It was always a treat for me to head to Australia on business. It’s been a sought-after destination due to its high quality of life, stunning natural beauty, vibrant cultural diversity and strong economy. This country consistently ranks highly in global surveys for happiness, safety and overall well being. Australians enjoy a high standard of living, characterized by a robust healthcare system, excellent education, and a strong social safety net. The country boasts relatively safe and well organized cities, clean environments and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. It’s also renowned for its diverse landscapes, from pristine beaches and rainforests to rugged mountains and vast deserts. Its outdoor lifestyle is a major draw as well, attracting people who enjoy surfing, hiking, swimming or other activities in the great outdoors. Australia is home to a vast array of unique flora and fauna as well, including Eucalyptus trees and iconic animals like kangaroos, koalas and platypuses. The country also has a rich indigenous culture, with Aboriginal art and traditions playing a vital role in its current cultural identity.
This particularly long trip “down under” took me to Brisbane, capital of the state of Queensland, and it began one early May afternoon at the Baltimore Washington Airport. Since I had booked the transpacific flight on Qantas Airways for an opportunity to fly their Boeing 747-400 up front, I elected to stay within the Oneworld Alliance and first flew American Airlines to California. Unfortunately, there were no direct flight available, so I had to make a connection in Dallas Fort Worth , the airline’s largest hub. My initial flight was on time and, with an hour and a half layover, I had an opportunity to visit the Admirals Club in Terminal B between Gates 3 and 4. This lounge was smaller than other DFW clubs, and while the food and drinks were similar, I found the service to be a bit friendlier. My connecting flight departed in the early evening and the carrier was flying an Airbus A321 on the route to Los Angeles that day with 16 seats in the First Class cabin. Dinner was served during the flight and we landed in California close to 8:00 PM. Luckily, the International Terminal B, also known as the Tom Bradley International Terminal, was linked to American’s Terminal 4 via an above-ground connector tunnel that had moving walkways and it only took me about 5 minutes to get from one to the other.
My Qantas flight didn’t depart until 10:30, giving me ample time to visit what was then the carrier’s First Class Lounge. It was located post security on level 5, but in the very middle of the terminal, so it didn’t offer any airport views unlike their clubs in Sydney or Melbourne. Some sections overlooked the check-in area and other locales faced towards an atrium, which I guessed would have let some welcome natural light in during the daytime. This stylish lounge was impressive nonetheless. It had an entryway showcasing Tuscan Carrara Marble that continued into the brightest sections of the club, with marble also forming the walkway from one side to the other. Offsetting this bold look were a sea of bright red chairs in the main relaxation area nearby. At first glance, those seats looked like those found in nearly every other airport lounge, but I later learned each was a designer piece by Florence Knoll that commanded a very hefty price tag. (I’m glad I didn’t spill anything!) The lounge featured a seasonal menu, with outstanding fare and premium wines, beers, spirits and champagnes. Soon after settling in and enjoying a drink with a small bite, I took advantage of a shower with my cross-country American flights behind me and before the late evening departure of my Qantas Sydney-bound flight. It did the trick as I then felt refreshed, restored and looking forward to the onward journey.
Boarding commenced about one hour before flight time. But, it was difficult to leave that lounge, so I very leisurely made my way to the departure gate to discover that premium passengers were given a separate jetway. Soon, the purser warmly welcomed me aboard and escorted me directly to the single window seat 2A in the second row on the port side of the aircraft. Qantas featured 14 seats in First Class on their 747s, four on either side with three rows of double seats in the middle. I always enjoyed flying up front on the “Queen of the Skies,” regardless of the airline. Facing towards the very front of the airplane and hearing the loud and distinctive sound of the nose wheel directly beneath the cabin as it retracted within the fuselage shortly after take off always brought a smile to my face. However, before that occurred, I was offered a glass of Taittinger's Comtes de Champagne and took a few minutes to sort through the items that were left on my seat. These included 100%-cotton Martin Grant airline-branded pajamas, along with matching slippers, noise-cancelling headphones and a well-stocked amenity kit with Lancôme products. Dinner menus were soon distributed along with a breakfast check-off menu, which we were asked to complete and return before departure.
Once airborne, the dinner service commenced in about a half hour. While dining in Qantas First is always “on demand” and passengers are not required to eat at set meal times, I thought it best to eat first and maximize sleep time, given the lateness of the hour. Cocktail orders were taken and two canapés were offered: a Duck Rillette with Beetroot Relish atop a Crostini and a single Caviar Blini with Crème Fraîche. They were both delicious. This was followed by a bowl of Moroccan Carrot Soup and a Seasonal Salad. I selected the Roasted Double Lamb Cutlets with Sugar Snap Peas. Lamb isn’t always an easy dish to cook properly in the air and I was a bit concerned that I had made a poor choice. My qualms proved to be unfounded as the entree arrived perfectly cooked in a wonderful herb crust. I paired it with a glass of Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon, which proved to be an excellent choice. A slice of Chocolate Mousse Cake with Praline Sauce was all I needed for dessert and by then, I was ready for slumber.
One of our friendly and personable flight attendants turned down my bed on request. The mattress cover, duvet, blanket and dual pillows transformed the seat into a comfortable and inviting 6-foot, 6-inch lie flat bed. I slept peacefully for nearly six hours as we winged our way across the Pacific towards Sydney. Afterwards, I explored the in-flight entertainment system and offerings onboard the 747. By today’s standards, it featured a rather small 10.4-inch touch screen. But, that system called Qantas Total Entertainment with AVOD (audio video on demand), offered hours of movies, television shows, documentaries, music, and radio channels, so I had no problem dividing my time between being glued to the screen or catching up on some work. Even after a great dinner, I found room to enjoy a mid-flight snack consisting of the famous Steak Sandwich with Tomato and Chili Relish, a signature dish on Qantas’ First Class menu. It’s been a menu staple for over 25 years and was created by Qantas culinary director Neil Perry. In fact, the airline once removed the sandwich from their menu and faced such strong customer backlash, it was quickly reinstated. The hours rolled by and, within an hour after the breakfast service had concluded, we landed at 9:15 in the morning at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport after flying over the ocean for some 15 hours and 30 minutes!
Situated on Botany Bay with three runways, Sydney’s one of the world’s longest continuously operated commercial airports and is the busiest in Australia. All international flights arrived at Terminal 1 and my Qantas connection to Brisbane was due to depart at the Noon hour from Terminal 3. After clearing Customs, I took advantage of the airline’s complimentary shuttle service between terminals and visited the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge prior to departure, which was accessed via an escalator by the left of the security checkpoint leading to Gates 4 and 5. The lounge seemed almost as busy as the terminal itself and, while the feel of the decor was bright and modern, it needed some dividing walls and plants in order to make it feel less like one large room. On the plus side, the floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the space in natural light and offered a close-up view of the planes on the tarmac. Fortunately, I found a spot right next to these “window walls” and checked my emails while waiting for my departure. The airline was flying a B737 that day with 12 seats in Business Class spread across three rows. Kudos to the cabin crew who managed to serve drinks and a hot meal within the allotted one and a half hour time frame, finishing well before we landed at the Brisbane International Airport on schedule.
I'll tell you all about my visit to Australia's second-largest city in a future post.
Until next time...safe travels.
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