Had a late night flight to the US for once, which is quite different, so basically we mooched around all day at home waiting. As we had lots of time, we took public transport out to the airport starting with a couple of buses to the train and the train down to South Bank where we had time for dinner at a café in the old Expo grounds. Hard to imagine that it’s actually 35 years since we were first there for Expo 88.
Being a flight to the US, there are always more levels of security and testing than elsewhere, and you can’t just check in online. So after going through the check in process, having to dig up our ESTAs for one of the staff, doing security screening and bag drop, the formal screening, then immigration, and finally being pulled aside at the gate for a further drug test, we managed to board OK.
A Qantas flight with an Airbus A330. Not the newest of planes with old style entertainment, but very comfy with good seats and lovely meals.
Not sure I got to sleep much but I must’ve dozed off a few times.
Arrived in Los Angeles as the sun was setting for the second time today. Long queues at immigration for us ‘aliens’ but you expect that. Picked up our bags, wandered next door to the American Airlines terminal which was pretty empty, checked in, went through another round of security, and settled in to some seats near Dunkin Donuts (alright – I might have sampled), and waited for our next flight to Miami.
Always gets to me, to think that I can fly half way around the world, and arrive before I left.
Dunkin Donuts