I always knew today would be a long day, as the best flights I could get had me travelling from Melbourne to Sydney then a three hour stop over before a flight from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, so I was somewhat prepared
- I had packed my bag the night before
- I had spoken to reception to find out what to do as I was checking out earlier than they opened.
- I had worked out by tram and bus times.
I was fairly confident that, although it was going to be a long day, it would be a fairly stress-free one and that’s how it started out..
My alarm woke me at 5 o’clock. I had my shower. Dropped off my key. Got onto the tram just around the corner to Southern Cross station.Did not have to wait long for the SkyBus to take me to the airport. And being so early I had a good clear run through security and I was in the Virgin Lounge having a leisurely breakfast of scrambled eggs before my flight was due to take off at 10 o’clock
Sadly, I was unsuccessful in my bid for business class flights home, but I had bought an exit row seat for this flight and economy X for the next and it was an uneventful flight from Melbourne to Sydney
Arriving in Sydney, I did not need to collect my bags as they were being checked through to Sunshine Coast All I had to do was make my way to the Virgin Lounge for lunch and relax for the next three hours.
I had a lovely lunch consisting of a chicken wrap, then some spicy rice with sausage and a Morracan tagine. Some cake and crackers and cheese filled the time up nicely.
I also managed to get the previous day’s blog finished and posted. It was not wasted time 🙂
I made my way to the gate for my 2:20pm flight and we waited and we waited and we waited some more and then we waited even more. 🙁
Finally, we were told there was going to be a gate change and we weren’t going to be taking off until 4:40pm :
After we boarded, and the captain came over the loudspeaker and told us that the plane we were originally due to be flying on had come to Sydney from Ballina.
On arrival, the pilot that had flown her in had said to our pilot that the plane was a bit ” sketchy” 😱
Our pilot and copilot after checking out the said “sketchiness” of the plane, decided that they were not going to fly it all the way to the Sunshine Coast and they would have to find another plane.
Even though we were just over two hours late, it was an uneventful flight until it dawned on me that we were late! and my car was in the car park with an expected exit time of 6:30 PM looking at my clock as we came over Brisbane. It was already 6:05.
I googled to see what happened if I overstayed my car park time and it appeared that I would be charged an extra 24 hours at the full rate of $69. Ouch.
As we neared the Sunshine Coast, the pilot said that we should be landing sometime around 6:20 and I thought I might be really really lucky and perhaps be on time but I wasn’t holding out much hope. 🤞
We did in fact, touchdown at 6:18 and by the time the crew had done their paperwork and the doors opened. I was inside the terminal at 6:22.
I still did not hold out much hope that I would be able to get my suitcase and make it to the car in time for 6:30
But you wouldn’t believe it my bag was literally the first bag off the plane and onto the carousel. I grabbed my bag and just about ran (as much as I run 😃 ) to the car.
I threw my bag in the boot, jumped in the car and took off, probably quicker than I should have, put my card in the boom gate and, low and behold, it was 6:27.
The boom gate opened and I was good to go. I couldn’t have planned it any closer.
From the airport, I had a good run home. M had the kettle on for me when I arrived,
I unpacked my suitcase, threw a load of washing on, and that was it – my holiday was over.
