Felicia Alkin/Delivered
Felicia Alkin and her family were on two flights that were reversed due to fog in Dunedin, both on the same day.
A woman and her family embarked on the journey to Dunedin – twice – before being forced to return to Auckland due to: fog.
Lioness Gym for Women owner Felicia Alkin and her family boarded a plane to Dunedin from Auckland on Monday after opening a new fitness studio in Rotorua.
The Air New Zealand plane descended into Dunedin about 11 a.m. when the plane suddenly started going up again.
A few minutes later, the pilot told the passengers that the plane could not land because “the clouds were too close to the” [airport] building,” said Alkin.
READ MORE:
* Lost luggage, canceled flights and the pandemic: should you fly in the chaos of air traffic?
* Air New Zealand adds flights to catch up as travel chaos continues
* Cheat Sheet: Lost Bags? Canceled flights? Here’s What’s Covered When Your Journey Unravels
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
An Air New Zealand spokesperson confirmed that the two flights had to return to Auckland due to fog, which also resulted in the cancellation of two Auckland-bound flights from Dunedin. (File photo)
“We flew all the way back to Auckland.”
After the plane landed around 12:30pm, Alkin turned on her phone and received a notification from Air NZ that her family had been rebooked on a 4:30pm flight to Dunedin.
However, they boarded that flight and were about halfway through Dunedin when the pilot announced they would be returning to Auckland.
“They just said they couldn’t do the landing.”
Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran says customers should book early to avoid overpriced airfares (video published in June 2022).
Alkin said she recognized many of the other passengers as people who were also on her first flight.
“Everyone was like ‘ooh, again?’.”
To avoid upsetting her two young children, Alkin said she tried to make it seem like they were on a “fun adventure.”
“We enjoyed a few free flights.”
But Alkin said it was no fun finding accommodation for the night because their new flight wouldn’t be until the next day.
“I was constantly on the phone trying to find hotels near the airport and they were all fully booked.”
It was about 10pm when the family arrived at a hotel in Auckland’s CBD that Air New Zealand had booked for them.
An Air NZ spokesperson confirmed that flights NZ679 and NZ677 had to return to Auckland due to fog.
Both flights were on Airbus A320 aircraft.
Flights NZ664 and NZ680 from Dunedin to Auckland were also cancelled.