Getting from Kansas City to Perth, Australia

by Janis on February 24, 2013

I’m setting out for Perth, Australia in order to meet up with Holland America Line’s Grand World Voyage. The ship departed Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on January 5th, and is sailing around the world on a 115-day journey.

I will join the ship in Fremantle — the port located near Perth — to surprise some client friends who have been aboard for the complete journey.

For 14 days, I hope to get a first-hand taste of this amazing adventure, but first I have to get to Perth, on the far western coast of Australia, 30 hours of air travel away from Kansas City.

I hope you will follow along on my adventure.

Kansas City received about a foot of snow the day before my departure, closing down the airport. Luckily, my American Eagle flight to Chicago was one of the few departing flights on Friday morning.

Once in Chicago, I transferred to the International Terminal (5) to get on my next flight. It is on Cathy Pacific, flying non-stop from Chicago to Hong Kong for nearly 16 hours.

Flying in coach, my knees are close to the seat in front of me, before it is reclined.

While I’m not looking forward to this flight, I’m happy to have an aisle seat, and to be on Cathy Pacific, one of the world’s highest-rated airlines. My iPad is packed with books, games and videos to keep me entertained.

While every seat is full, the plane features a complimentary entertainment system at each seat with more than 300 movies, shows and games. I watch three movies and two television shows during the flight.

After a beverage service that includes alcoholic beverages at no extra charge, we are served two complete meals. Snacks are available in between meals and the flight attendants frequently come through the cabin offering water. Most people sleep, which I find difficult in the tight quarters because I’m 6 feet, 1 inch tall.

I break up the flight by walking around the plane a few times, and standing occasionally in the center galley. The winds are good, so our flight is quicker than it’s scheduled time.

I arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday night, and find the huge and busy airport picture-worthy.

My departure gate to Perth is changed only about 40 minutes before my flight departure, but I find the correct gate. One last flight to go, this one

scheduled for 8 hours. Once again, the flight is faster than scheduled.

About 6:15 am on Sunday morning, I arrive in Perth.

After all of that flying, I’m delighted that my U.S. Global Entry credentials qualify me to use the Australia SmartGate system, allowing me to bypass the immigration line and to be at luggage claim within less than five minutes.

Once I collected my luggage, I headed outside, stopping to find my sunglasses before grabbing a taxi to the Parmelia Hilton hotel in downtown Perth.

I’m tired from 30 hours of air travel, but am thrilled to be in the warm sunshine of Western Australia.

How do you pass the time on long flights? Please share your thoughts in comments below.

Other posts on cruising you may want to check out:

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