A Qantas 747. Photo / Winston Aldworth
Jill Stanford flies from Sydney to Johannesburg aboard Qantas QF63.
The plane: A Boeing 747.
Class: Economy.
The seat: I've taken off and landed nine times since leaving and returning home so seat numbers are a blur, but somewhere on the right of the plane in the aisle and middle seats. No one claimed the window seat so we joyously spread out.
Price: A return ticket from Auckland to Johannesburg cost me $1650.
Fellow passengers: The South African accents and Afrikaans taal were a giveaway. Mostly "new" Kiwis and Aussies off to visit family and friends, or family and friends returning home. I know almost everything about my neighbour so no need for small talk to fill the 30 minutes before take-off.
Flight time: The 14h, 5m flight took off and landed on time.
Airport experience: Sydney's a pleasant airport to spend a few hours in transit; good coffee and snacks, diverting shops to browse around and many views of the runways.
Australia is super-vigilant with security checks for liquids, aerosols and gels and sharp objects and at the boarding gates there is a secondary security check for these items — I'm not complaining.
Entertainment: An oldie (Nine to Five) and a goodie (The Shape of Water) chosen from a range of new releases, classics, TV box sets and documentaries.
I'm pleased Qantas has "proper" over-ear headphones because I find the earbuds handed out on some aircraft incredibly uncomfortable.
Service: Attentive from the get-go.
Food and drink: Water was handed out straight after take-off and there was no shortage of drinks rounds. As well as the imaginative and tasty mains, my "vegetarian meal (non-dairy) vegan" lunch and dinner goodie bags included quinoa rolls, fresh fruit, dried fruit and desserts.
The toilets: Clean and tidy throughout the flight.
Luggage: Plenty of my 30kg allowance to spare to fill with shopping from South Africa's ritzy malls.
The bottom line: The quickest, most direct way, for that price, to get to South Africa.
When there's nothing as far as the eye can see, you may appreciate the company.