[Grahame Hutchison]

Business check-in had three lanes operating so things moved quite fast. The customs and security Express Lane probably saved 20+ minutes, as the customs queue was reasonable long.

A quick stop at the TRS office to collect back the GST on the iPhone5, only a short queue but each refund takes a little time.

Asiana shares the use of the Air New Zealand Lounge which has a great outlook to the south from Gate 59. This lounge has a comfortable/traditional style, and has everything you would expect service wise - WiFi and a good selection of food and beverages.





While having a little extra breakfast, I saw our Asiana A330 arrive on Runway 16R, so we are going to be a little late departing this morning.



Sydney this morning is overcast and 18 Deg C, QNH 1014, with no rain at present and just a little wind.

Boarding was 20min late, seat for this flight is 2K, and the aircraft operating the service today is A330 HL7794, a September 2010 delivery to Asiana.

1025 Pushback from Gate 54 and taxi via Golf and Alpha as Air Asia X touched down.

1042 Held at Alpha 1 for only 2minutes, then lined up after the ANZ B777. The Emirates A380 is still at Jet Base after its engine explosion earlier in the week.

1042 Rolling on Runway 16R with a 50 second take off roll, and the flight duration today will be 10hr 30min.

After takeoff we tracked east of Cronulla and out to sea off the Royal National Park, before coming back to the right and heading towards the Blue Mountains.

1055 Seatbelt sign off and free to use electronic equipment, so I snapped a shot of the airport on the iPad2.



The Asiana Business cabin is configured with 5 rows of 2x2x2, but only 18 passengers this morning. The last time I flew with Asiana was back in 2001, when this service was operated by Boeing 767s. By contrast the A330 looks new for a 2 year old aircraft, and the Business cabin is very clean and fresh, with the seat pairs well appointed.

This was our track climbing out of Sydney on my AirNav RadarBox 3D - you can see a Virgin B737 crossing our path and slightly above


The Asiana amenities pack is basic but useful - IFE screen is large.




1108 Ordered the Beef for mains with a Rully Chardonnay.

1123 Lunch served

Smoked Salmon and Asparagus with a tasty Salsa


Prosciutto, Pumkkin, Pine Nuts and Fetta


Mushroom Soup which was absolutely delicious


Beef with Red Wine Jus, Whole Baby Carrots and Potato


Cheese and Fruit Platter with a Nut Bread


Orange Cake and Coffee - Excellent


And last but not least, a Petite Pastry


The lunch service was excellent, with all cabin crew very polite and attentive to your needs. I was asked how I enjoyed the meal and if there was anything else I needed.

1137 34000ft 372 miles out with 787 miles down and 4789 miles to run OAT -61.7F

Our track today is directly between Dubbo and Grafton, just west of Cairns and Cooktown, overhead the tip of Cape York then just west of Daru in Papua New Guinea. Then direct to the Eauripik Trench and a change of heading 30deg to the left and tracking for the Yap Trench.

1221 36000ft at 498 mph tracking west of Rockhampton OAT -56F with 4453 miles to run.

1259 Lunch service finished and water bottle provided.

1305 36000ft at 504 mph with 47mph headwind 1173 miles down and 4071 miles to run OAT -52.6F tracking back along the coast south of Cairns.

1319 Now just west of Cairns. It’s a little hazy today, but on a clear day this is a great flight, as it tracks along the Great Barrier Reef, which looks just magnificent.

1448 38000ft 537mph -58F with 3216 miles to run.

Finished watching "People Like Us" and now overhead western Papua New Guinea. The Asiana IFE works well, the screens are large and in the back of the pod in front, although the mouse is a little sensitive. There is a good range of movies and other entertainment.

1615 Light snacks offered by the cabin crew.

1645 Also watched "To Rome With Love", Woody Allen at his best, or is it worst, I never know.

1655 38000ft 535mph -59.8F 3188 down and 2108 to run.

1838 For a little bit of action I watched "Haywire".

1840 38000ft at 507mph OAT -61.6F 4099 down and 1202 to run. Now tracking direct to Kumamoto in Japan and Incheon Seoul.