Trip Reports

Category Archives for Trip Reports.

Brand New Virgin Australia 737-800

“Bondi Beach” at Sydney Airport On May 9th, 2011 I turned up at my gate at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith to find the plane that was being for the 1hr 36min DJ 818 servic to Melbourne was one of Virgin Australia’s brand new 737s: VH-YFCcalled: “Bondi Beach”. The plane had landed in Australia four days before, the day that Virgin Blue became Virgin Australia. I was seated up front in Seat 1A which is  one of Virgin Australia’s brand new business class seats (Virgin Blue started as a one class airline). There are eight such seats on the plane -two…

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My 757th Flight on a United 757-mega fail

Thanks to Flight Memory.com and my friend Tony (see blog post), I know exactly how many fights, miles and hours have been spent in pressurised tubes of metal flying around the world. Even after many flying hours, and despite the determined efforts by some airlines to make travel as horrible as possible,  I am still wildly excited about plane travel. United flight 967 at gate in LAX Flight 737 on a Boeing 737 with Southwest was a fun experience. Flight 747 on a Qantas Boeing 747 was made very special by the delightful cabin crew.…

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My 737 Milestone- 200 flights

A Qantas 737-800 I have been flying too much! Another milestone with my 200th flight in a Boeing 737. I have flown 737s more than any other type of aeroplane. (767- 106 times, 747 – 93 times) From Iceland in the North to New Zealand in the South and East to Honolulu in the West, I have flown to or from 84 airports in 737s operated by 23 airlines. around the world, although over half of the flights were a single carrier Qantas (see airline list below) I think of the 737 as a reliable functional car…

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My 757th is coming quickly..my very next flight in fact

Just travelled on my 756th plane flight and I can reveal that the 757th flight of my life will be on a United Airlines Boeing 757 from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles Thursday 16th June, 2011. United has 135 of these planes- almost a third of its main line fleet. This follows my 737th on a Southwest 737 and my 747th on a Qantas 747. Who will my 767th be with?

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How I got hooked on Flightmemory.com

My friend Tony became very ill and was confined to home. Frustrated out of his mind, because he was unable to work, Tony rested and surfed the internet to satisfy his passion for all things “Boeing”. In fact his slogan was “if its not Boeing I ain’t going“. It was Tony who got me to Seattle when Boeing first unveiled the 787. It was Tony who got me onto Flight memory.com Four years ago, Tony rang me up: “got your frequent flyer statements?” “yes”. I said. “Good. Bring them round to my place” “> “Why”. “>”Don’t…

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No Baggage vindicated again

I flew two international sectors today from Brazil to Miami to Toronto My first flight left almost three hours late getting in 91 minutes before my second flight was due to leave. My long layover has vanished. Even though I was transiting from Brazil to Toronto, the US requires transit passengers to clear immigration and customs and then  come through security again.  I have blogged about not checking luggage in. Today’s experience vindicated my decision!Arrivals 1859h: Plane touches down at Miami International airport (right) 1907h:  Plane reaches gate- I am off quickly with no shoving 1911h:  Four minutes run/walk from gate to people mover to…

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I did it! My 747th flight- in a 747!

Leaving SYD airspace The flaps on the mighty beast were fully extended. Moving onto the runway, the familiar roar of the four 747 General Electric engines came to life. Rolling down the runway, we accelerated slowly, leisurely using a huge amount of runway, before climbing smoothly and steadily out of Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport. The climb was gentle and we turned almost casually over the farmlands north of the airport before executing a neat turn to head toward Sydney, the Australian coastline, the Pacific Ocean and Los angeles International airport (LAX) I say “familiar” because this was my 93rd take…

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