The Second Flight from H...

To get to Bangkok we were faced with a situation similar to what it took to get to Grootbos from Cairo… From Malamala we had four flight segments, including one of 10 hours.

That’s about where the similarities end, though. Instead of crossing an entire continent (Africa), we crossed an entire ocean (Indian). Instead of hustling through a large international airport to get to a connecting flight, we had leisurely layovers at each stop. The first two legs were not on air carrier-sized jets, but instead were in a single engine Cessna and a twin engine turboprop commuter.

The greatest dissimilarity, though, involved the 10 hour leg. We were on a Boeing 777 and from the instant we boarded, it was apparent that it was going to be a good flight. First of all, as we worked our way down the aisle, it appeared that to me that the seats were much farther apart than with our previous long haul carrier. Upon taking a seat, that appearance was confirmed. I can actually use the word “legroom” in the description because there was some.

The boys immediately noticed the individual video displays in the back of the seat in front of them. The displays were controlled by a removable, corded controller which was stored in the armrest. When you held the controller vertically, it looked and functioned like a TV remote. When you rotated it 90 degrees left, it looked and functioned like a video game controller… which it was. When the boys discovered that several of their favorite Nintendo titles were available, Lachlan proclaimed this the Flight from Heaven.

From the non-video gamer’s point of view, the other selections on the entertainment system were awesome as well. You could choose from twenty or so movies and television shows and they, as well as all the audio programs, were of the “on demand” type… you could start them when you wish and pause and resume them at will.

Keep in mind, I’m talking economy class here. This is the outfit that provided this stuff:



As far as I know, Singapore Airlines are solvent, even with this level of amenities in coach. If they can do it… how about the rest of the airlines? Maybe someone from any of the others (Lufthansa particularly comes to mind) will stumble across this and check them out. They all could learn something from Singapore.

There is one other thing that was virtually identical to the first FFH. Shortly before arriving at Changi Airport, we crossed the equator again.

Two to go.

Meanwhile, we spend the next 10 days or so in the hemisphere of summertime.