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Ok, so after looking through most of the threads I got an idea of what some of the answers may be, but I was hoping someone could confirm for this particular season.
1. Will the flights to the ice be going through Auckland or Sydney?
2.What are some of the specifics for bag weight? Carry on and checked-in
3.Can family and friends mail hard alcohol(delicious Scotch) to the station?
4.I have already started mailing stuff to the station(I am scheduled for winfly to McMurdo). Is there any time frame for when i would expect the packages to arrive?
5.Do most people just take atm cards with them? Travelers checks? Cash? I am worried that should something happen to the card I would be SOL
Thanks in advance for any
insight in to these questions
Mike1. Will the flights to the ice be going through Auckland or Sydney?
In a normal year it could be either, but most would go through Aukland. Last year American Airlines lost their codeshare partner for the flight from Aukland to Christchurch and the program had to run everyone through Sydney. This year I think we are back to Aukland unless the flights are already full for the dates you are traveling.
2.What are some of the specifics for bag weight? Carry on and checked-in
Bag weights are whatever the airlines allow at the time. The flight to the ice on the military flight will allow more. I think it’s 150 this year. On that note, unless you love lugging tons of luggage halfway around the world, I would mail as much as possible and just bring a few changes of clothing. You will get ECW gear you can wear in a pinch, there will also be skua supplies to pick up old clothing in a pinch. I keep it to one suitcase, a carry-on and a laptop. usually around 40 pounds. It’s way easier to travel light than it is to go heavy. Most first timers carry way too much stuff. Mail is great, but expect your mail to arrive at the end of october to first part of November. It could be earlier, but plan on later. Small priority mail packages get there faster than big packages.
3.Can family and friends mail hard alcohol(delicious Scotch) to the station?
It’s illegal to send alcohol throught the US mail. Use the extra weight you get for the flight to the ice to pack your scotch. Buy it in New Zealand.
5.Do most people just take atm cards with them? Travelers checks? Cash? I am worried that should something happen to the card I would be SOL
Take an ATM card. You will get a hundred dollars or so cash for traveling. Once in MCM you could get buy with no money while you wait for your bank to replace a lost card. The station provides everything you need except for alcohol and snacks and such from the store. I bring a debit card and a credit card for backup.
Any packages mailed for winfly need to have WINFLY or WINFLY DEPLOYMENT written on the box in several places. Use Priority MAIL flat rate APO boxes for the smaller stuff.
I’ve almost always received all my boxes at winfly…a few times one box would get lost in the package mail in CHC and would show up first or second flight mainbody.
I send myself comfort food, toiletries (tooth paste, deodorant, etc.) though most of this is available in the store….for a price…..if there are specific brands that you like, mail them down.
Also, once you get there, if you see things in the store that you want or need, get them when you see them….Don’t wait or you may miss out. Stock on some items is limited and sells our during mainbody.
I have a few sets of good quality twin X-long sheets and pillow cases that are much nicer than the stuff issued by housing. It is the little things that make the deployment better.
Ship a power strip/surge supressor and a few extension cords for your room and computer and camera battery charging. I have a full size computer keyboard that stays in my MCM stored gear and it makes life much better with the laptop. I have a few large capacity flash/thumb drives for daily use and I back all my stuff up on CD’s and DVD’s.
Skua is everywere and the redeploying winterovers are good at putting great skua out at the time they are flying off the ice. I just get partial bottles of shampoo from skua and mix them all together (those of you that know me now know the secret to my lovely locks and beard!)….
You will figure all this out….just ask an OAE when in doubt.
David
Super Doh! I totally did not write Winfly on the boxes…oh well maybe the postal gods will shine on me. Guessing there is nothing I can do now
[] is right about Whisky Galore…here is their website: http://www.whiskygalore.co.nz
One of the great things about the store is the proprietor gives out small tastes from many of the bottles he sells! The stock is great and it is just a fun place to visit. He is always good to the ice folks.
Booze is expensive in NZ because of the taxes…..a big grocery store will have some booze at good prices….but for great whisky go to Whisky Galore!
David
Single malt Scotch is the best Antarctic lubricant.
When everything is broken, missing, or stupid, and you need help… Single malt applied to friends and co-workers can make it all work again.
I usually take 2 bottles of primo single malt from the US to NZ and then to the ice. I’ve never tried the three bottle limit, but paying duty on one bottle is not too much if the Scotch is great!
The New Zealand Customs allowances specify:
A traveller may import the following quantities of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages free of Customs charges, if:* (i) The goods accompany them through the Customs arrival process; and
* (ii) The goods are not being carried on behalf of any other person or persons; and
* (iii) The goods are not intended for sale or exchange.Cigarettes, cigars, tobacco
* 200 cigarettes, or
* 250 grams of tobacco, or
* 50 cigars, or
* A mixture of all three weighing not more than 250 grams.Alcoholic beverages
* Up to six bottles (4.5 litres) of wine, port or sherry
* Up to twelve cans (4.5 litres) of beer
* Three bottles (or other containers) each containing not more than 1125ml of spirits, liqueur, or other spirituous beverages.Quantities imported in excess of the allowances, or that are housed in containers greater than the maximum stipulated bottle size, are liable for Customs charges.
More information is available on the New Zealand Customs site at http://www.customs.govt.nz
So it looks like 3 bottles of a wee bit over 1 litre each is OK to bring from the US…….
David
Got my flight itinary Friday and will be going through Aukland. Travel should be sending you yours and they will explain the weight limits and everything.
Mike, Don’t let Rocky scare you. She is a delight and most of us find ourselves enlightened in her presence.
On that note. She is probably dead on as always. Since we have been getting more C-17 flights, the amount of cargo space allotted has jumped a lot over the last ten years or so and mail has been moving faster in the last 5 years or so. My perpective covers a longer period. You will most likely get packages in a timely fashion.
Mail does not take priority over anything though, and years where the science groups bring down lots of equipment, or there are tons of heavy emergency parts needed for construction jobs that have ground to a halt waiting on supplies, the mail gets the short end of the stick. It is a harsh continent after all. This ends up being an unknown to us at the start of the season. Just be aware that it’s possible, but not likely for the mail to be bumped. If there is something you absolutly feel you have to have (IE your lucky Baltimore Colts stocking cap with the hole in it), best bring it with you. If there is something you want but don’t really need (IE your Baltimore Ravens newer stocking cap with no holes) then mail it. You can get by with very little if needed.
Also, on your way to the ice, you generally get an almost full day in Christchurch. You have a few hours required to get your ECW gear, but the rest of the day is yours and it’s just plain old fun to join up with your new friends and wander around town looking for goodies to make your life on ice fun. Again, if you travel light to NZ, you have a lot of extra weight to bring down the goodies from Cheech. In addition to Scotch, Cheese is really nice. Also fun munchies. A nice little wine get together with friends needs more than wine. Also, think of having an every sunday morning coffee get together with your friends and things that would go well with coffee. Some things you can get on the ice, but the stuff from NZ is by nature British and a little different from what you would by in a Safeway back home and a lot of fun. I like doing Timtam slams, but you have to have Timtams to do it. Get the picture.
Ok Rocky, I admit it. You try hard to be mean, annoying and scary as hell. It’s just that it doesn’t always work that well. Too many people like you. Good try though.
[],
You’ve made me shake ever since I first met you! Fright, maybe…maybe just my fear of vacuums……
I have memories of us at Bailies in CHC that scared the hell out of me. I even found some photos of us being scared at Bailies! Or was it just the fear of running out of beer?
I don’t know how to handle this season if you are going to be your “normal” self….I’ll try to be brave….I’m working on the vacuum thing…..you already know about my beer thing.
David
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