Tuesday the 17th September arrived. yahh.
The thought of the flight was awesome!
We were flying Jetstar – a first as the Qantas flight was on a very old plane and hideously expensive. Jetstar had good reviews for this fight.
When we booked it was cheaper by a few hundred dollars to book the flight that routed us Sydney – Melbourne – Honolulu. So we booked that flight and booked a flight to Sydney on Qantas….to fly to Melbourne…..
And the cool thing was that it would only be a one hour flight. After all we left home at 6am and arrived in Honolulu at 7am the same day!
That’s a one hour flight isn’t it?
So we left home at 6am (well a bit before as Sue was keen to get their really early). We checked in at Canberra and they told us they would not through connect our luggage. Apparently if there are not a lot of people doing the connection they will not through connect the luggage. Damn- that would make the connection a bit tighter and eat into our time at the Qantas club.
Breakfast in Canberra club then a lovely flight to Sydney.
The Qantas Club has this fancy machine that makes pancakes…..so of course I had to have one!!!!!!!
We got the luggage and headed off to the next check in for Jetstar. But on arrival at the check in we were told that check in had been moved to the international terminal. And that we were late as it was international. We had to get into a taxi and race around there.
Just made the check in and rushed through customs etc. We ran to the departure gate as they were calling all of the late people. Not just us. Well we tried to run – more of a fast waddle with me and the knees. We got there to be told – Don’t rush….the plane is delayed! So we sat – sweaty and bothered and waited. And waited. Then they said it would be another hour so we decided to duck up to the Qantas Club. BUT they decided that there was something wrong with my membership!!!! It was Ok in Canberra but not now?
So I just rang up and renewed and will sort it out when I get home. We raced in and I really impressed Sue with the speed I skulled a glass of champagne. But then suddenly the messages on the PA – flight closing – so another sprint / waddle back to the lounge. We got there got on board and SAT, and SAT and SAT. At least it was in our business class seats – but unlike Qantas there was no Champagne forthcoming. This was a domestic leg not international – even though we had cleared customs and had signed out of the county.
We sat for nearly two hours! But then we took off. In Melbourne we went up to the Qantas Club and enjoyed it. It was great – even had a shower. Nothing eventful happened – well except or the TSA.
TSA is where you claim back GST on items purchased less than 30 days before your trip. Murphy’s Law got us again. As we were doing the claims a red flag flashed up. Big W was being investigated for suspect stuff. And as I had a claim from ‘Big W’ I was stuck for 25 minutes while various forms had to be completed, photo copies taken to return to me ( s they needed the originals ) etc. But we did get out of there eventually and enjoyed the Qantas Club!
We boarded the flight – had nice comfy seats – as they said about as good as Qantas Premium Economy, had a few drinks, food, watched a few movies and I dozed for a few minutes. Sue did get over head locker raged by someone…but she survived. 10 hours later we arrived in Honolulu. The actual flight with Jetstar was great. Just the before hand sucked!
As my passport was checked through immigration – the supervisor was called – and I sweated. No, it wasn’t picking up some other Raina Burke born on 9th Aug who had warrants out for them. It picked up me…..who arrived on one passport in 2010 but didn’t leave with that passport! And now had a different number!
Remember the “lost passport incident” of 2010? After I explained about the emergency passport, and they did lots of looking on other data bases, I was stamped and admitted. Almost funny!
27 degrees at 7am and very humid. But a few down pours cooled things off for a while.
Getting the hire car took ages as did driving around and around trying to find the hotel. But we did and it is lovely.
The Sheraton Princess Kauliuni. Obscured views of the ocean – over the top of the Royal Hawaiian so again lovely!
We went for a walk until our room was ready and discovered that Macy’s ( a great shop at the best of times) had a 25% off pre sale day special. So we bought stuff!
Then back to our room to move in and off to the pool with a cocktail for a swim.
