Son of BEHEMOTH

[simongr]

Journey – DRW-ADL-SYD
Flight no. – QF82
Class – Business
Seat – 4DF

It is hot and humid even at 4AM in DRW and finally we get to check in. As this is an internationally numbered flight we weren’t able to do OLCI. There is thankfully no queue for check in and we begin the process. I had pre-selected 3AB knowing that there were three seats in the middle section and mrssimongr wouldn’t want to sit next to a stranger and I wouldn’t want to be in the middle. This was done on two PNRs though as mine was my DONE4 and hers was the AAward. I was a little perturbed then when I was asked if they wanted to move us so that we could sit together???? For some reason I was still in 3B and mrssimongr was in 4F… We were offered 4DF which I wasn’t happy about as I did want to avoid the middle section.

Through security and for some reason my standard flight outfit sets off the WTMD and it is quite a palaver getting all my stuff back together – I wasn’t as prepared as normal.

Up to the departure lounge and the QP is not yet open. It finally opens but we have very little time there as we have to go through secondary screening for the international flight which itself is a nightmare. In the lounge I see if I can get moved up a couple of rows and get a window – at least from ADL to SYD but there is no help forthcoming as the flight is “full”

Two guys had examine every pax’s hand luggage – it is a painfully slow process only to be followed by the second transit lounge which is packed with transit pax and JQ pax – and then the flight is delayed by about 15 mins. Mrssimongr is actually feeling a little faint by the time that we finally we board and I see that the centre section of the airbus is in fact only two seats so one small crisis averted. Mrssimongr is blown away by the Skybed as she has never flown one before and now refuses to fly in any other seat again…

I skip breakfast knowing that I will be eating ADL-SYD and potentially in the ADL QP. It is a fairly short hop to ADL and we are soon on the ground and through security looking for the QP. It is a fruitless search as there is no lounge on the international side of the terminal at ADL

Thankfully boarding starts almost on time and we are back on board. I am little surprised that the “full” flight is only about 1/3 full in J so we could have moved and in fact one pax has moved up to row 1 from row 3. Breakfast is served and by the time they get to us they have run out of the hot breakfast – something I would have avoided if we had been in the seats I had requested. I was further perturbed as in row 2 there were Qantas staff family flying – so a paying pax missed out on a further forward seat and breakfast in favour of staff…

The remainder of the flight is fairly uneventful and finally we landing into SYD. Mrsismongr avoids the pain on descent again through the use of the “earplanes” and we are quickly through immigration with our D stickers, quickly through quarantine’ collected by my driver and for the final time I am on my way home properly!!

 

[simongr]

Epilogue

Wow – that was some trip. The report alone runs to 42 pages of A4 text in size 12 font. I don’t think I have written that much since University! This journey started with a lot of reflection on what it meant to travel and I guess now that the travel has been completed – does this mean that the journey is complete?

This has probably been one of the hardest trips I have made. Admittedly the 5 weeks away last July was a long time but it was just in two places and the work was so hard that I didn’t do much else. This trip was complicated, unstable and a little lonely as I did the whole trip by myself. It is not one that I would like to repeat really – I think I might have more flying on my next DONE4 as I might endeavour to really max out those miles and see if I can almost qualify for EXP on one trip But I will try and do that in about 16 days rather than 25.

So what lessons have I learned on this journey. The obvious one is that hand luggage only is not a method of travel it is more than even a lifestyle – it is a religion and I will praying in that Church as much as I possibly can. It gave me so much more freedom but at the same did make for some recurrent wardrobe choices

So what was it like to travel as an experienced traveller? Well to be honest based on the rookie mistakes that I made, the items I lost and found, the poor seat choices and a general lack of focus – what this trip has shown me is that my journeys in reality have only just begun. I may know the best F lounge in HKG airport but I doubt that Kiwiflyer, NM, serfty or Dave Noble are the last person called to the flight because they are sipping beer in the lounge…

Although this trip was hard and too long what it has done is give me a chance to make more of the journeys I will be taking. It gave me a kick up the backside to shake my arrogance and complacency. I did more for myself and more outside of my office and room service than I have done before – forced I guess because I was travelling by myself. More importantly it gave me the chance to travel with mrssimongr and not just to BNE again – but somewhere different where she was in a top of the range J seat.

Where to now then? Well next is a couple of simple CircleAsias in November and February and then potentially we may be seeing The Grand BEHEMOTH in March but between now and then I have to wait for my kitchen to be installed, have my first Christmas with my newish Australian Nephew, buy a car and grind mrssimongr down into accepting that we need a new TV

So for a short while, this Chocka Bloke Checking out

 

[littl_flier]

:thunderous applause: :cheers: :laughter: :tears: : overwhelming sadness:

Thanks Simongr for all the time and effort you put into the Trip Report. I really appreciate it, and 42 pages worth is an awefully long time to take out of your life to entertain us. You've kept me enthrawled this morning so thankyou for that.

Can't wait for the next one!!!

There is a last minute chance of meeting an AFFer at the QP but that is scuppered so I get on with a bit more work and wait for boarding which happens relatively soon and thankfully the gate is pretty close to the QP

Sorry for just missing you Simongr, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't convince the person I was giving the lift to that I should drop him off two hours early for his flight to MEL. Was thinking of a last minute dash for Randy's drinks tomorrow night to meet you and others but as I chewed my fingernails, the flights went up $60. Will have to catch up down the track.

Thanks again for an awesome Trip Report!

 

[futaris]

Great trip report. It was a great read from start to finish. Congratulations on the longest trip & corresponding trip report on AFF (I think).

 

[opusman]

Great report simongr, just as enjoyable to read as the original behemoth!

I'm interested to hear you were using an iPod Touch for wifi access as I've just bought one for the same purpose and will be trying it out in a couple of weeks. How do you rate it overall?

 

[Keith009]

Thanks simongr for a great read. I enjoyed every bit of it.

 

[sr81]

Bravo!! Makes me shiver with anticipation for my own DONE4 starting next Weds. :shock:

I will (now) always double check my bag for the laptop!

 

[Shano]

As usual simongr an exellent report.

Your reports highlight that there is much more to flying than the flights themselves - both good and bad.

 

[straitman]

simongr,

Thanks for a really great report and we all look forward to your next trip and the associated trip report. :mrgreen: :!:

 

[serfty]

(CC FT/AFF)

Simon, B & SOB have been both fascinating and illuminating, reflecting situations and circumstances that I have come across over the years.

It's been great to grasp the sense through your writings of your experience and knowledge broadening. This comes not only through your questions and information/advice thus gained via FT/AFF, but as your exposure to situations accumulated, your analysis of them and publication herein of these indicate as such.

I'm sure your TR's here should a great source of information for travellers for years to come.

... So what was it like to travel as an experienced traveller? ... I may know the best F lounge in HKG airport but I doubt that Kiwiflyer, NM, serfty or Dave Noble are the last person called to the flight because they are sipping beer in the lounge… ...

Not always, I have been guilty of that in years gone by. I do try to minimize my gate time, but also to be present when boarding commences. So it's a sort of balance between knowing when your inbound has arrived, how long does experience suggest before boarding commences and one's contemporary needs.

... So what lessons have I learned on this journey. The obvious one is that hand luggage only is not a method of travel it is more than even a lifestyle – it is a religion and I will praying in that Church as much as I possibly can. It gave me so much more freedom but at the same did make for some recurrent wardrobe choices ...

"Hand luggage only" is good if possible, it's not always, esp. on return from long trips. Nothing to pray for but good if you can do. As for "recurrent wardrobe choices", most business associates wouldn't raise an eyebrow knowing one is travelling (just avoid those Laksas and saucy Pasta dishes ).

As for trip reports, I have dabbled in them; I try to keep to standard, but I still have not got back from Dubai yet. One day I will!

 

[parsonstrish]

Simon, just to echo others appreciation of your fun and interesting trip report. To think I was staying at the Waldorf the time you were in the city. It would have been nice to meet and put face to your humour.

When in Macys I even checked out the Tumi as I know this brand from you.

I've stayed at Waldorf twice now using points. This time my room was almost identical to previous one, just a few floors down. The upgrade from complimentary breakie to full was $8 according to check in but $6 according to staff in Oscars.

Using points next wk. to stay at H. New York, doesn't look as tho. it will be great shakes according to your report. But seeing as I spend most of the time out walking, the room almost seems a waste, even tho. it is nice to be comfortable whilst sleeping.

Having been in Long Island since 7/10, I think I've just abt. walked most of downtown, midtown and uptown. Seen some interesting sights, lots of smells and overload of noise, all the excitement of N.Y.C.

If anyone is coming I would recommend 'Hairspray', very fun and lively. I enjoyed it more than 'Jersey Boys' altho. that was very good.

I started my travelling 4/9 in Y and have been waiting for the other shoe to fall type thing. All going smoothly. Still 5 AA flts. to go and this could change.

Thanks again Simon for all your effort, great fun.

 

[drron]

Congrats Simon.Dont know how you do it.From reports on FT the W-A is now being a lot friendlier to diamonds on awards and minisuites can be scored.still none with lounge access.MrsS should be pleased if you can score this though.
It seems a lot of us were in NYC in late september.I am fortunate enough to stay in the Hilton club in NYC for most of my stays.It is the 37th,38th floor of the Hilton NYC.The hilton itself is a zoo but it does have a pretty good position not too far from Central Park,Times Square and the 6th Ave shops.
I really pity you Simon with the lack of travel in the next few months!I thought I was doing well with a trip back to NYC in December,Circle asia in May and a Globalex in august.I dips me lid.