Pre-flight and Stage One September 24, 2007

Flights that require check in at 3 am are inhuman. Fortunately as a night shift worker I’m familiar with interrupted sleep patterns but it doesn’t mean I have to like it! Still, there is something about starting out on holiday in the wee hours of the morning that I’ve always loved. It’s like a signal that the holiday has started.

We had a special Perth send-off when the heavens opened and we were obliged to drive through torrential rain for much of the trip to the airport. As we aquaplaned around the roundabout at the entrance to the international terminal we wondered if we were actually going to make it or end up in a ditch at the side of the road. Thanks to Alex’s skill at the wheel we glided onto the correct stretch of road and completed our journey. So, a little damp from the parting deluge we trudged to the departure terminal and got ready to check in.

Empty airport, 15 minutes before the check in gates opened and the trip was about to begin in earnest. Checking our bags went smoothly and we were soon boarding the Emirates 777-200 for the first leg from Perth to Dubai. The plane wasn’t full but in their wisdom Emirates had seated a third person in the window seat. It was the most uncomfortable few hours I have ever spent in a plane. The seats are quite narrow and the three of us were crushed together like sardines. Fortunately the man spotted a spare seat on the other side of the plane and moved so we had a bit more room to spread out. Even so the leg room was limited, and we’re both shorties! We made it though without any real drama and only minor discomfort.

Arrived in Dubai to 40 degree heat. Normally that wouldn’t be noticeable but as we had been diverted to the cargo terminal due to reconstruction work we were unceremoniously disgorged onto the tarmac and the heat hit us like a slap in the face. We were then transferred by bus to the correct area of the terminal to catch our connecting flight.

We didn’t have any time to browse the duty free shops as it took us 3 laps of the terminal to find an ATM. Then we had to backtrack to find the jacket I had dropped which made another half a lap altogether, and finally we wanted to get something to eat and drink. By the time we had ordered and finished the pizza (Round Table Pizza at Dubai airport is highly recommended!) they were already calling our flight for boarding. It turned out that it was only the departure lounge that was opening but we didn’t know that at the time and we didn’t want to be late.