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Business Traveller
CNN Business Traveller Enjoys Air New Zealand's New Flight `Round the World
Aired November 11, 2006 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR, CNN BUSINESS TRAVELLER (voice over): From an island in the Pacific, to Hong Kong, across the world to London, and Los Angeles, and then back to Auckland. This month, CNN BUSIENSS TRAVELLER is circling the globe.
(THEME MUSIC)
QUEST (on camera): Hello, and welcome to CNN BUSINESS TRAVELLER. My name is Richard Quest. This month reporting from Auckland, New Zealand.
This is the first major country that sees the sunrise of the new day. Yet, it may be breakfast in Auckland, but in Asia it's the middle of the night, while in Europe they're having dinner. And in the United States they're still at lunch on the previous day.
For those of us doing business around the world, this is a challenge, juggling those time zones, trying to make sense of your international business. It's all about making connections and keeping them and that's what we're talking about this month.
So, from New Zealand, we'll meet the airline that is spreading it's wings, flying to new destinations, connecting the dots. And from Hong Kong, we're looking at ways of making cheaper connections. And in the United States we learn about keeping the connections through good manners.
So, join me as we go around the world.
QUEST (voice over): Our journey starts in New Zealand, where the national carrier, Air New Zealand, is making new connections of it's own. It's extended an Auckland to Hong Kong flight all the way to London. From there, passengers can then return home by Air New Zealand, to Los Angeles, the home straight means all the way across the Pacific.
This is one airline, taking all around the world on it's plane.
(On camera): Good evening.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are you off to this evening?
QUEST: London via Hong Kong.
(Voice over): It's not before every flight that you're serenaded by a string quartet. Tonight is special. These passengers are about to embark on a 26 hour journey, more than 18,000 kilometers. The Auckland to Hong Kong leg is not new. Air ZED's been plying that trade for some time. It's the Hong Kong extension to London that causing this excitement.
It will double Air New Zealand's daily reach to London and pitch it against the big boys, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Cafe Pacific, and Qantas.
ROB FYLE, CEO, AIR NEW ZEALAND: On the route between Auckland and London, via either Hong Kong or via L.A., we want to be the market share leader. And our view is that in terms of the traffic between London and Auckland, we can gain 35 to 40 percent of that traffic. That's our goal.
QUEST: It's one thing to connect from one flight to another, but what about those in-flight connections.
(on camera): What? You can't hear me? You can't because I'm on the plane. No, no -- I've got -- hang on a second, hand on a second. Just wait a minute.
Excuse me, can I just borrow you pen? Thank you very much. Thank you for that.
How awful it would be if you ended up sitting next somebody like that. But that's what could happen if mobile phones arrive on planes.
(Voice over): The nightmare is one stage closer to reality, when Emirates decision to start the service from next year. A small GSM base station is fitted to the plane. That sends the signal from you mobile phone to a satellite, and then to the ground, keeping power levels on board the plane very low.
GEORGE COOPER, CEO ONAIR: It's that very low power level that does two things. One, it stops the phone from interfering with avionics in the airplane. Obviously very important. And also stops it connecting, by mistake, to a ground network that you're flying over.
QUEST: Emirates says it is just responding to demand in offering the new service. Passengers are already making 6,000 calls a month on the plane's own phone network, at a cost of $5 a minute. Using their own mobiles will cut that cost to $3.50.
DAVID COILEY, AEROMOBILE: We have research, ourselves, and the airlines that we're talking to have their own research and we're seeing figures in excess of 50 percent, up to 70 and 80 percent of aircraft passengers showing that they're interested in communicating using their mobile phones, for voice and for text, when they fly.
QUEST: The problem is other surveys say exactly the opposite. SkyTracks shows 84 percent of frequent flyers are against mobile phones on planes. They don't want to use them and don't want other passengers to either.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't want people on planes having loud conversations when you're trying to relax.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just nice to have that time to concentrate. Probably some of the best work I get done is on the plane.
QUEST: Emirates is not the only carrier to gamble that passengers like these will change their minds. Qantas, Ryan Air, Air France, BMI are introducing similar services. In the end it probably doesn't matter what passengers think. One estimate says 50 percent of all airlines will introduce mobile calling within two years.
(On camera): Ah, Hong Kong. The two-hour turn around gives me just enough time to savor the sights and smells of this bustling city.
When you're roaming with your mobile phone costs go through the roof. A minute call from Hong Kong to the United States can cost me a fortune, because my home network is in the U.K. There is, though, a way we can slash and burn those costs.
Look, I've got to go. It's costing me a fortune to speak to you.
QUEST (via web video phone): It's called Skype. And it's one of the new video over the Internet ways of keeping in touch. Don Albert with Skype is with me.
John?
QUEST (on camera): The question is how fast is this whole VOIP growing?
DON ALBERT, SKYPE: Well, Richard, we've experienced tremendous growth here at Skype. As a three-year old company we just pasted the 136 million registered user mark.
QUEST (via web video phone): Things are starting to get rather nasty out there with VOIP.
(On camera): And you can't be all things to all people.
(Via web video phone): Who are traveling the business traveler or the teenager?
ALBERT (via web video phone): To tell you the truth, Richard, our answer is just about everyone finds something to love about Skype. We have taken off among the business traveler community because it's very expensive to make cellular calls across international borders and also quite expensive to make phone calls from hotel rooms. So the ability to use Skype N, which is a phone number you can get from Skype, you can give to all your friends, family and business associates. They call that phone number and they will connect with you no matter where you are in the world, all for the price of a local call on their end.
QUEST: After the break I'm on my way to London, while I board Air New Zealand, Eunice Yoon checks out the local competition.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST (voice over): I'm in Hong Kong, on my way to the airport on the second leg of my `round the world trip. NZED 39, the continuation of the flight that started in Auckland, and now on to London Heathrow.
Air New Zealand isn't the only airline to introduce a new service from Hong Kong to London. The budget carrier, Oasis Airlines, put its own planes on the same route. While the price might be right for many passengers, who in their right mind would want to spend 13 hours, long- haul, on a low-cost carrier? While I boarded my flight on Air New Zealand, Eunice Yoon checked out the low-cost alternative.
(On camera): Feeling comfy, Eunice?
EUNICE YOON, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT, BUSINESS TRAVELLER: Actually, Richard, the seats are quite comfortable. There's plenty of legroom over here. I have a nice video screen as well. And the seat goes back, quite a bit. They're telling us the seats are about 32 inches. How much room have you got?
QUEST: Now, Eunice, as you might expect from a full service carrier Air New Zealand has given me a bit more leg room. I've got 34 inches, which if you're 6 foot, 2 like me, is very welcome indeed.
(Voice over): What about sustenance for this long flight? Eunice what did you get?
YOON: Well, Richard, it looks like a typical meal that you get on any economy class flight. You have your two choices of meat for a main dish. In this case, beef, nice little side salad, dessert. The main difference here is that if I want to order an orange juice, glass of wine, or a soft drink, I have to pay for it.
QUEST (on camera): When it comes to drink, Eunice, I think I win hands down. On Air New Zealand not only is the tea, coffee and water all free, so is the alcohol. And guess what, that also includes the champagne.
Thank you, ladies.
YOON: Despite what you might expect from a low-budget, long-haul carrier, these seats might not be as flat as the ones on British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, but they are 60 inches long. And that is the industry standard.
QUEST: Eunice, it is perhaps unfair to compare my 6 foot, 2 bed on Air New Zealand, fully flat, with yours, on Oasis. I'm probably paying more money for mine, so it is apples and oranges. But the fact is, I have got a flat bed, with a big comfy duvet and I'm going to get a good night's sleep.
(Voice over): By the time I wake up I should be in London.
(On camera): London Heathrow airport and I'm halfway around the world from Auckland, New Zealand, where I started my trip. At Heathrow, there is this giant sign for Singapore Airlines, first to fly the A380.
As you all know the super jumbos had some serious problems. But that hasn't stopped Singapore Airlines from revealing it's new business class that will eventually go on the new big plane. Let's countdown to the super jumbo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST (voice over): Singapore Airlines is the latest major carrier to go flat in business. The 39-inch wide seat is the widest on the market. Coupled with comfort, the seat is also high-tech. A 15-inch television screen can be used as a monitor for laptops. And it also has a USB port.
Singapore Airlines believe they have delivered exactly what customers want.
BEY SOO KHIANG, SINGAPORE AIRLINES: They wanted a flat bed. They wanted seat different from a bed. They wanted direct access to the outlets (ph). And they wanted a forward facing seat.
QUEST: Singapore Airlines will use the new seats on the A380s, the first of which is schedule for delivery now in October 2007.
For FedEx the wait has proved too long. It's become the first Airbus customer to cancel orders. The U.S. delivery company has reduced it's requests for 25 planes to just 15. Qantas has gone the other way. In the last few weeks the Australian carrier has ordered more 380s. It is now expecting to buy 20 by 2015.
(On camera): One other way that you can connect is by receiving text messages from the airline that tell you the status of the flight and at what point you need to check in. These have all arrived telling me about NZED 001, my flight, from Heathrow to Los Angeles. It tells me that the flight is on time and now it tells me that the last call has been announced, that it will be leaving shortly.
I'd better go.
(Voice over): So, what helps you get things done when you're traveling the world. Send me an e-mail it is the usual e-mail address, Quest@cnn.com. The best ones go on the web site, at cnn.com/businesstraveller.
(On camera): Amongst the sheep we're back in New Zealand. Coming up after the break it's time to escape.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST (on camera): Three quarters of the way around the world, and Air New Zealand has brought me to Los Angeles. Because connections are about more than just where airlines fly, it's also about personal contacts. For instance, here in Hollywood, it's not what you know, but who you know. ANZED doesn't fly to New York, but that's where I had to go to get a lesson in good manners, to make sure I don't destroy those network connections I've built.
(Voice over): The Gotham Bar & Grill, a top New York restaurant and I'm here to learn the dos & don'ts of how to behave.
(On camera): Hello!
KIM BISHOP, KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL: Hi, Richard. Good to see you.
Richard, we're already off on the wrong foot. Look at how you're dressed.
QUEST: What's wrong with it?
BISHOP: This is not acceptable, Richard.
Richard?!
QUEST: What?
BISHOP: What are you doing?
QUEST: I'm (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You know, I'm -- I'm --
BISHOP: Do you think that's appropriate?
Oh, Richard! Put that down!
QUEST: Why?
BISHOP: What are you doing?!
QUEST: Well, I had the lamb and you had the risotto, but you had the soup, and then I had --
BISHOP: Please don't do that, Richard!
QUEST: But your risotto was more expensive than --
(LAUGHTER)
QUEST: Let's get to work. Right.
How long should we spend looking at the menu, do you think? I mean, should we be extolling every -- Oh, the Muscovy Duck and foie gras! Oh, I see they've got crisp soft-shelled crabs here!
BISHOP: You know, we spend a few minutes on the menu. We take a look. If you've been to the restaurant before and you see something that you recommend, you might mention that. But there is not need to go through the entire menu together.
QUEST: Should we be drinking wine or alcohol at business meetings?
BISHOP: It varies based upon the meeting. If it's a business dinner, I would say you would want to take the cue from your host. If it is a lunch, I generally recommend staying away from alcohol at lunch. We're having lunch, so we're not going to have any wine.
QUEST: No wine for us today. Thank you.
BISHOP: Oh, that was lovely.
QUEST: We're on our appetizer. What conversation should we be talking about?
BISHOP: Well, up until now we've probably been making small talk. The rule of thumb is small talk should be the same kind of conversation you'd have in the office, as to what you'd have at the business dinner. And I bring that up because so many people make the mistake of feeling like they're in a social setting, so things that may have been off limits in the office, are not OK to talk about.
QUEST: Thank you.
Why does all this matter?
BISHOP: It matters because you're there for a reason. We're not here because we're best friends, or anything like that. We're here because we have a business reason to be here. And that is important. And that's what people need to stay focused on, is why are they there?
QUEST (on camera): Well, 12 hours after we left L.A. and I'm back where I started here in Auckland. And this time, I've got a few friends. Come along! They did the hard work as we went across the Pacific. And now -- where are they all coming from?
And now for me, it's time, to escape.
QUEST (voice over): In New Zealand, escaping means a chance to see nature as it was designed. At Taupo, for instance; a lake the size of Singapore, surrounded by mountains, and the Huka Falls.
There are few places better to enjoy this than Huka Launch. Queen Elizabeth has recharged her batteries here. It's one of the world's famous places to stay. Expensive? To be sure. But a lifestyle to behold. In the end, there is only one way to see Taupo.
(On camera): My ride has arrived.
(HELICOPTER ROARS)
QUEST: The north island of New Zealand has the highest concentration of volcanoes in the world.
(On camera): Wow! Up here the only connection make is with nature.
(Voice over): For the traditional people, the Mauri, this land holds the greatest significance. Stan is my guide. He belongs to the Ungatti Tuwai Doi (ph) Tribe. A traditional greeting, a hungi (ph).
STAN REIHANA, HEKE TRAIFE: We press our noses twice, and we usually close our eyes as a symbol of respect. All right?
QUEST: This pressing of noses symbolizes the coming together of minds, that we share the breath of life.
(On camera): I always think of these holy type rituals as being ceremonial, but you're saying it's not, it's more than that?
REIHANA: No, it's a part of our everyday existence. We -- I can do downtown, meet a family member, who might be buying a bottle of milk or a loaf of bread, I'll go over and greet them. And it's usually with a hungi (ph).
QUEST (voice over): The Mauri are living a traditional life in the modern world. They bring the two together beautifully. For instance, when they cook. This is my lunch being cooked, heated by geothermal power.
REIHANA: Our food should be cooked. Yeah, we have (UNINTELLIGIBLE), sweet corn, potatoes, kumara (ph) or sweet potato, pumpkin, cabbage and marinated chicken.
QUEST: With the underground water at 75 degrees these steam boxes are like ovens.
(On camera): I don't know what I was expecting when I was told about geothermal cooking. But this is really quite something extraordinary -- a meal, cooked right out of the ground.
(Voice over): Volcanoes are Mauri culture, but I can't come to New Zealand and not see some sheep. Now, normally they don't let amateurs do this. But they're going to let me have a go.
STEVE EMERY, AGRODOME: Grab it around the front of it's neck, and your knees, lift it up like this, grab it here with your left hand, or both hands, right hand's here. Let's give it go, Richard. I'll start it and then I'll pass it back to you to finish.
That's good, Richard. Right up, right up to your hand.
QUEST (on camera): I'm not getting a lot of wool off, am I? This is called repairing the damage.
It's my first time. Sorry.
Who's next for a bit of shearing? And that's CNN BUSINESS TRAVELLER for this month. I'm Richard Quest making connections in New Zealand. Where ever your travels may take you, I hope it's profitable. And I'll see you next month.
(SHEEP BLEETING)
Are you next? Come along.
END
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