Over the next 30 hours, we'll have a very long set of flights. The flights over the next few days will take us 2,100 miles to Chicago, 3,945 miles to Heathrow Airport and, finally, 5,631 miles to Johannesburg, South Africa. If all goes as planned, we'll be flying or either waiting to board or disembarking a flight.
We got up at 4am and entered our morning routine. Showers, a bit to eat and drink and then loaded the car with luggage. After double checking our last minute to-do lists before locking the doors, we departed for our 90 minute drive to San Francisco International Airport. Our drive was disrupted as I thought I'd left my malaria pills on the kitchen table. We turned around 30 minutes after leaving the house but, luckily, I took another look and found my med bag. We narrowly averted a drive back to the house. Nothing like a possible disaster before starting a trip.
With a strange journey start, our luck continued. Our departing SFO flight had mechanical problems with its water system. So we took off about two hours later without water in the bathroom or for the coffee percolators.
Although this flight schedule seems somewhat arduous, it is balanced by our business class tickets and access to the business airport lounges. For long international air travel, business class seating allows a better chance of getting a few hours of sleep. The seats are wider and leg room much more generous than what you find in coach seating these days. The food menu can sometimes provide some unexpected tasty alternatives - but generally the entree names are more exotic than the actual selections.
At left is where we are heading for our first stop, the City Lodge Hotel at the O.R.Tambo airport in Johannesburg.
We got up at 4am and entered our morning routine. Showers, a bit to eat and drink and then loaded the car with luggage. After double checking our last minute to-do lists before locking the doors, we departed for our 90 minute drive to San Francisco International Airport. Our drive was disrupted as I thought I'd left my malaria pills on the kitchen table. We turned around 30 minutes after leaving the house but, luckily, I took another look and found my med bag. We narrowly averted a drive back to the house. Nothing like a possible disaster before starting a trip.
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| American Business Lounge at SFO (c) 2014, R. Ono |
Arriving into Chicago, with still enough time for our next flight to London, we landed during a thunder and lightning storm. As departing flights were being canceled right and left, we were wondering if our later evening flight to the UK would be a problem.
Boarding for the UK flight was interesting. About half of the passengers were stopped from boarding due to lightning and heavy rains. We were in the first boarding group and the second group boarded about 90 minutes later. Reportedly, concern about lightning hits on the jetway and the heavy rains leaking into the plane where the jetway connected caused the boarding interruption. Due to continuing storms, we finally departed but over two hours late.
Boarding for the UK flight was interesting. About half of the passengers were stopped from boarding due to lightning and heavy rains. We were in the first boarding group and the second group boarded about 90 minutes later. Reportedly, concern about lightning hits on the jetway and the heavy rains leaking into the plane where the jetway connected caused the boarding interruption. Due to continuing storms, we finally departed but over two hours late.
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| Before the Deluge (c) 2014, R. Ono |
Although this flight schedule seems somewhat arduous, it is balanced by our business class tickets and access to the business airport lounges. For long international air travel, business class seating allows a better chance of getting a few hours of sleep. The seats are wider and leg room much more generous than what you find in coach seating these days. The food menu can sometimes provide some unexpected tasty alternatives - but generally the entree names are more exotic than the actual selections.
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| City Lodge Hotel, Johannesburg, SA |
At left is where we are heading for our first stop, the City Lodge Hotel at the O.R.Tambo airport in Johannesburg.
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