. Far too many people visit it and the infrastructure simply can't deal with it. The environment of the island is in accelerating decline because of all the traffic and the human load on it.
Great to see Sounds Air and Captain Liam handing out a royal treatment to Lord Noel. Thoroughly deserved. This was one of the best videos of 2024. Keep'em coming Dear Lord
Agreed ❤
What a brilliant flight & kind pilot. I have always found the people in NZ so friendly
All of the New Zealand crew and staff were awesome!
The check-in was awesome too!
damn insane seat upgrade wow!
As a ground crew member at a regional port in NZ that regularly works with sounds air, I can confirm they are the nicest bunch of airline pilots you'll ever meet. The PC-12s are such cool aircraft, and we always enjoy working with them. What a treat to go onto the flight deck!
You lucky duck! You were absolutely BEAMING with joy when you got off that plane! What a fantastic view you had.
New Zealand looks stunning ,nice one Sounds Air,Cheers Noel,another great episode 👍💪😉
Thanks 👍
2:42 if New Zealanders had a penny for every LOTR joke they heard, they’d all have Smaug’s Treasure 🤣 lovely trip with soundsair - flying over Middle-Earth up front must have been an awesome treat!
They are a great little airline- my wife and I fly with them several times a year between Paraparaumu(45 minutes drive up from Wellington) and Blenheim, to see family. Usually on the Cessna Caravan. Occasionally the pilot will take the scenic route and will fly directly over the Marlborough Sounds. Glad you enjoyed it Noel.
We love Sounds Air! Even when Wellington weather knocks out the jets, nothing seems to stop Sounds Air from flying 😁
Everybody gets a window and an aisle!
My wife and I went to Christchurch and Queenstown in 2022. The approach into Queenstown is like something I’ve never experienced and was absolutely stunning! Too bad that leg was cancelled for you. But like you said, gives you a reason to go back. This video makes me want to go back to New Zealand so bad! Great video!
I smiled throughout this entire episode! What an awesome airline and crew.❤
Awesome of them to have you up front
Awesome video Noel hope you enjoyed flying into my local airport with Sounds Air! Outstanding video!
Nice one. I live right at the bottom of the South Island in Invercargill. About an hour and a half from Queenstown. Nice to see you in Christchurch. Great little city. They did a good job rebuilding after the quake.
I clicked so fast because it was my home country (I live in the UK now) makes me smile to see NZ and hearing the accent again. You forgot to mention that Wellington is always windy. 💨 😂 Great video, thanks Noel ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've done hundreds of flights in and out of all NZ airports over the years and never get tired of the scenery. My commercial favourite is into Queenstown where you fly down the valley between the mountains. Fantastic. All time best flight is from Queenstown to Milford Sound, if you come to NZ do it, it's an unforgettable experience.
Nice vide Noel.
Love NZ. Lived there for 6 months when I was 8. Gutted Noel you didn't get down to Queenstown - such a beautiful climb out. As an 8 year old I was able to fly out of there on an old Hawker Siddely in 91, up to Mount Cook, land at the airport and then fly on to Christchurch. Thanks for helping to bring back wonderful childhood memories from this absolutely wonderful country. X
I am 100% sure the gate attendant never heard that quest joke before. 😅
She seemed annoyed nice. "Awesome"
I do not want to knock her on that.
@@TheLibermania to be honest, it was a quest. I have been in that airport… it is all about the Hobbits with the eagles in the concourse. I am surprised the instructions weren’t written as if they were part of the movies and they didn’t have a big gold ring above the check in desk. Haha
Sounds' flight to Picton on a stormy day is an out of body experience
Wonderful to see you enjoying my beautiful New Zealand 🇳🇿 - thanks for another wonderful episode Noel ❤. What a cool gesture getting a seat in the cockpit 😊
2:40 - I love the casualness, checked your identity by first name, and not Mister Philips.
I love how the fact he was taking a connecting flight with them was enough to identify who he was!
Noel: I'm flying to Blenheim then Christchurch.
Gate Agent: Noel?
NZ is fabulous! I seem to remember that Wellington runway has sea at both ends - do not overshoot! If I was 50 years younger, I would love to live in NZ. What a special trip to get onto the flight deck to observe everything, very generous of the friendly staff.
New Zealand isn't the paradise people think ,its very divided lately and its changing a lot very quickly.
@@steventhomas9461 Mis Information pal. I came here in 92 there is no more or less division than 30 odd years ago.
@@ekspatriat your statement is missimformation, I bet you like jabcinda as well
@@steventhomas9461just like everywhere these days. It definitely has changed, a lot more homelessness, cost of living has gone through the roof. Crime is on the rise. But that’s everywhere unfortunately mate. I spend a lot of time between Australia and New Zealand, As an Aussie I’d still prefer to be living in New Zealand. Which hopefully will be the plan before too long.
@@steventhomas9461 So sorry to hear that, it's the same everywhere, I guess. I loved my trips to NZ, but it was a good while ago.
I had an incredible time in Wellington. It was bright and sunny and absolutely stunning. I went with some friends to a hilltop botanical garden and restaurant. We took the cogwheel train and had fantastic views.
That's the cable car - famous in Wellington and the world! It's actually a funicular to be precise. Glad you enjoyed it, please come again!
It's a great video that made a Kiwi homesick and Sounds Air is a great little company... Service they do very well...
great vid Noel, surely you got the conversions mixed up at the end though? NZD hasnt been stronger than USD in ... forever? Sounds air though, what an airline.
Yeah at 14:19 I thought he may have got them the wrong way around?! Great video though!
You NEED to try the Intercity bus from Wellington to Auckland. You can choose a luxury seat, an actual sleeper or a standard coach seat. I highly recommend it for the real NZ experience.
I love the way he just gets out and lives his life. Some people are afraid to fly, when theybsee videos on TH-cam about crashes. I know I got nervous one when Inhad bad turbulence on a previous flight. I see it like this I can't avoid death. So whenever it's my time, I can't avoid it. I'd like to get out, be free, and enjoy life like this guy traveling. Je seems like a nice, friendly upbeat fun type of guy.
Welcome to NZ! Hope you enjoyed your time here.
I did!
I've actually flown on a PC12 twice in one year. I just wish I wasn't in a coma for both flights! Where I am, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) use the type you flew on. They saved my life and I owe it to the RFDS for flying me to the city from the country where I am. Kudos and thanks! Opps, great vid Noel!!
It looked like you were in your glory sitting up front with the captain. Very cool! Great video!
Thank you for sharing. Love that smile as you left the plane!
Flying on sounds air one of the pilots preflight speeches had the great deadpan joke of "After takeoff inflight tea and coffee service...would be nice"
The captain letting you ride in co pilot seat!! That’s awesome
Hey Noel. You also have 'air chathams' and 'barrier airlines' that fly routes around NZ and have some interesting planes.
Another awesome review of Sounds Air (new one on me) and the service was first class from the interaction from the ground staff to Captain Liam giving you an upgrade. Your fame knows no boundaries.
Soundsair flies between Wellington (hub) to Taupo, Westport, Nelson, Blenheim, Picton, Paraparumu and Wanaka. Soundsair is one of 5 major airlines in New Zealand's 3rd level regional airline network, others being Originair fling between Nelson (hub), Wellington, Palmerston North and Hamilton using 19 seat BAe Jetstream 32 turboprops, Air Chathams operating between Auckland (hub) to Norfolk Island (international flight), Chatham Islands, Paraparaumu, Whanganui, Whakatane, Wellington, Christchurch using ATR72-500 and Sabre 340, Barrier Air between Auckland (hub) to Great Barrier Island, Whitianga, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Tauranga using Cessna Caravans and Sunair operating between Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Gisborne, Napier, Hamilton, Tauranga (hub), Wairoa, Whangarei and Whitianga using Cessna aircraft.
The mountain range that Noel saw was two mountain ranges know as the Kaikouras on the eastern coast of the South Island being the seaward Kaikouras and the inland Kaikouras and not the foot hills of the Southern Alps which are on the western side of the South Island.
This is part of the Southern Alps which covers many mountain ranges. The top of the Alps is U shaped with Kaikoura on one side and Nelson on the other and Molesworth in between and Hanmer at the eastern bottom of the U - if this wasn’t the case there must be clear separation of flat land mass between the two which isn’t the case
@@scottnelson9938 - The Southern Alps is where the Pacific and Australian plates meet located on the western side of the South Island. The Kaikoura mountain ranges are located on the eastern side of of the South Island located near where the Australian and Pacific plates meet to carry onto to the Hikurangi seduction zone located on the east coast of the North Island and onto the Kermadec Trench.
@@chrismckellar9350 The Southern Alps are right on my doorstep and I can see a significant portion of it from Christchurch, which is one continuous mountain range. Over 16km of height has been lost due to natural erosion over the many years since it was formed which may give the impression that these ranges aren't part of the Southern Alps. The Kaikoura ranges is the geographic name for that part of the Southern Alps in that region (there are multiple mountains within close proximity that are given their own unique range name). Most of the Southern Alps nowadays are sitting between 1000m and 2000m
@@scottnelson9938 - I know the you can see the 'Southern Alps' from Christchurch. The 'Southern Alps' is one of a number of named mountain ranges on the South Island main divide that follows the boundary of the Australian and Pacific plates for 500kms traveling in a southwest to northeast direction.
I live close to Kapiti Coast Airport, north of Wellington, and see Sounds Air flights from time to time. The last time I flew in to Christchurch was in the 1970s, for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. If memory serves correctly, the airline was NAC (now part of Air New Zealand) and the aircraft was a 737.
Was in NZ in Feb. Flew United from CHC to SFO Polaris Class. Your ticket pricing is around the wrong way, US $115 is about NZ$196. We loved eating out in NZ because with no tipping everything was half price in US $ (exchange rate was about 0.61 when we were there). Great video as usual Noel.
As an eight-year old flying on his own, I was looked after by a flight attendant on the way from Copenhagen to London. Half way through the flight I was invited to the cockpit and sat next to the Captain for about an hour, headphones on and he even let me flick a few of the switches. Happy days.
Ah, Noel, once seen, never forgotten!!! Back in the 1960s, I was the only passenger flying from Norfolk Island to Sydney. I was invited onto the flight deck for take off and then landing in Sydney. What a buzz, such an amazing experience it was.
The Blenheim Christchurch flight route became hugely significant when an earthquake damaged and closed the Highway for a while.
One of the more obscure airlines you've used, and that is saying something!
Its so awsome you came to christchurch on our coolest wee airline with the best upgrade you can get in these parts . So happy people recognized you and made it happen !. Safe travels and hope to see you back again one day
Hi Nole
Your video of your Trip in Sounds Air is a hit and Sounds Air Boss was on The Good Morning show in NZ TV talking about your video and how greatful they are for your review.
What beautiful scenery, and those vineyards looked beautiful! Another amazing video, Noel! Keep up the great work! ♥️
I can't believe it's taken me nine days to get to a video featuring my home airline flying from my birth city (WLG) to my home town (BHE). I have loved every experience I've had with Sounds Air (in the 208B's) and glad you got that experience too with the PC12s
Hey Noel, pretty sure at 13:10 that was the twin ranges, the Kaikoura Ranges. The foothills of the alps are considerably further inland. At 13:13 you may just make out the snow capped peaks
of the alps on the horizon line. I have flown with Sounds Air back in early 90s after an issue with my ferry crossing over the Cook Strait. Nice bunch of people. Just average NZers doing their thing and calling everybody 'mate'. Thanks for sharing this beautiful trip with us. Flying over the alps is something you may want to consider, between Christchurch and Hokitika. You cross right over the top and on a clear day, the views of high alpine lakes, farms, forests and so much more, can be seen. It's my favourite local trip.
Loved watching this here in NZ, influenced by a aviation mad teenager! Next time you're here check out Stewart Island Air, we have loved our flights with them, even smaller planes. You'll love the check in in Oban 😊
We live in Blenheim and use Sounds Air so know they are a great crew. It's important to keep small businesses alive.
Queenstown and Milford Sound is a must visit! Genuinely surprised you haven't been down that way before
Excellent work mate, happy to see you made it to NZCH where I live. Huge KUDOS to Sounds Air staff... You guys rock!
That gate agent has the attitude I only hope to one day be able to emulate in my everyday life.
Wow! So cool that you were upgraded on the flight.
Hey Noel and family! Another amazing video. The countries and cities that you visit give many of us a glimpse of what we’d probably never see without you. The airline videos are superb too! Thank You so much. :-)
Glad you enjoyed it
Definitely the cruisiest less stressful airline in NZ I've used
Great vid as always
Another great video Noel, thank you
That was really a fun trip. Thanks for sharing with us!
Entertaining as always! Really enjoyed this review. Beautiful scenery. Great wines from there. So nice of them to upgrade your dear! Really impressed. It must have been thrilling. New Zealand is gorgeous. The people seem very friendly.
Been waiting for this! Peak Noel content on a beautiful Sunday morning!
Great video Noel. I live in the Wellington area and have often seen Sounds Air but never flown on them. We will definitely consider flying with them if we head over to Blenheim in the future. What a wonderful thing to do to invite you into the cockpit. Glad you have a great experience.
Love this video!! I've travelled Blenheim to Christchurch on one of their PC-12's last year. Amazing flight, PC-12's are definitely one of my favourite's! Glad you enjoyed your experience flying with Sounds Air.
I live in Blenheim - someone always has to sit up front on a full flight as it's one of the allocated passenger seats - it's pretty cool - especially on a great day!
Hi Noel Paul from Kent so nice when someone does something very special for you hope you enjoyed the flight looked amazing
Brilliant video Noel, love the way you seek out these small and interesting airlines.
Glad you like them!
There are a few small regional airlines in New Zealand. I was on a flight from Dunedin to Te Anau some years ago and the airline, I forget the name, was operating a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, it wasn't actually theirs, it was just in NZ for servicing from the Pacific Islands and somehow they had use of it. I was the only passenger and the pilot let me sit up front in what would be the co-pilot's seat if there was one. Over central Otago he even let me take the controls for a while! I asked him if the company was OK with that. He just laughed and said, "I'm not going to tell them, are you?"
Oh Noel, wow, wow, wow. What a fantastic surprise to get to sit in the cockpit. The smile on your face added to the enjoyment of your vlog. Living in New Zealand, we do have a beautiful country. Remember to come back soon.
Kiwi hospitality at its finest, love it.
Hey welcome Noel great to see you in our beautiful country 🤗
A route I have done on the cessna 152. DIdn't depart from Wellington, but nearby only. Its fun to cross the stunning sounds. Glad to revisit those memories from your video.
Nice to see you have such a good experience here. And it's interesting to see what friendly, happy staff can do for a business. I'll check out their routes just to try them out some time. Nice one Sounds.
I've just returned from New Zealand Golden Bay, north of the South Island, and had an amazing time. This brought back some wonderful memories, especially the awsome landscapes and blue skies. Can't wait to go back again in 2028!
I've flown Sounds Air once before and I loved them, glad you tried them out while in NZ!
Wow...that is a awesome experience of being let into the front and get that view..how welcoming they were...and great deal for the flight
Such a cool experience in this video especially the seat upgrade for the 2nd leg. Still a big fan of you since 2021. Awesome👍
This was an awesome little ✈️ plane ride. It was awesome experience. Continued safe travels @noelphilips ❤️
Everything about New Zealand is great. Like, it's heaven on earth!! And the people are so friendly. I wish I could move there, and the south island is just... wow!
But I'm fairly confident that was $194 NZD and $115 USD... NZ dollar isn't worth more than US 😜
Love this video so great mate I love New Zealand as an Aussie and a US citizen as well. I’ve been to the south Island frequently. It’s stunning. I hope you don’t miss out on Queenstown as it’s incredibly beautiful and difficult to fly into.
Like you I’m a GA pilot too
So the next time in New Zealand, which will be in July I’m going to make a point of flying sounds air hopefully I can get into that front seat probably not. I love how you like flying these small airlines and supporting them as well. Well done.
Pretty cool that the CEO is recognizing you as a big time ultimate TH-cam blogger
Sounds Air Rocks!!!!!
Wow spectacular footage from cockpit
Glad you enjoyed it