25 June 2010
Melbourne to London on a 747
This was a great flight.
I have finally achieved sleep on a plane. And it was great because it didnt seem like I was on a plane for 24 hours at all, probably more like 6 or 7 hours is what it felt like.
Yet despite being chemically assisted I still woke up when needed for food and drink etc. and I felt absolutely fine during the stopover in Hong Kong.
I didnt watch anything at all on the entertainment system even. I think it helped that I had the absolute best seat in economy (yes economy!) as you can see below.
The most amazing thing was when we landed in Hong Kong, I had drifted back to sleep and was asleep when the plane hit the ground, I woke up thinking we had hit the worst turbulence ever, but no, we had landed.
Heres my seat, as you can see I have a bulk head behind me and in front of me. My seat still reclines as much as any other, I am on the end of the aisle. Across from me in the aisle is the crew rest area, which is curtained off, this makes my seat the darkest area on the plane.
The plane was oversold, not a single spare seat, hence no chance at all for an upgrade.
My feet cant touch the bulkhead in front of me, especially once the seat was reclined, noisy pictures because it really was dark here. I didnt take any pictures of my food on this leg (since I am sure everyones bored of them), but it was the usual chicken in soy sauce, rice, spinach, followed by the snack packs with kit kats and mentos, then only a continental breakfast shortly before arriving at Hong Kong.
This is a shower room in the first class lounge at Hong Kong, and this is the single best reason to maintain platinum frequent flyer status. Better than all the food and expensive spirits which I dont drink put together. You really do feel great after the shower.
The breakfast buffet in Hong Kong was great, as I was able to construct what I would eat at home, cereal with yoghurt and fruit.
I relented and took food pictures on the Hong Kong to London leg, heres the breakfast aftermath. Breakfast was scrambled eggs with spinach and baked beans, yoghurt, a scone thing and some pineapple. I sure did eat a lot didnt I?
And heres the last plane food picture until my return in 3 weeks, the menu said it was a lamb pot pie, in reality it was lamb stew with some pastry on top that had been reheated for hours. Still it wasnt too bad.