After a pleasant "Welcome Back" from my new friends at Avis Car Rental, Newark Liberty Airport, I took the escalator up to the Airtrain platform and within a couple of minutes the train pulled in. I walked along the platform looking for an empty compartment, but had to settle for one with two ladies. A couple of uniformed customs officers stepped in after me.
As the train moved off one of the ladies asked if I was from Newark. She wanted to know the name of the bridge we could see from the train, so I told her I didn't know, but one of these fine officers probably would. Almost in unison the two officers informed us all that it was the Casciano Bridge which carries the New Jersey Turnpike. The two very obliging officers continued to be our tour guides as the train rounded the curving outer side of the airport building, affording panoramic views across to New York City
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| The Airtrain makes its way around the airport buildings, approaching Terminal A |
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| From the other side of the train we could see the Vincent R Casciano Memorial Bridge, AKA Newark Bay Bridge, and the new One World Trade Centre towering above everything, about 8.5 miles away. |
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| The familiar form of the Empire State Building, still standing proud |
It was a pleasant ride around the airport to Terminal C, where I had to find my way to check in. It was easy enough to find, and seemed to be all self-check-in terminals. I hadn't done one of these before, so I followed the on screen instructions carefully. When I entered my flight confirmation number the screen told me it couldn't process my ticket, and I would need a staff member to assist. As I turned around to see where I could find a staff member, a lady in uniform appeared out of nowhere to assist. How did that work? I'd seen this lady talking to people as I walked up to the screen, so I figured some light lit up somewhere that told her help was required. Anyway I think it was because this was a domestic flight to Los Angeles, but I was booked through to Australia, so she probably had to check my passport, which she did. It was all very smooth, but I was glad to get out of that area as it was pretty crowded and noisy.
Upstairs I found myself in the security line once again, and after the usual routine of loading everything onto the conveyor and passing through metal detectors and X-rays, I was in the Sterile Zone. I realised I hadn't eaten anything all day, and no wonder I was hungry! There were lots of food outlets in the departure area, and McDonalds seemed to have the shortest queue - yep, another quarter pounder. Lucky you do a lot of walking in airports. Gate 86 was about as far as I could have gone from the McDonalds, so I'd probably burned of most that quarter pounder before I started eating it. Gate 86 was positioned at the end of a long arm of gates, with good windows overlooking the airfield through quite a wide angle. As an added bonus, it was facing New York City.
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| No shortage of United Airlines aircraft here at Newark Liberty International Airport. N77431, a Boeing 737-924ER/W passes me by on its way in from Hollywood International, Florida, heading for gate 83. |
A small crowd was starting to accumulate in the lounge at Gate 86, but nowhere near as many people as were waiting for my flight into Newark from Los Angeles a week earlier. Boarding started a little before 4:00pm and by 4:10 I was in my seat, 38F - starboard side, back row, window seat once again. This flight was in N27421, a Boeing 737-924ER built in 2008 and originally owned by Continental, coming under the United Airlines banner in October 2010.
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| N27421 preparing for the flight to LAX. |
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| Lots of empty seats on this flight - including the two next to me! |
This was the fourth of the six flights that made up this trip, and it was the first on which there were in-seat screens, so I was a little bit excited. Once settled with my bags in the overhead locker, I put my headphones on and started to have a fiddle, exploring the channels and previews. Then came the big let-down when my screen announced that if I wanted to continue watching, I had to swipe my credit card. Well, I didn't want to pay for it so my screen became a functionless ornament other than for the pre-flight safety video.
At 4:25pm we pushed back from Gate 86 and made our way out to the runway for a 4:35 take off, and it was Goodbye to Newark and New York as we raced off in a southerly direction before turning right to head for LA
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| My last look at Newark as we turned towards LA, looking over the suburbs of Linden and Elizabeth, and across Newark Bay towards New York City |
As with the trip from LA to Newark, this return ride was a "no frills" flight, but there was food available for purchase on board. I had the Angus Cheeseburger again - pretty unimaginative I know, but funds were limited and they are tasty!
About an hour and a quarter out of Newark we flew along the southern edge of Lake Michigan, the third largest of the Great Lakes ( by surface area ) and the only one not shared with Canada.
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| Looking over New Buffalo and Harbert, Michigan and Lake Michigan from 36000 feet |
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| A little more visible is Trail Creek and Washington Park at Michigan City, Indiana |
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| Las Vegas Airport - only about 35 minutes to touch-down now |
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| Mount San Antonio stamps its authority on the San Gabriel Mountains, peaking at 10068 feet through the clouds. |
After flying over Las Vegas it was only about fifteen minutes till we turned over San Bernadino and headed in towards Los Angeles Airport, doing a little 180 degree zig and zag on the way in for some reason. A few minutes later, at 6:35pm, we touched down at LAX, about half an hour ahead of schedule, and made our way into Gate 62
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Prior to this trip it had been six years since my last batch of flights, and I think I'd forgotten how far you sometimes have to walk within an airport. My next flight was leaving from Terminal 7, a brisk 550 metres from Gate 62. Not much can be done about that, and at least it was an adjascent terminal, so it could have been much worse. A big plus was that to get from Terminal 6 to Terminal 7 I didn't have to leave the "Sterile Zone", so no further TSA screening had to be done.
With a little over three hours to kill before boarding the next flight I wandered around to see if I could find a smokers' area but to no avail. I had read somewhere that there was no smokers' area at LAX, and that appeared to be the case. There was time to go outside for a smoke, but I had enjoyed the fact that I'd come this far with only one security screen at Newark, and couldn't be bothered doing it again for the sake of a cigarette or two, so I stayed inside and perused the shops. I spent my last few American Dollars on some chips and chocolate to keep me company over the Pacific
After a delay of nearly half an hour we boarded the Boeing 747 that would take us to Sydney. The Flight Attendants were very cherpy as they ushered the passengers in, which created a very happy sort of atmosphere for the start of the long haul ahead. With a scheduled take off time of 10:10pm, we pushed back from Gate 77 at 10:39. The push back was slow, and the aircraft stopped and paused for a while before heading out to the runway. At 11:11pm we were airborne, an hour late, but the Captain informed us that we should still make Sydney pretty close to schedule.
My ride home was N175-UA, a 747-422 built in 1990 and delivered to United Airlines in August of that year, making it one of United's oldest active aircraft. Only two of United's twenty-four 747's are older, N174UA delivered in January 1990, and N171-UA delivered in June 1989, and I'm guessing all three of these aircraft will be heading for retirement pretty soon.
By the time I booked my tickets the only window seat left available in economy for this flight was 43K, starboard side, just aft of the wing. The presence of the wing in this seat restricts forward visibility somewhat, but this wasn't much of an issue, of course, as almost the entire length of this flight would be in darkness. Once again I had the row of three seats to myself, and the plane looked about half full. Dinner was served fairly soon after take off, and then I started to read a book my Aunty had given to me about her mother's life in France during World War 1 in the Women's Army, serving with the signallers.
I was able to get surprisingly comfortable and since the take off time of 11:11pm was 2:11am in the time zone I'd been in for the last week, it wasn't long before my reading put me to sleep. I slept sporadically as N175-UA raced across the Pacific Ocean, chasing the sun that had set a few hours ahead of us. I don't remember much of the flight, so I must have slept quite a bit, waking from time to time to check how long to go, then drifting into slumber again.
With the sun now chasing us from behind I could see the glimmer of dawn on the wing as we approached the coast of Australia, landing smoothly in Sydney at 6:18am, a few minutes before sunrise and only about half an hour late. Being at roughly midpoint of the aircraft and with not many pasengers, disembarking was quick and easy, and I thanked the Flight Attendants for their service on my way out. I thought that moving from this flight to the Melbourne flight would be quick and easy, as it had been coming the other way ten days ago. I followed the signs to UA839 Melbourne, and found myself having to go through security screening once again, which was disappointing. Once through security there was a little walk to Gate 55 where a group of about forty passengers gathered for the flight to Melbourne. As boarding time approached we were informed that there had been a change of plan, and we would now be leaving from Gate 27. This involved a long walk to the other end of the terminal, down an escalator to ground level, where we found a departure lounge with buses outside. Several announcements came over the PA to let us know about delays and that we should be boarding in about fifteen minutes, each announcement adding fifteen minutes to our departure time. Eventually we were all ushered on to one of the buses outside, which took us back to Gate 51 where we had originally landed, to board N175-UA again via a mobile stairway. I never found out why we had that run-around, but it did give me an opportunity for a couple of up-close-and-personal photos of N175-UA
My ride home was N175-UA, a 747-422 built in 1990 and delivered to United Airlines in August of that year, making it one of United's oldest active aircraft. Only two of United's twenty-four 747's are older, N174UA delivered in January 1990, and N171-UA delivered in June 1989, and I'm guessing all three of these aircraft will be heading for retirement pretty soon.
By the time I booked my tickets the only window seat left available in economy for this flight was 43K, starboard side, just aft of the wing. The presence of the wing in this seat restricts forward visibility somewhat, but this wasn't much of an issue, of course, as almost the entire length of this flight would be in darkness. Once again I had the row of three seats to myself, and the plane looked about half full. Dinner was served fairly soon after take off, and then I started to read a book my Aunty had given to me about her mother's life in France during World War 1 in the Women's Army, serving with the signallers.
I was able to get surprisingly comfortable and since the take off time of 11:11pm was 2:11am in the time zone I'd been in for the last week, it wasn't long before my reading put me to sleep. I slept sporadically as N175-UA raced across the Pacific Ocean, chasing the sun that had set a few hours ahead of us. I don't remember much of the flight, so I must have slept quite a bit, waking from time to time to check how long to go, then drifting into slumber again.
With the sun now chasing us from behind I could see the glimmer of dawn on the wing as we approached the coast of Australia, landing smoothly in Sydney at 6:18am, a few minutes before sunrise and only about half an hour late. Being at roughly midpoint of the aircraft and with not many pasengers, disembarking was quick and easy, and I thanked the Flight Attendants for their service on my way out. I thought that moving from this flight to the Melbourne flight would be quick and easy, as it had been coming the other way ten days ago. I followed the signs to UA839 Melbourne, and found myself having to go through security screening once again, which was disappointing. Once through security there was a little walk to Gate 55 where a group of about forty passengers gathered for the flight to Melbourne. As boarding time approached we were informed that there had been a change of plan, and we would now be leaving from Gate 27. This involved a long walk to the other end of the terminal, down an escalator to ground level, where we found a departure lounge with buses outside. Several announcements came over the PA to let us know about delays and that we should be boarding in about fifteen minutes, each announcement adding fifteen minutes to our departure time. Eventually we were all ushered on to one of the buses outside, which took us back to Gate 51 where we had originally landed, to board N175-UA again via a mobile stairway. I never found out why we had that run-around, but it did give me an opportunity for a couple of up-close-and-personal photos of N175-UA
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| Not sure why this happened, but it was a bit of fun........just like the old days! |
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| Taken from the top of the stairway |
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| I like this photo :) |
I stepped back on board N175-UA at 9:13, so our scheduled arrival in Melbourne of 9:45 clearly wasn't going to happen. It was a little bit frustrating, but when you've been travelling for 33 hours already, what's another hour after all? Although I was feeling a bit of travel fatigue, it was a beautiful morning, I was back in Australia, and only a short hop to go and I would be in Melbourne - so all in all I was feeling really good at that point. I made my way back to seat 43K where once again I had the whole row to myself, and made myself comfortable while the Flight Attendants busied themselves getting everyone organised. I had a great view of the wing, but not a lot else without twisting my head around
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| 9:22 am Sydney Time, nearly ready to push back. |
Having seen an Aircrash Investigation episode not long before I left Melbourne in which a plane failed to lift off because the flaps hadn't been extended, and subsequently crashed off the end of the runway (everyone survived, happily), I found myself inadvertantly checking that flaps were extended on every flight where I could see the wing. Not that I know what I might do if I didn't think they were, but it's comforting when you actually see them move out before the take off roll.
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| Yep - plenty of flaps by 9:35 as we taxied out to the runway. I didn't have to call the captain! |
With flaps extended and a light load our wheels were up at 9:48am, climbing to our cruise altitude of 36,000 feet in just twelve minutes at a speed of around 900 km/h on a 235 degree heading for Melbourne. The flight was smooth, uneventful, and happily short, touching down at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport at 10:47 and pulling up at the International Terminal a minute or so later.
Taking hand luggage only was a strategy I used in an attempt to optimise my through-time at airports and border crossings, through minimal delays at customs and by not having to wait for and find a suitcase which could be one among a thousand or so on a carousel. Arriving in Melbourne mid-plane meant I was off the aircraft pretty quickly, but still had quite a few people ahead of me at the immigration line. It moved along very quickly though, and in minutes I was making my way through the duty free shops, and while others turned off to collect their luggage, it looked like I was the first at the customs check. I deliberately hadn't bought anything organic - and because of the Liquids, Aerosols and Gas rules on hand luggage, I couldn't even bring back some maple syrup from Canada, which was most disappointing. Ridiculous new limits on bringing tobacco into Australia now only allow fifty cigarettes - I had two packets I'd bought at the Mohawk Reservation in Deseronto for a total of $7.00, more as a souvenir than as cigarettes, plus an open packet of Marlboro I had bought in Verona, New Jersey, from which I had only smoked two. That gave a total of 58 cigarettes in my possession - I could go to jail! Filling in my Incoming Passenger Card I was able to honestly answer 'No' to all the questions about bringing in unallowable items, except the one that asked if I had more than 50 cigarettes. I ticked 'Yes', but hand-wrote '58' next to the tick. When I reached the Customs point at Melbourne, just metres from exit door, the girl looked at my card and asked about the 58. I showed her the open pack in my pocket and told her I had two packets in my bag, and with a smile and a little chuckle she said "that's fine"
Clear of customs and all officialdom I was on the land side of Melbourne Airport, and really looking forward to a cigarette, which naturally requires an accompanying cup of coffee. So I went straight upstairs to McDonalds, bought a coffee, and headed out to the road where I could catch the shuttle bus out to the carpark and my awaiting Pajero. Thinking I would have to wait a while for the bus I was surprised to see one pull up before I had chance to light a smoke. So I figured I'd take this bus, and have my smoke when I got to my car. With my coffee in my right hand I lifted some lady's suitcases onto the bus for her with my left, as she was struggling, and the driver told me I couldn't take my coffee on the bus. So I decided to wait for the next bus, and enjoy my well deserved coffee and cigarette. It was 11:20, just 33 minutes from touch-down, including getting my coffee from McDonalds!
Half an hour later I was in my car cruising down the Tullamarine Freeway, heading for home, a little over an hour away. Apart from the slow immigration process entering the USA at Los Angeles, and the delay in Sydney before the Melbourne flight, this whole trip, flights, drive, accomodation, finding my Great Grandparents address in Newark - the whole thing had gone like clockwork. And how did I find United Airlines? I'd say if you've got too much money and expect the best of everything everywhere you go, you'll probably be disappointed. So choose another airline, pay more, be pampered and made to feel as important as you think you are. But if you're a working person like me with limited funds, easily pleased with all things fair and reasonable, then United Airlines is pretty hard to beat! I'm looking forward to my next trip with them, which will be even better now that I've got to know them.
Taking hand luggage only was a strategy I used in an attempt to optimise my through-time at airports and border crossings, through minimal delays at customs and by not having to wait for and find a suitcase which could be one among a thousand or so on a carousel. Arriving in Melbourne mid-plane meant I was off the aircraft pretty quickly, but still had quite a few people ahead of me at the immigration line. It moved along very quickly though, and in minutes I was making my way through the duty free shops, and while others turned off to collect their luggage, it looked like I was the first at the customs check. I deliberately hadn't bought anything organic - and because of the Liquids, Aerosols and Gas rules on hand luggage, I couldn't even bring back some maple syrup from Canada, which was most disappointing. Ridiculous new limits on bringing tobacco into Australia now only allow fifty cigarettes - I had two packets I'd bought at the Mohawk Reservation in Deseronto for a total of $7.00, more as a souvenir than as cigarettes, plus an open packet of Marlboro I had bought in Verona, New Jersey, from which I had only smoked two. That gave a total of 58 cigarettes in my possession - I could go to jail! Filling in my Incoming Passenger Card I was able to honestly answer 'No' to all the questions about bringing in unallowable items, except the one that asked if I had more than 50 cigarettes. I ticked 'Yes', but hand-wrote '58' next to the tick. When I reached the Customs point at Melbourne, just metres from exit door, the girl looked at my card and asked about the 58. I showed her the open pack in my pocket and told her I had two packets in my bag, and with a smile and a little chuckle she said "that's fine"
Clear of customs and all officialdom I was on the land side of Melbourne Airport, and really looking forward to a cigarette, which naturally requires an accompanying cup of coffee. So I went straight upstairs to McDonalds, bought a coffee, and headed out to the road where I could catch the shuttle bus out to the carpark and my awaiting Pajero. Thinking I would have to wait a while for the bus I was surprised to see one pull up before I had chance to light a smoke. So I figured I'd take this bus, and have my smoke when I got to my car. With my coffee in my right hand I lifted some lady's suitcases onto the bus for her with my left, as she was struggling, and the driver told me I couldn't take my coffee on the bus. So I decided to wait for the next bus, and enjoy my well deserved coffee and cigarette. It was 11:20, just 33 minutes from touch-down, including getting my coffee from McDonalds!
Half an hour later I was in my car cruising down the Tullamarine Freeway, heading for home, a little over an hour away. Apart from the slow immigration process entering the USA at Los Angeles, and the delay in Sydney before the Melbourne flight, this whole trip, flights, drive, accomodation, finding my Great Grandparents address in Newark - the whole thing had gone like clockwork. And how did I find United Airlines? I'd say if you've got too much money and expect the best of everything everywhere you go, you'll probably be disappointed. So choose another airline, pay more, be pampered and made to feel as important as you think you are. But if you're a working person like me with limited funds, easily pleased with all things fair and reasonable, then United Airlines is pretty hard to beat! I'm looking forward to my next trip with them, which will be even better now that I've got to know them.
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