Wednesday, Aug 16 — In flight
I Uber to SFO, Terminal 1, for about sixty bones — a bit pricey thanks to rush hour — but it’s fine, as I have a Chase Ink bonus spend to meet. I check my bags, head to the Admiral’s Club, and soon board American Airlines flight AA 3028, in seat 1A.
At 11:30am, our Embraer E175LR (N504SY) takes off for Los Angeles. After a watermelon sparkling water, we land at LAX at 1:09pm and taxi out to a remote gate. With nearly ten hours to kill, I shuttle over to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge, grab lunch, then wander through the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which has improved a lot in recent years.
Eventually, I find my way to the Qantas First Class Lounge and somehow convince them to let me in. Time passes easily, and around 10:15pm, I board American Airlines flight AA 73, again in seat 1A. At 10:58pm, our Boeing 777-300ER (N720AN) takes off for Sydney, Australia. The thought of flying so far over open ocean is daunting, but I trust the crew and the plane. Here we go.
Thr, Aug 17 — International Date Line
I don’t really experience this day on Earth. 🤔 Around midnight, we cross the International Date Line, effectively skipping August 17 entirely. I may have had a few moments of it somewhere over the Pacific, but that’s about it.
Friday, Aug 18 — Sydney
After flying for just over fifteen hours, we land at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 7:05am. Later in the afternoon, I check into Wake Up! Sydney Central, on Pitt Street, where I’ll be staying for the next several days.
Saturday, Aug 19 — Sydney
I stay in Sydney.
Sunday, Aug 20 — Sydney
I stay in Sydney.
Monday, Aug 21 — Sydney
I stay in Sydney.
Tuesday, Aug 22 — Sydney
I stay in Sydney.
Wednesday, Aug 23 — Sydney
I stay in Sydney.
Thursday, Aug 24 — Flight
I check out of Wake Up! Sydney Central and head to the airport. I board Qantas flight QF 23, in seat 26K. At 9:50am, our Airbus A330-300 (VH-QPB) takes off for Bangkok, Thailand. After flying for 9 hours and 50 minutes, we land at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 4:40pm, Bangkok, Thailand.