tip: If you want to get fed first always order a Veg/ Kosher/ Halal etc. meal when you fly.

On Sunday 20/05/07 I flew home to Melbourne with Qantas

Those of you who have been reading here for a few years will know of my addiction to aeroplane blankets (I'm actually draped in one as I type this- from the now defunct Ansett Airlines) I swiped two on the way to my seat, but Karma got me because one of them had a chewy stuck in the middle (I gave the other to my best friend Kat).

I love flying with Qantas, I rarely do anymore because we have so many cheaper airlines flying domestically now, none of them supply "complimentary" blankets though.

My Vegetarian chickpea curry with cous cous (YUM!!!!) arrived and the woman next to me (who obviously doesn't fly Qantas often either) freaked out:

"How come you're getting a meal? I didn't order one. I didn't know we got dinner on this flight. HOW COME YOU'RE GETTING A MEAL!?!"

I calmed her down and explained that she too would get fed in due course. . . Man did she scoff down her ravioli fast, she must have been hungry.

tip: If your flight starts off bumpy, don't look out the window. Those wings move a hell of a lot.

On Thursday 24/05/07 I flew back to Sydney with Virgin Blue.

I like flying with Virgin because you sometimes get to walk on the tarmac to get on board. I like to pretend I'm the Queen and wave to those below. It's not as funny when traveling alone, but I still do it for tradition.

My plane bounced during take-off. Yes my plane BOUNCED. I've never been in a plane that bounced before and I did not like it one bit. We also hit an air pocket about 30 meters up (that's not very high at all, believe you me) which added to the tight gripping of seats and swearing by all on board. The crew must have noticed the unease of all the passengers because they started talking to us during the ascent.

As far as I'm concerned there are two possibilities:

a) I experienced someone's first ever take-off. I'm sure his mother would be proud.

b) Virgin Blue are trialing a new revenue raising scheme, where they first freak out all of the passengers who then feel the need to distract themselves by swiping their credit cards for the pleasure of watching Pay T.V ($6, I certainly did) and secondly buy as much alcohol as they can consume during the journey (I had a small bottle of Sparkling wine and I never drink while flying)

tip: Never, ever go to the hairdressers when you are still fragile from a freaky flight. . .you may end up with a mullet (layers my ass).

LB

PS: Melbourne was great, I caught up with all of my family and my close friends. I worried that I wouldn't get to see one of my friends but in the end our schedules collided nicely for dinner in the pub next to my old University campus.

PPS: I spoke to a Captain from one of the crew that stay at my hotel. 'Planes are not supposed to bounce on take-off but an air pocket so close to the ground is normal.