I was a bit afraid of taking that long over-water flight from Dubai to Perth. It’s 99% over water, at night, and if I am scared of something in the world than that would be it.
Not only with recent stories of planes disappearing and crashing over water… oh hell, yeah, exactly that!
I just don’t like to fly over water. And not at night. That endless blackness beneath scares me even more than the thought of being 11 km up in the sky depending on a highly inflammable liquid exploding in the right chambers (and only there) without setting the plane on fire.
Ok, I have to confess, I am somewhat scared of flying. Comes as a weird confession from someone who has now taken 41 flights around the globe.
I am fascinated by the mechanics and aerodynamics that make it all possible. But I tell you, I always sigh of relief when I see the Irish coast appears in the morning on any transatlantic flight back home to Europe. Airports nearby! We made it…!!! Then I can fall asleep…
Long story short, both flights were fine.
Johannesburg to Dubai was a day flight, and pretty smooth, not much rattling, and I watched two movies.
In Dubai, I had an extended stay due to a delay, and walked through the massive shopping mall with some added gates for flying… It’s pretty crazy.
Why such a massive airport only gives you 30 minutes of free wifi, when every coffee shop does it for free, is a bit of a mystery.
The flight to Perth was ok, too.
Some minor turbulence, which is normal as you cross the equator and fly through the Intertropical Convergence Zone, where the northeast and southeast trade winds come together. It’s bound to become shaky.
It was ok though and I slept, kind of, for some of the 10 hour flight. I made it!
Service was ok at best, but I wonder why Emirates has such an excellent reputation. From the interior to the food and other things, Swiss and Lufthansa are way better… Just saying.
It was cheap though, only 450 Euro for that one-way. But I arrived really tired…
Maybe I should have invested those 92000 miles for a one-way business ticket on South African. Their big A340 parked next to us at the gate when we arrived, and I could have done this whole trip in half the time…
