From Brisbane Beds to Big Apple Dreams

A ruff start at 3am

The day began in that surreal, foggy space where it’s so early it barely feels like today at all. Our alarm blared at 3am and while we shuffled out of bed, the dogs had other ideas, curled up and refusing to move. Hard to blame them. If someone woke me at that hour without bacon, I’d protest too.

A big thank you to Sophie, who is looking after our fur babies while we’re off gallivanting. Knowing Daisy and Annie are in safe hands made the early goodbye easier.

Calm lounge, hot drinks and a chance encounter

By 4am a taxi had whisked us through the still-snoozing streets of Brisbane. Check-in was smooth, bags tagged for Sydney and onward to the Big Apple. With the big jobs done, we settled into the lounge for a breather. Hot chocolate for me, coffee for Ros, and that quiet pre-trip hum of anticipation.

Then a surprise. A quick catch-up with Chucky, who was at the airport too. He’d flown in from Perth the night before and was heading to Roma. Short and sweet, the kind of timing that makes travel days feel special.

Sydney shuffle: queues and the first bag flag

The Brisbane to Sydney hop was short, smooth and uneventful, just how we like it. Sydney International brought longer queues, though not quite US-long. Plenty of people tried the old “my plane boards in five minutes” line. We had time up our sleeves, thankfully.

This is where my carry-on got flagged for the first time. Lenses and batteries tend to raise eyebrows. No rummaging, just a closer look on the scanner and I was waved through. Hopefully not a sign of things to come, although I have a feeling it might be.

Auckland interlude: lounge swap and déjà vu at security

Our Qantas 787 Dreamliner carried us across the ditch to Auckland without fuss. With the Qantas lounge closed for renovations, we headed to the Emirates lounge instead. Familiar look and feel, good food, comfortable chairs and a quiet corner to reset before the marathon ahead.

During international transfers in Auckland my bag was flagged again. Same story as Sydney, a second glance on the screen and back in my hands. Photographers, take note — carry-on bags full of batteries and lenses almost always get extra checks.

Dreamliner dramas on the long leg

Boarding for New York delivered the curveball. Ros’s original seat, 6F, was marked inoperable, so she was reassigned to 6K on the other side of the plane. We assumed that meant the seat would stay empty, but it was used by transiting staff who didn’t need powered functions.

After take-off I changed into pyjamas and then discovered my seat controls weren’t working either. The customer service manager stepped in and worked some magic. Two travellers who weren’t together agreed to swap, a staff member shifted, and suddenly we were side by side in row 3. Relief washed over us and there may have been a tear or two.

Finding the rhythm of the skies

From there the flight settled. Smooth air, plenty of food and drink, and enough movies and TV to fill several nights. I tried to get on to New York time, slept early, woke around 7am New York time, dozed again, then rode out the final hours with a few shows. Ros kept the entertainment rolling while I drifted in and out.

One thing I was glad for — my noise-cancelling headphones. They turned the hum of the cabin into a soft background thrum and made it easier to catch some rest. A small piece of kit that made a long haul feel more bearable.

We left Brisbane at 6:00am on 3 September and arrived in New York at 4:00pm on the same date. One calendar day on paper, just over 24 hours in real life. From Brisbane beds to Big Apple dreams.

Next up: our very first full day exploring New York City.