Unlocking a Boyhood Aviation Dream!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ต.ค. 2024
- Flying a Qantas Dreamliner from London Heathrow to Perth International Airport non-stop. See the Business Class Experience onboard this Qantas 787 from England to Australia on a 17 hour flight right across the world. Being able to do this really was a boyhood dream of mine that has finally come true!
More about me and my adventures: stef747.com
Behind the scenes, photos, and more video content: / stef747
Music by Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicso...
VERY IMPORTANT: I am a private pilot and am NOT qualified to give flying instruction. This video, like all videos on this channel, has been significantly edited from the original source footage and is provided for entertainment purposes only. Many radio calls and procedures have been omitted. If you have any questions about anything you see or hear, please speak to a Certified Flying Instructor first.
I really wish we still had those "Golden years of aviation" with chillout lounges. 17hrs in a chair is a bloody long time no matter how much you love flying. Great to see you in Perth!
Hi Stefan, yes - these direct flights are designed for flight geeks like you and I, so some years ago my spouse and I flew direct from Melbourne to LHR via Perth and upon completing our Euro vacation, return to Melbourne taking the same Qantas flight back. Comment from my spouse who is not a keen flyer:" loved it!"; Me:" let's do it again!"
For all the whingeing everyone does about Qantas, I still love flying with them. They'll look after everyone, even us steerage, oops, economy passengers, haha! Will never forget the 1 flight I had to Hong Kong when I lived in China a decade ago, flight from Brisbane was delayed which meant I would potentially miss the last bus for the day back over to the mainland (I lived-in Guangzhou at the time). Remember asking an FA when we'd be landing as I was trying to catch the bus. I didn't know this, but I raced off the flight on landing straight to baggage (I know every corner of HK airport so easy to navigate!) & ran into the crew again there who said they'd actually called through to the airport while still in the air to see if they could possibly hold the bus for me! I was so incredibly touched!
5:23 incredible, look at how many stops we had back in the day. I agree with you I'm blown away by the fact we can go direct to so many destinations. I'm from Bangladesh and I remember we had multiple stops back in the day but we can fly direct now on the Dreamliner to Sylhet from London or Manchester, it's incredible. 10 or 11 hours non-stop. I will admit though, I don't mind flying with a stop on Emirates or Qatar, the airports are decent in Doha and Dubai, you get to stretch your legs, walk around in a place that looks like a mall before heading on to your destination, it adds a bit to your holiday.
Hello from Perth! These non-stop flights to Europe are very popular here. Especially the London route; a lot of the big mining companies here have UK offices so that flight is often full of mining execs. The Rome flight has been very popular for holiday makers, and I'm not sure if the Paris flight has started yet. I imagine next cab-off-the-rank will be a flight to Frankfurt or Schipol. Maybe Istanbul too - hopefully Turkish Airways starts flying to Perth soon too.
Hey Stefan, great video. Even in economy that flight is fantastic for us who live in Perth. They have a snacks cabinet at the rear that you can help your self too through the flight. If only i could over ride the automatic dimming windows!
Honestly so happy to see you looking so well and living your life, Stef! Much love.
The passion in your voice is so unique and powerful! We can all tell you truly love aviation and we do too.
Stefan
Your attitude is absolutely infectious and the right one.
We take for granted these incredible machines that we all love, the make it seem effortless and we get to see incredible places and meet incredible people that we may not have come across without aircraft.
Wishing you excellent health and many more flights and trips ahead
Hey Stefan..when I worked with Qantas as a CSM, I would always look out for you. Now that I’m retired. I’m so happy you’re still as eager & happy flying..Mark
It is quite amazing those engines work so hard!
This one is definitely on my bucket list for the next few years - the one I’m really wanting is LHR to AKL - 22-23 hours airborne!
I was anticipating this video since I saw the UK series. Looks awesome, stay well Stef!
Great video Stefan. Wonderful to see how excited you were and Project Sunrise will be fantastic when the first non stop UK to SYD/MEL flight happens! Clear skies and tailwinds aloft!
Came back from Narita on Monday -- the Aspire lounge didn't Aspire my confidence... so went to Cathay (in the old Admiral's Lounge space) - incredible, and empty at 6pm on a Monday!
Thanks for the Heathrow liquids tip. I'll be flying through LHR in a couple of weeks. Cheers!
It's along time since I did the Caledonian 707 from Gatwick to Melbourne as a nine year old in late 1970. Stopping in KL and Karrachi. Mum had a perforated ear drum and was in pain. Been back once 1983. Still remember Tullamarine and a school bus trip to Geelong Norlane Enterprise Hostel in Australia summer. It was so hot. After a British winter. Yuk.
One of those trips where the flight itself is a highlight. I remember when you did Singapore to Newark and faded part way through. I didn't see that on this flight. Too excited, I guess. I'd be excited too. 😍
My longest flights are 14 hours between Vancouver and Auckland. I don't mind the 14 hours part (Premium Economy makes a difference - I wouldn't subject myself to Economy on such a long flight), but I *do* mind getting there at 5 in the morning.
As a huge aviation fan and having flown to Australia in the last couple years, congrats! So happy you could make the journey!
thanks for the very nice flight report!
Had a very similar experience in business class from Dallas to Melbourne, only slightly shorter but the experience was great, 100% worth it in my opinion :)
Nice report Stef. I travelled on this flight in economy and surprised how quick it went. Enjoyable experience by the QF crew as well.
So great to see you taking this flight Stef! Ive been so luck to dp this flight twice now and once in Business. Was utterly unbelieveble to me as someone just like yourself, obsessed with Australia as a kid, have migrated to Australia since, become an Australian and an absolute Av geek. So lovely to see you so excited for the flight as i have been. :-)
I agree on the shades up, every time I have flown over the Indian region at night you see the most spectacular lightening show.
As a stop over I rate Middle East over Perth.
Outstanding work mate!
Perhaps one day WA well secede from the federation and it will be more difficult! :D
Eh, idk if that's ever gonna happen.
Another great video 🙌🙌 and also love your passion and love for aviation!!
Your video makes me smile. Thank you !! ;)
Thanks for pointing out the window issue, consider yourself blessed as for 1 you are in Business class. They don't annoy people at the front with the window binds, I normally travel at the back. And ever since COVID lockdowns ended, almost on every single flight I am on board this is the drill, u take off, crew come after u force u to close the window binds or dim the window binds on the Dreamliner and lock the controls till before landing. My worst experience was on my flight to India last year I was forced to sit in utter darkness for 12 long hours after taking off at Sydney at 9 am when they forced me to close the window binds. Another notable example of this was on board Qatar Airways in Economy when I flew from Doha to Sydney they again forced me to close the window binds (when in Economy) it gave me a very bad jetlag which took 7 days to recover from. I wish we can call the airline and ask them, "hey my name is so and so, my booking reference is so and so, I was wondering what your policies are on window binds closure after take off? if possible can I pay extra to keep the window binds open during the flight?"
amazing you got to live your dream mate
I’ve sat in VH-ZND’s cockpit before!
That is a flight i would love to do as well. Also coming from the UK where i was born. Not sure if there is such a flight available to Auckland, New Zealand as yet. Even just flying from Heathrow to Perth non-stop would be amazing. Thanks for sharing the experience and this video.
I'm not sure I want to want to fly 17 to 21 hours non-stop. I've always enjoyed the layover or stopover in SIN, BKK, HKG or DXB. J class was looking good as usual - great to see you're up in the air, just not in the left seat
I'd love to do a flight like this the furthest I have flown is Melbourne to Hamilton island and Melbourne to Launceston. I loved it.
That's incredible and about time. I'm glad it was a good experience too. I don't know what it would be like in coach on such a long flight though.
And as an aside for me as a somebody with a trans history gives me an option for visiting Australia, without the worry of layovers in parts of the world that would at best have me immediately deported or thrown in prison just for existing.
Did this flight on the way from London to Cairns. Getting to Perth was OK on its own, but then to Brisbane and then Cairns made the whole trip too much for one go. Stopping at a mid point still feels like a better option for me. It would be perfect if you lived in Perth though :)
I think QF9 takes longer than QF10.
I travelled on QF9 last year. I was lucky enough to be able to do it in business class. When we were about 3.5 hours out of Heathrow, I just wanted out of the plane. I would have been happy if they'd just dropped me off and I'd walk to UK. 🙂 I know that the Project Sunrise aircraft will be configured for ULH flight, but I'm actually not keen to fly that long. Seeing as we'd flown from Brisbane to Perth first, before we then waited for QF9, there was no overall time saving anyway.
Although I'm sure you're already back in Melbourne hugging EYZ... and maybe your family haha welcome to Perth
Dear Stefan,
I have been on quite a few direct flights from London to Australia. A very long flight. From memory the flight would leave Heathrow around 11 PM.
I remember having a late drink in the airport lounge a couple of hours before the flight one evening when 3 very loud Aussies popped up and started drinking, and drinking, and getting louder.
I moved away to another part of the lounge.
When we were about to board the flight waiting in that seated area a Qantas official approached the group and told one (maybe two of them) that they could not board due to intoxication and being rowdy.
They suddenly went quiet and were apologetic trying to get the official to change their mind which didnt happen.
Speaking to a few people on the flight, there was relief that we could all get some sleep.
They were acting like football supporters at a game. I dont blame the person who made the decision, because a large proportion of the plane was filled with families and young children, as well as back-packers and business people.
As for me? I was returning from a conference that ended that evening and I was a bit rocky on my feet drinking those LARGE English pints of beer. Traveling alone I was quiet while waiting for my flight and only had one more drink. Some people are loud when drunk some are quiet, some are aggressive, some are funny, some cry, some are confused, some are horny, some are philosophical😁
Awesome
Awesome.
I work at Heathrow and I recognise the terminal and I’ve even been in the Qantas Lounge myself.
I want to go on this flight as well.
Qantas Have A380s that go trough Singapore to London
Brand ambassador Stefan.
Qantas Airways ❤❤❤
A surreal fight
Been a brit I'm not used to these long hauls but me and the other half flew Gatwick to Mauritius, 12 hour flight in economy and it was horrid. We've said any long haul again we would split it up, until we can afford business 😂
Welcome to the best state in Aus
In still waiting for the Sydney to London service. It was supposed to start a few years ago, but still isn't here.
I used to work an admin job incl looking after company pensioners. We were contacted by our Aussie office to see if we had any work related details from the 1960s for the eulogy of an old boy who had transferred there. His dusty old file included a request to the company for a loan to fly back to England to see his sick mother. The cost of the flight was equivalent to a good chunk of his annual salary, a few hundred pounds at the time. It was granted. It looks like I could do this flight for less than £1k even at relatively short notice?
Stefan, did you get a GPS signal on your aviation watch and if so did it work all the way to Perth? I sent back my Garmin watch as I could not get it to work in a pressurised aircraft.
Stef, are you staying in Perth long? I can fly you over city and Rottnest Island if you want.
Curious question Stefan, what does the D stand for before Drury?
Thanks
Nice, but I much prefer to do the stop overs. Usually Dubai & spend a night at a hotel to get a proper nights sleep. I can't afford business class BUT I can afford the $100AUD for the Holiday Inn Express in Dubai which has a free shuttle bus. I also like if I'm on the ground for less that 24 hours they keep my checked luggage & I just have to take my carry on bag to the hotel. Another bonus is I get 2 boarding passes in Sydney so on the second flight no check in either. Just turn up go through security & the eGate for immigration & straight to the gate for boarding.
Question - what happens to that plane now, is sent for inspection of any sort or is it back in sky in a short period of time? Be an interesting video.
Heathrow has QF self check-in kiosks but not MEL?!
Also an aviation geek an ex YMMB Pilot now living in Germany. With such a long flight, did you happen to find out what they do for the flight (pilots) crew?
4 pilots, run on shifts
flying 7h over water but i think the aircraft is no more than 2-3h from nearest land at all times? maybe.. and engines are very reliable nowadays..
Anti-noise headphones. What was the total flight time?
Given the condition of the world right now, will Project Sunrise actually come to fruition? If the Middle East becomes a warzone, there goes a safe travel corridor.
Sponsored by Qantas!
Much rather fly to from London to Australia via Singapore on with BA or Qantas because you get to stretch your legs (even if I fly Club Class).
how isit possible what magic fuel they using?
“Left turn, over the English Channel and then down to Perth” don’t know what all the fuss is about 😂
Bleh. Two hours and I want to get off and walk about a bit - and I fly for a living!
I do miss Rotto…..
flying east you gain some time
Now do it in economy! 😂
now do it in economy