Where in the World Is Alan II

Where in the World Is Alan II

It’s 4.5 hours to touchdown in Sydney. We’re at 36,000 feet above the Pacific. Three of us appear to be awake in the 14-seat first class cabin, which is filled.

I took 1.5 hours to acclimate, read, and have a light dinner, then went to sleep. This is not something you can do yourself, other than put on the pajamas, socks, and slippers you’re provided. The flight attendant turns the seat into a flat bed, with a mattress, top sheet, and quilt. There is also a blanket, a large pillow, and a smaller pillow.

I slept for six hours, awoke with 6 hours left in the trip. A computer screen to my right keeps me apprised of the remaining time until landing. It also controls everything electronically, even my window shades. The seat can be adjusted 20 ways, but also has six “presets” so you don’t have to think about it (e.g., “dining,” “read in bed,” and so on). There is an American outlet that powers all my stuff. My semi-private cubicle is about 25 square feet. There’s a visitor’s seat in case I want to have dinner with someone!

The flight attendant brought some tea and I completed the first of the two book chapters I wanted to get to. That took about 90 minutes, including a couple of breaks.

We landed smack on time in Sydney, and in the A380 it’s like a New York high rise alighting. The huge thing is amazingly quiet. It weighs as much as a naval escort vessel and I’m shocked that runways can sustain it.

My express pass from Qantas took me through immigration faster than those with Australian passports, the bags were coming out by the time I reached the carousel, and customs then waived me through. The driver was in the right place with the right sign, and 30 minutes later I was in the Shangri-La in a temporary room, until my suite is ready. In another 30 minutes, I was in the spa having a massage, a great thing to do right after international travel.

I’m staring a Sydney Harbor. And I’m trying to remain awake and coherent through dinner so that I can have a normal sleep!

© Alan Weiss 2011. All rights reserved.