Day 45: Wed 23 Aug: Dubai to Singapore to Brisbane

Start time: 1:30am (Dubai)
Stop time: 12:30am (Brisbane)
Weather: fine and hot (35deg) in Dubai

Met up with Mick and Kate after walking off the plane and sadly said our goodbyes while walking to the transfer area. They had wisely decided to overnight in Dubai both ways to break up the long trip. 

Took ages to get from where we disembarked in Dubai to the Emirates Lounge near our departure gate C15 (a new lounge for us). Had time for a bite to eat and something to drink and then off to our gate. Wendy and Greg boarded through the First Class line due to Wendy's FF Gold status. We were all loaded and ready to fly but the airport was very busy so we had to wait in a queue for about 20 minutes. The plane was absolutely chock-a-block full and as it was a fairly old 777-300, it was very tight and uncomfortable, made worse by a rough ride especially closer to Singapore and the tall chap who overflowed into Greg's seating area. The aircon was set either too hot or it couldn't cope with a full plane. I believe that the problem with these smallish, fuel efficient planes everyone seems to be using these days is that they get tossed around in turbulence a lot more than the A380 or the B747. The Singapore stopover is not our preferred option as we usually fly directly to Sydney or Brisbane in an A380, but we couldn't get that this trip. Anyway, no point in worrying about it just got to sit back and try and relax. As promised, they made up the lost time in Dubai in the air. 

A quick walk to the Emirates Lounge, in Singapore, for a nice strong coffee and a platter of tropical fruit, and it was back on the same plane in the same seat for another seven hours or so. The difference this time was that the plane was half empty so we had two seats each. Made the whole trip so much nicer and not being squeezed in like sardines we were able to get a couple of hours sleep. And they obviously adjusted the aircon properly as it was nice and cool. Great flight all round and on time. 

On the ground in Brisbane, we breezed through immigration and customs and quickly had our luggage and bikes. The boxes had held up well, a couple of marks and Wendy's bike was sticking out a hole. Examined them later and confirmed that they had hadn't been damaged at all.



Emirates "S" Lounge, Dubai

Dubai to Singapore

Emirate Lounge Singapore

Singapore to Brisbane


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