Greater Bendigo

A very wise man once told me that as you approach a holiday you know there are urgent and important things to be done, non-urgent and non-important tasks, and those in between. Invariably, he said, you will find yourself focussing on the non-urgent, non-important variety the closer to departure you find yourself. And so it is that with perhaps two hours to go before my ride to the airport is due to arrive, I find myself downloading series from Netflix in case I need them for the flight. Never mind that I haven’t yet picked up my regular medication from the chemist, nor got my head around just how my transfer from a domestic to international flight at Perth airport is going to happen; it’s clearly far more important that my iPad is full to bursting with hour upon hour of random entertainment.

Regardless of how unprepared I feel, I leave home for what is overwhelmingly the most picturesque and relaxing prelude to a flight I’ve had, via Mia Mia with a stop for lunch in Lancefield - thanks Barry!

Safely deposited at the airport, I head to the Qantas domestic check in desks. Yep, domestic, for my flight to Birmingham with Qatar Airways includes a domestic leg with Qantas. I realise there may be some people I’ve met since my last trip who don’t know how I go about this travel malarkey, so let me catch you up. Prior to the Festival of Alison extravaganza 10 years ago I was told about a lucrative way to minimise the outlay on seats at the pointy end of the plane, namely buying points from smaller airlines who are partnered with some of the big guys. It’s served me well on subsequent trips and I feel very lucky as a result. It’s also given me the chance to try out different airlines, and this time it was Qatar’s turn.

Anyway, back to that issue that should have been occupying my thoughts when I was downloading like mad at home - the transfer in Perth. I’d read that because the domestic and international terminals were separate it would be necessary to get a bus or taxi between them. I asked at check in if that was the case and was told no, that it was a short walk. Hmmm, best check that again on the flight. Definitely a shuttle bus situation, I was told. Ok, no big deal. The girl on the desk probably thought I was flying internationally with Qantas, where the international flights leave from very close to where their domestic flights arrive.

At least I now had my boarding passes for all three legs of my journey, right? As it turns out, right AND wrong. I lobbed up at the departure gate in Perth only to be told I needed a Qatar boarding pass. Logical when you think of it, but thinking hadn’t been my strong suit that day, and my mind was extra befuddled by having sat next to Mr Stinky Pants on the aforementioned flight to Perth. Hooley dooley, I fear his insides were churning. Every so often a waft of thick unpleasantness would assail my nostrils, and it was all I could do to refrain from shouting “it’s not me that’s letting Fluffy off the chain”!

So here we are, about to experience what is reputedly the best business class going about. Come along for the ride - it’s going to be fun!Okumaya devam et