I checked out of the hotel precisely at 10am. Now i had not many places to go carrying all my bags. So I decided to try my luck with an early check in at the airport. It's just a short hop by cab there. 1030 or earlier i'm there. They operate in similar fashion to SIA in T2. Common rows for Qantas flight with some dedicated counters for specific flights. Their rows and aphbetically labeled unlike ours which are numbers. Mine was at Row D, counters 13-24. Not too hard to find. There was no line there so i asked one of the counter staff if my flight, QF5, had an early check in. Yes but only start at 12pm. They have comfy chairs around the counter areas, so i sat and read. A line, bank queue, was forming around 1130. Around 1215 i decided that this was my line as no one was being turned away and i knew that the flight is chockers. Actual check in transaction was smooth. Chattered with the CSA there, identified myself as a fellow CSA from singapore who handled Qantas. bitched about CM.
They have an outdoor Viewing area that sits about 3 stories up. there's a lift but it doesn't work. nearly had a heart attack climbing those stairs. took a few pics then needed to pee. So i went thru security first before finding a toilet. Security was tight. had to remove my boots as it was setting off the alarm, sigh. their dearture area was undergoing renovations so it looked a shamble. piping and heating tubes hanging from the ceiling, areas closed off. Not too many dining areas although i did find a spot so i could eat, read and people watch. Wasn't too chilly in there. regret not packing my jacket in the main bag.
After munching, i went to find the gate. not a long walk. actually, same gate as when i arrived. In SYD their arrivals and departures both operate on diff levels with arrivals on the lower floor. Cos of that, the upper floor, departures, is about eye level with a 747's cockpit. The gate pier had an area over looking the southern approach. took some pics of planes coming in and leaving. The departure call for BA16 was going out at this time. Mine wasn't not too far off. When the call finally came, it was a mad rush. Here in changi, we board pax by row numbers, there it's a free for all. like i said before MAD RUSH. The queue was long so i waited till it cleared. then i was one of the few into the plane. no biggie. Found my spot, found an even smaller spot for my bag so i had to squeeze it in. Then a ground staff came on board to clarify the ID of the couple next to me. what do you know, they had a slip thru. HAHAHA!
The flight itself was like any other flight. I just sat and watched movies. didn't sleep. had lamb for dinner and linguini for refreshments. then i realised that i would b able to see the sunset although i soon found out that we were flying into the sun, thus the only ones with the view were the pilots. damn! But i got to see the beautiful colours as it lit up the clouds. This lasted almost 90mins as we chased the sunset.
Landing into SIN was on time, supprisingly. 2204 as estimated and confirmed touchdown at 2204. in chox was 2209, not bad. In and out of the terminal by 2230 and home not too much later.
They have an outdoor Viewing area that sits about 3 stories up. there's a lift but it doesn't work. nearly had a heart attack climbing those stairs. took a few pics then needed to pee. So i went thru security first before finding a toilet. Security was tight. had to remove my boots as it was setting off the alarm, sigh. their dearture area was undergoing renovations so it looked a shamble. piping and heating tubes hanging from the ceiling, areas closed off. Not too many dining areas although i did find a spot so i could eat, read and people watch. Wasn't too chilly in there. regret not packing my jacket in the main bag.
After munching, i went to find the gate. not a long walk. actually, same gate as when i arrived. In SYD their arrivals and departures both operate on diff levels with arrivals on the lower floor. Cos of that, the upper floor, departures, is about eye level with a 747's cockpit. The gate pier had an area over looking the southern approach. took some pics of planes coming in and leaving. The departure call for BA16 was going out at this time. Mine wasn't not too far off. When the call finally came, it was a mad rush. Here in changi, we board pax by row numbers, there it's a free for all. like i said before MAD RUSH. The queue was long so i waited till it cleared. then i was one of the few into the plane. no biggie. Found my spot, found an even smaller spot for my bag so i had to squeeze it in. Then a ground staff came on board to clarify the ID of the couple next to me. what do you know, they had a slip thru. HAHAHA!
The flight itself was like any other flight. I just sat and watched movies. didn't sleep. had lamb for dinner and linguini for refreshments. then i realised that i would b able to see the sunset although i soon found out that we were flying into the sun, thus the only ones with the view were the pilots. damn! But i got to see the beautiful colours as it lit up the clouds. This lasted almost 90mins as we chased the sunset.
Landing into SIN was on time, supprisingly. 2204 as estimated and confirmed touchdown at 2204. in chox was 2209, not bad. In and out of the terminal by 2230 and home not too much later.
Well that's it for my sydney trip. now my next leave will be for F1.
(pictures of the trip will be published in the next couple of days)
(pictures of the trip will be published in the next couple of days)
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