Off we go...

Over the past couple of day six we've passed through four major international airports - Auckland, Bangkok, Vienna, Rome - and it's been fun, of a most unusual kind. We've learnt a lot about international air travel, some of it in funny ways, some in frustrating ways, and some of it the hard way. 

After breakfast in our hotel, we decided to wander over to the terminal about 9:00am to see if we could  check in early - flight left at 12:20pm - so we could get rid of our bags and have a look around the duty free shops. The first person we came across was a young guy who told us, rather tersely I thought, that we were in the wrong place and the flight didn't open until 10:20. So we ended up wandering up and down the concourse until the gate opened. 

 

Saw this guy using - or losing - his head at Auckland Airport.

We eventually made our way through check in, immigration and customs and then we faced the dreaded security checkpoint. As it happened we were  passed straight through and 'round the back of the woman with the drug detection wand. I think Denise thought she'd missed out on something as this was pretty much a first for her. So then we wandered the Duty Free shops for awhile and then settled down to wait for the boarding call.

Lessons learned in Auckland - 

1. Two hours before flight time is the earliest you can check in.

2. You can buy Duty Free on your way out and pick it up on your way back.

3. People in uniform who give you directions aren't always right.

While we were on the flight to Bangkok, I asked one of the crew if we had to clear customs when we landed or do we go straight to a transit lounge? The answer was, you can go straight to the lounge. As it turns out, this was the wrong question to ask. What I should have asked was; where do we go when we get off the plane? So, playing Lemmings, when we got off the plane we followed the signs and all the other people and ended up in a huge concourse that reminded me of New Guinea in the Seventies. Plenty of bare concrete walls, empty open spaces and people in uniform. After wandering 'round for a bit we found some teenager's mother - dressed in a security guard uniform - guarding an escalator. After checking our boarding passes she directed us up the escalator, where we were immediately confronted with a security checkpoint. This one had a machine that looked like the "Beam me up Scotty" machine from Star Trek. We had to walk into it and hold our hands above our heads while it scanned us from top to toe. We were then deposited into another concourse with more bare walls and empty open spaces - and a sign to the Thai Silk lounge - so that's us sorted 'till the next flight.

After a couple of boring hours of sitting around, we decided to wander off to the departure gate. We had about two hours before our next flight, so back to the concourse and follow the signs as best we can. A couple of wrong directions and a waste of half an hour and we find ourselves one floor up in a Shopper's Paradise. When we hit this floor there was a sign that showed our gate as being 700 metres straight ahead - so off we went - passing every major named brand shop on the way. After the 700 metres it was left turn and down to the gate. Another 100 metres and we find ourselves on a mezzanine landing overlooking twelve gates. If I've done my sums right, this means there are over 100 departure gates at this airport.

The top photo is a display you walk past in the shopping area of Bangkok Airport

The bottom photo is of the ceiling on the way to the Departure Gate at Bangkok Airport.

Lessons learned in Bangkok...

1. If you don't know your way around, find the departure gate first - then shop or drop.

2. Don't assume that the PA system can be heard from where you're sitting.

3. People in uniform who give you directions aren't always right.

The flight from Bangkok to Vienna was with Austrian Airlines. When we boarded one of the first people we saw was a chef. Apparently all their International flights have a chef on board. Anyway, he presented us with a very nice menu, which we made our selections from for the first meal of the flight - and then promptly fell asleep. A couple or so hours later we both wake up to be greeted with the news that we missed the meal. I bet he was pissed. 

The rest of the flight was all movies and catnaps - 'cept Denise's touch screen kept freezing - and then we arrived in Vienna. We decided this time, that the first thing we would do was to find the departure gate for the next flight and then check out the shops and the Lounge - but before that it was time for another game of Leemings. The idea of this game was to get past Passport Control without upsetting the nice policeman with the big gun on his hip - which we did. Then we found a twelve year old wearing a uniform and asked her where to next. After studying our boarding passes with a confused frown for a couple of hours she decided she didn't really know, but we should try turning left at the doorway beside the escalator. By the time we got to the doorway we'd decided that she didn't know what she was on about so down the escalator we went - straight to the Baggage Claim Carousels - WRONG!!! 

Do you know how many ways there are out of the Baggage Claim Area of an International Airport if you don't have an ID badge? The correct answer is one. 

Do you know where that exit leads to? The correct answer is the street.

Do you know what you have to do to get back into the terminal? The correct answer is; go through a security checkpoint.

Do you know what happens at security checkpoints? Check the photos...

So off we went, into the terminal that we'd just found our way out of. By this time we'd had enough so decided to find the Lounge and have a spell. So we found another twelve year old in uniform and asked her how to get to the lounge? Simple says she; just go back to the escalator and go up to the next floor and you'll see the signs for the Lounge. Signs like this one...

So we followed the sign - and a couple of suits that looked the part - and guess where we ended up?

This time they decided to do the job properly and carted my dodgy wife off for a more thorough inspection. Anyway, after she was let back into mainstream society, we found the lounge and settled down for another game of waiting.

So it turns out it takes you an hour and three-quarters to get from the Arrival Gate to the Transit Lounge at Vienna Airport.

Anyway, we spent the next couple of hours lazing in the lounge in the most uncomfortable chairs you can find (modern, weird shaped stuff) and then wandered off to catch the flight to Rome.

This is coming into Rome Airport - or is it Hawkes Bay Airport?

So now we're on the ground and heading for the terminal. See that thing that looks like a tree just above the centre of the patch of water - that's the terminal - surrounded by hectares and hectares of nothing.

We expected the full passport and customs routine in Rome 'cause apart for a passport check in Vienna we hadn't had any paperwork checks and no forms to fill out. So we played Leemings again as far as the baggage Claim (all good) and then started following people with luggage out through a set of doors - and - into Italy!!! 

We found our ride and after an interactive game of "The Fast and Furious - Italian Style" we arrived at our hotel where we checked in and then went nite nite. 

Nite Nite!