36 Hours In...

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Thursday night 11 p.m.



There is a mystery and grace to late night airplane travel. The tiredness of your body, compounded by the day long anticipation, excitement, and frustration, gone suddenly when the red, green, and blue lights of the runway begin to flicker past, and you have your last glimpse of San Francisco as the jumbo A 380 eases into its turn into the takeoff, the massive engines rumble and suddenly...the trip you've planned, dreamed about, obsessesed over is here.



We are fortunate to be on Singapore Air Flt #1- it's flagship flight into Singapore via Hong Kong. Yes it's a long haul - 15 hours with a nasty headwind into HK and then 4 more hours after that into SG. We're happily tucked into a nice little two seat section on the top deck - even economy on this airline has its perks - pillows, blankets, hot towels, a full menu for meals, drinks, seat back video with first run movies , a little bag with socks, toothbrush, etc. - remember when we thought this was normal for flying. (Yes, this is pathetic that I have descended to the level that I'm grateful for such ninny-headed pleasures.) This is the airline with private suites in First Class - yours for only $40K. So far the score is Singapore Air 1, any US airline 0.



Do you ever wonder about the stories about all the people who surround you on the plane? The young family across aisle - one year old in arms, plaintively singing that universal cry "Papa, Papa, Papa". The couple who boarded yelling to their friends already on board "Green Bay! Green Bay!!" The family of four, two twenty somethings and two tired looking parents, all consumed with their electronic leashes.



Friday, not a clue what time it is but the sun is not up yet, we'll maybe it's Saturday



Well, we always said a trip to Japan was on our bucket list....we just didn't expect it to be this trip. In the middle of the night that ominous voice came over the PA system saying there was a medical emergency on board and asking for any medical professionals on board. Apparently it was serious enough that we are diverting to Tokyo. You can't help but think about the fear, the panic, the pain the person must be feeling. You hope they are traveling with someone who loves them and is there for them. Frightening to be stricken out in the middle of the Pacific knowing you are hours from any aid.



Eerie to land at Haneda at 3 a.m. - the airport is almost silent, no planes on the runways. But not as eerie as the time we landed at Dakar, Senegl at 2 a.m. and armed soldiers boarded looking for bombs. About an hour and a half on the ground with the woman safely transferred to the hospital - had to wait for the brakes to cool down - and we're off again...with 110 mph winds on the way to HK.



Singapore Airlines handled this emergency beautifully, with heartfelt apologies for the delay given many times over - and truly meant - and a gift of chocolates on reboarding in HK and a request to complete a survey on how they handled the emergency. We both gave them perfect marks.

In this hyper-connected world it shouldn't surprise me to see a mention in the Singapore Airlines magazine of a NYC artist whose work is on display at the New Orleans Public Library - so a shout out to my friend Charles Brown, the director there...and follower of this blog!

Finally after a couple of hours in HK, and another 4 hours enroute to Singapore WE'RE HERE - 36 hours in transit. We are sitting on the balcony outside our room at Raffles in the midst of a wonderful rain storm, with the thunder rolling overhead and the rain pouring down in tropical sheets. Perfect ending to a very long day - with a Singapore Sling to celebrate our first day of the Ultimate Road Trip.

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Photos

On our way
Our first contact with the efficiency and friendliness of Singapore Airlines

A huge bird
The A380 is huge - largest commercial aircraft flying - passenger capacity of 481

Our hyper-connected world
Singapore to NYC to New Orleans

Raffles Hotel courtyard
You couldn't ask for a better welcome than a tropical thunderstorm

Comments

[Claire]

Glad to hear that Singapore Airlines is working hard at maintaining its stellar reputation. All those little extras mean a lot on those long-haul flights. It certainly puts our domestic airlines to shame. I hope you managed to pack some rain gear in those overstuffed suitcases!!