Am I sure I wanted to do all this in Y ?

[docjames]

Was what I was thinking as we waited at Brisbane Airport. And waited at LAX. And waited at JFK. And CUN. And CUN again. And DFW, SCL and EZE.

But that's cutting too far ahead. A little background is needed.


First decent leave mrsdoc and myself have been able to get at the same time for almost 4 years (and first time since we got maried). Six days in NZ 18 months ago doesnt count. It was to be a reward for quite a number of years of hard work for both of us. A post-exam reward. We also always talk about how we want to go to an event, so that had to be factored in. mrsdoc has been learning Spanish, so Spanish-speaking coutnries were also a must. And we're not good at the "sit on the beach and do nothing" type holiday, so it had to be somewhere interesting. Our honeymoon was in Mexico 4 years ago, and we thought about going back, but there's so much more of Central and South America to go to.


And then there was the "event" - Davis Cup Australia vs Chile - that sounds good. A nice week in Santiago, and a week before and after travelling through South America. Except for one snag - the tie wasnt being played in Santiago. It was in Antofagasta. Where's that (all the non-miners ask)? About 1400 miles north of Santiago, the driest place on earth, a post city the is the access point for the mining of Chile and Peru. Bummer. Oh well, that'll have to be included now.

But wait, we finish work Friday, and due to the miracle of the International date line, we can leave Australia Saturday morning, and arrive in NYC by Saturday night. And mrsdoc was desperate to go to NYC. Some might say it was to catch the US Open Final, but I knew better, it was really just for shopping. So we did both.

And since we're in the USA, and have to travel to Chile, where can we stop on the way? Mexico - well, as above, that's been a little done already, let's try somethig else? Cuba? Sure, pain to get to but interesting. Want to see it before Castro dies. So that gets the tick. But also means transit through Toronto or Cancun. Cancun seems more logical perhaps. OK, tick that (never thought i'd willing go there again, but oh well, it's a transit only).

Now, how to get to South America. AA/LAN/MX have flights, but all list only full fare. Wait, i've got FF points - how about CUN-DFW-SCL - and for two people, only 30000pts + $40 taxes each. Okay, that'll do. Bit of a backtrack, but saved thousands in full fare one way airfares (60000 pts saves over $5500). Bargain.

That leaves 4 days to use up post-tennis. Well, they say Buenos Aires is the "Paris" of the South. Rio is too much travel and flights dont work wirher. Plus, it's Portugese-speaking. And again, that warning bell in the back of my mind goes off as the shopping opportunities dawn on mrsdoc yet again. Oh well, another ouch to the Platinum Amex - it might need a bigger limit by the end of this trip!


So after much planning, we have:
BNE-LAX-JFK (QF)
JFK-CUN-HAV (MX/CU)
HAV-CUN (MX) (enforced overnight for connections / "safety margin" to reward flight)
CUN-DFW-SCL-AFO (LAN)
AFO-SCL-EZE (LAN)
EZE-SCL-AKL-BNE (LAN/QF)


All in Y.



What were we thinking?

[docjames]

Pre-Departure:

Ok, Cuban Visas obtained. Platinum CC didnt arrive in time for bookings so now tix are on the Gold card and we have to take out extra insurance. bugger. Ok ok, the dog - what are we doing with him? Off to the puppy hilton it is (he should get SC/points at that place by now!). Much last minute scrabbling. Work sorted. mrsdoc's work undergoing total resturcure so in crisis - bad luck, we're not cancelling this trip for anything. It'll all still be there when she gets back. As hopefully will be her job! Haircut, rent paid up, wait, there's a problem. CCs dont work in Cuba, USD charged a "change fee" of 15%. Must take Euros, in Cash. No idea how much. Order random amount from Travelex.

So just the usual pre-trip chaos. All sorted. Let's go.

[NYCguy]

BNE-LAX-JFK (QF)
JFK-CUN-HAV (MX/CU)
HAV-CUN (MX) (enforced overnight for connections / "safety margin" to reward flight)
CUN-DFW-SCL-AFO (LAN)
AFO-SCL-EZE (LAN)
EZE-SCL-AKL-BNE (LAN/QF)


All in Y.



What were we thinking?

I couldn't say. Whatever you were thinking, you clearly weren't in a good state of mind!

[docjames]

Pre-departure - Brisbane Airport (International) Saturday 6th September 2008


Taxi arrived within two minutes of call on a cool Saturday morning. So soon we werent actually ready. After rushing out the door, the usual "did we lock the gate, was the stove off" moment happened but too late now. What we dont know wont hurt.

We're now way early, but checkin at the QC line was quick and efficient, if a little brisk from the checkin agent. Bags only weigh 14.5kg and 16.5kg so mrsdoc happy she can now do lots of shopping. I'm sure the credit card can already feel the pain.

Down to security. It seems the published information about carryons is still misleading. As with habit, we place plastic container separate to bag. My one, mrsdoc two. My carryon gets scanned first and passes through no problems. mrsdoc's doenst go so well.

Angry (but also seeming frustrated) security dragon: "You can only have plastic bag for liquids".
mrsdoc "But contact lens solution is exempt"
ASL: "No, you cant"
mrsdoc: "doc, get yours out there was heaps of room"

Proceed to do so, ASL noticed 120gm tube of toothpaste "That's over 100ml, i'm confiscating it. You can keep the lens solution."

Now, really biting my tongue here, and determined not to let things start pear-shaped. Given a new copy of the information sheet "for next time" and sent on our way. Dont mention that according to the info sheet toothpaste can calculate at about 75% of weight so 120gm should be ok. Also dont mention that other security let me through with it already. Also dont see why you would confiscate that and not the 200ml contact lens solution bottle. Can buy more toothpaste, can stuff holiday with three hours of interrogation by security. Tongue remains well bitten.

Immigration cleared relatively quickly, although i hate the mini-queues at each counter. You should go straight to the open one, and queue from one point, else you get stuck behind some dingbat who cant fill in the card correctly whilst others as flying through. More on that later when we've had some others to compare to.

QC - in short, a bit of a zoo. Rubbish piled on just about every table and noisy nosiy noisy. And the food was pretty average. And about 80% of the people there seem to have burnt the toast. Repeatedly, judging by the pile left next to the toaster, and scattered around the lounge. Read the newspapers (last aussie news for a while - if you call the courier-mail a newspaper). Eat burnt toast (add me to the 80% - maybe they need new toaster!).

At last the flight is called - requested upgrade hasnt happened. Bummer. Not entirely surprising given showing J2 in the 24hrs prior to departure. Further "random" screening at gate - mrsdoc gets special attention. Relief to be on plane at last and about to start holiday. Except "one passenger has failed to board, we are trying to locate them in the terminal or remove their checked baggage". Great. At last 45 minutes late we finally push back from gate. They should have bumped this person from the flight. Our connection in LAX is only 2 hours so already things are even tighter. But we're off.

[docjames]

September 6 2008 QF 175
BNE-LAX
747-400
12hrs 15mins
Seats 65JK
Flight 97% full

Pleasantly surprised at legroom in the back of the bus. mrsdoc kept commenting how great the little "flight planner" that comes as the menu/info card and telling you when things are supposed to happen (meals/forms/duty free etc). Read inflight mag within about the first 15 minutes, so start playing with the individaul screen - seems even though it's September we've got August's IFE. Doesnt matter. Watch for a while, meal comes - standard QF Y class "curry" that's lacking in flavour. Two beers and sun setting so ready for a snooze. Not real easy in the middle seat (mrsdoc insists on window so she can sleep - despite the fact she can sleep anywhere, i get stuck in the middle!) but manage a few hours sleep.

Snack randomly through the "night" on the little snack bag - a great idea and something other long-haul airlines need to copy rapidly!

Wake up and we're being served breakfast - must have slept more than i thought. Hot breakfast quite tasty (must have been hungry).

We end up actually arriving in LAX on a cold foggy morning, but we've made up heaps of time and land about 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

Sorry no pics - mrsdoc insisting i save the camera card for "better stuff" later in the trip. Overall I have to say a few of things:

1. Long haul (>10hr) Economy is HEAPS better than last time I experienced it!

2. Should have insisted I sat by the window.

3. I takes forever to get off if you're in row 65!

Overall we commented to each other quite a few times that for a long haul down the back of the plane it was a very very "easy" flight. At this point, we're hoping for quite a few more liek this one.

[docjames]

Sat 6th September
7am
LAX

Ok, so we're dreading LAX. Last time we were here (4 years ago) it was a shambles. But immigration is quite efficient (after we filled the cards without any mistakes - this was emphasised about 10 times on the flight or "you'll get sent to the back of the queue and made to fill in another". Also a bit nervous as we have Cuba in our sights and know how sensitive the Americans are about that (you must not have it on your onward ticket - it must be booked seperately). So we're asked "how long are you in the US for" and we tell of our NY plans for the next three days. Fortunately no followup questions (where next) and we pass thouough.

Short wait for tha luggage and there'a a huge queue for customs. But there's renovations at TBIT (which seem to be the same renovations they were doing 4 years ago!) and mrsdoc notices that the carousels over the far side are less busy and there seems to be a customs exit there. So we leave the single queue that has three jumbo loads queueing, and backtrack across to the other. We're now 3rd in the queue (not 333rd) and straight through.

Baggage transfer - last time in TBIT there were literally thousands of bags dumped here (in an "open" area!) but this time again, third in the queue, bags received and we're off for the short walk to terminal 4.

Arrive T4 and through screening (note need to buy slip on shoes as laces are a PITA) and we're into the Admiral's lounge. QF rep at Admirals' kind-of helpful in that she moved us into 26AB - this proved to be somewhat of a mistake (should have stayed in 65!), but more on that later. The lounge is pretty average compared to QC - no magazines, nothing but pretzels and the stupid drink vouchers - very unimpressed. Thinking - is there another lounge for First class? Internet access handy. Lounge quite busy. Get told plane is now delayed due to late incoming aircraft (QF 107 from SYD). Dont ever actually get told how long the delay is. Given another drinks voucher when i go to enquire (still not given answer). Despite it being 730 in the morning manage to down 2 coronas before flight called. Leave lounge thinking overall lounge is big but gives impression of cost cutting and really not worth much at all.

[QF009]

Hey hey you're not the only one.
Nice start to the TR.

[serfty]

There's a Flagship Lounge at LAX T4 - it's on the west side of the upper level. (Other side from the A/C)

Note that since 1st October, all Qantas SYD and JFK flights as well as QF94 to MEL are departing TBIT with the remaining QF flights to AKL, BNE & MEL (QF26) now departing T4.

[Alanslegal]

Overall I have to say a few of things:

1. Long haul (>10hr) Economy is HEAPS better than last time I experienced it!

Nice TR so far, really good read.

Economy class isn't too bad if you don't expect everything, and the quality overall esp with QF has increased quite a fair bit IMO.

Anyway our last flight LAX-SYD in rows 70 of economy was really nice esp with those two seats on the sides. Plus when travelling partner developed a slight itch, one of the friendly cabin crew offered one of those Morrissey Pyjamas sets to change into - must've knicked from the front of the plane

[docjames]

QF 107
LAX-JFK
Seat 26AB
85% Full

We've moved into the front section (originally had 65 again) when no J upgrade available. Turns out this wasnt a favour - last row of the "little" Y cabin on a three class 747. And immediately we notice that there's not as much leg room as row 65! Bummer. But we get over that quickly as we're now excited to be soon in NYC.

Pushback but looooooong taxi and delay to takeoff.

Crew looking a bit blearly - wonder how many days off they had since LAX arrival? Announcement by the captain that due to the remnants of hurricane Hannah storms are expected in NYC and may be bumpy near arrival - no problem. We feel safe on Qantas (!).

Meal served and the first thing we notice :

/darryl eastlake on/ HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEE /DE off/ servings, double dessert. Biggest aircraft meals I've seen. Try to get an hour's rest, but end up watching the IFE (updated to September on this A/C - annoying as i wanted to see the last episode I was watching on the previous flight.) Mrsdoc crashes instantly after the meal. At this point the Captain announces again there are major delays. But we've got plenty of fuel before we have to divert. So that's good. What's not so good is the holding pattern - basically 75 minutes continually turning left. Enough to make mrsdoc almost airsick (and she's never sick!). I think a few on the a/c were looking green. But finally we're on land again (impressively smooth landing given we came in almost sideways!). And excited.

Baggage - all makes it. Phew. THe baggage collection area is clearly designed for AA aircraft and not 747s - it's way too small and pokey and not what you'd expect arriving in NYC (it's worse than the old Adelaide domestic terminal).

Taxi - also a circus - blowing about 30-40kts, partial undercover, freezing, everyone basically getting blown with water. And the queue - i think every cab must have been on Manhattan island - after the queue goes nowhere for 15 minutes and is still about 100 people long, a bus arrives and against our previous judgement, we take it. And it was the right decision - straight to Grand Central Station. And the Grand Hyatt NYC. Into foyer, easy checkin, get to room, collapse. Ring fatherdoc and motherdoc - off to dinner, in bed by midnight into what by this stage seems THE world's most comfortable bed. First time horizontal in 24 hours. Fantastic!