Uggg, I have been dreading this for a week or so now. As a budget traveller I am always scouting for the least expensive fare when I change destinations. With those prices, come uncomfortable and long flights, out of the way transits and sleeping in airports. Surviving a 40 hour travel day, Vietnam to Malta was just that, surviving.
Da Nang to Kuala Lumpur
My first of four legs, is from Da Nang to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. I will be flying with Batik Air on a 737-800. The flight is packed full, thankfully I have a window. The middle seat person is spread eagle into my leg space and also falling asleep and leaning into me and my seat space. This makes me extremely uncomfortable.
I’m provided with a meal that I don’t remember ordering, a chicken and rice dish that is not too bad. Leaving overcast and cloudy Da Nang is sad, but before I know it, the two hour flight is nearing its end and Malaysia here I come!
Right before landing the flight attendant passes by spraying up into the ceiling with what I have now learned is an insecticide. I have never experienced this before. If I was able to understand a word of the overhead announcement I would have been prepared and could have covered my face with a scarf.
Kuala Lumpur
My first time in this airport and I’m super impressed! Nice and spacious, clean and bright. I only have two hours here before I board my next flight, so I have a quick look around and grab a coffee and croissant.
Already time to board this time with Emirates on a Boeing 777-300. My last experience with Emirates was unpleasant, so I’m hopeful this one will be better. The seat is much more comfortable that the ones on the budget airlines I have been flying for the past few months.
I secure a window again, and am happy with that. The sun is setting as we make our way from the terminal.
KUL to DUB
The flight to Dubai is about seven hours. Its such a novelty to have a screen in the seat back in front of me, I end up watching three whole movies! I did not enjoy the beef for dinner, it was entirely inedible and I could not chew a single piece of meat.
After my third movie ends, I know we must be getting close to Dubai so I change the screen to watch the exterior cameras and flight path. The landing into Dubai is beautiful and in the dark. Its night time now and I have an eleven-hour layover here.
Dubai Airport
I’m not a huge fan of this massive airport, I search and search for seating. Most has unmovable armrests in-between each seat, so laying down is impossible. I do manage to find a fixed relined chair and use that for the next two hour to toss and turn while I try and sleep.
With my body now in pain, I get up and begin walking. I seek out some floor space, the hard tile will have to do as I try to sleep for another hour or so. That’s all I’m going to get I’m afraid. After some walking around in a daze, its almost 4am.
I had done research prior regarding the airport lounges here. I am a member of the Dragon Club and as such, I can gain entry into many lounges across the globe for a flat rate of $32US.
Ahlan Lounge
I have selected the Ahlan Lounge at Terminal 3. It has much better reviews than any of the Marhaba Lounges. After visiting, I now know why.
The staff are incredibly friendly, right from the concierge at the front desk. A staff member walked around the lounge with me and settled me into a four-seat space with a small sofa. I was allowed to stay until my boarding which was four hours later.
There is a wide variety of hot items and quite an extensive selection of cold ones. I drank coffee and mimosas, sparkling water and orange juice. I dined on pastries, eggs, turkey sausages, cakes, yogourt, smoothies, tuna sandwiches and fruit. No complaints at all for this level of lounge.
Dubai to Rome
My third flight is departing Dubai this morning on Emirates again, but this time on the big boy, the A380. What a gorgeous craft. I’m right at the front of the economy seating, which is actually midway down the aircraft and just near the stars up to first class. The pilot announces we are 13th in line for take-off. This makes us an hour late of out scheduled departure time.
The seat is spacious and I have lots of room to stretch out my legs being near the window. This flight is another relatively long one at just over six hours. I enjoy two movies and daydream out of that big clean window.
At meal time, I select the chicken over the beef. Much better choice! Now getting ready to land into Rome where I’ll have to go through the entire process of entering the EU, collecting my luggage and checking in again.
FCO Rome
I really enjoy this airport, its so easy to navigate, clean, bright, simple. I make my way through to the boarder control where I’m met with a substantial pile of up humans. I’ve never seen this many people here before.
Once I’m through that, I head to immigration and then to the luggage carousel. Wahoo! Suitcase has survived and arrived. Now I clear this terminal and have two hours left to find Terminal 1 and check-in for the last flight of this adventure.
Ryanair
Finding Ryanair I’m quickly jolted back into the land of budget airlines. I’m in a complete daze from lack of sleep as I wander up to the check in line. A gent asks me if I have check-in in online and I reply that I have, I did so in Rome.
He sends me over to a self-service baggage scale. I scan my boarding pass and place my luggage on the scale. Too heavy it says with a big red cross. I open and pull out two things, close it all back up and repeat the process. Finally, I get it to accept my suitcase and it spits out a luggage sticker. I now take the suitcase over to the conveyor belt, scan it myself and send it off. No humans involved!
Rome to Malta
After having located my gate, I decide I’m in desperate need of a coffee. I find a restaurant, order said coffee, a prosecco and an appetizer which is deep fried macaroni the size of a golf ball. All said €14. This is what happens when my brain is exhausted; I make poor decisions.
Back to the gate, and onto the aircraft. The seats are hard and plastic. Luckily, I have a window and the flight is short.
Malta
Before long, bleary eyed and done with the whole event, I land into late day sunny Malta. Its my second time here and I’ve been dreaming about this return since I left two years ago. I take an Uber to my Airbnb which is located in the three cities area. My host is here to welcome me into my 400-year-old stone house. I’m in heaven.
