Somewhere over India

Saturday, November 26

Somewhere over India

 It’s wonderful when all goes as it should.  Our Uber arrived as scheduled at 4:15 AM, and our flight from Rochester to Newark was on time.  For unknown reasons they would not allow us to use the shuttle bus from terminal C to terminal B which meant we had to leave security and take the Air Train and go through security again, but other than that, all went well.  We are currently 14 hours into the trip, somewhere over India.

This special Airbus A350-900 ULR (Ultra Long Range) has no economy seats, only premium economy and business class.  We sprang for business class.

 


The route map for this non-stop flight from New York to Singapore shows it going the great circle, going due north from New York, over the north pole, and south over Mongolia, China, Siberia and on into the Malay Peninsula to Singapore.  Well, that’s the shortest route, but we didn’t take it.  Clearly the winds determine the route, and we went east, over the Atlantic, over Europe, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, and we’re now over India.  The tailwinds have been phenomenal, over 100 mph at times up here at 41,000 feet, and our ground speed has approached 700 mph.


We’ve slept intermittently, used the wi-fi, watched movies, eaten multiple times, and we still have more than four hours to go.  We’ll be so out of sync and discombobulated when we arrive, that I’ll send this now from eight miles up in the air.  Next post from Singapore.

 Victor


Comments

  1. Ralph P. LockeNovember 26, 2022 at 2:12 AM

    700 miles per hour--I can't even imagine that! Were you able to see any recognizable land masses below, or nothing but clouds? (Or was it mostly nighttime?) Be really careful when you're crossing streets. I remember being so tired after arriving in London that I nearly walked into traffic. But of course, part of the problem was that the cars were coming from the "wrong" direction. I assume that in Singapore (your first stop?) one drives on the right, despite the country's having been under British control for so long.

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  2. Victor PoleshuckNovember 26, 2022 at 3:26 AM

    We're here. Unfortunately our bags are in Newark. We were met at baggage claim by a lovely woman who had a sign with our names to tell us that our bags will come on the next flight. Unfortunately, that's 24 hours from now--there's only one per day from Newark. We had middle seats on the plane, so no window, but the shades were down the whole time, and people slept on and off. Taxi to the hotel was uneventful, and yes, Ralph, they do drive on the left here. It's past 7:00 PM Saturday night, and we'll try to get some sleep soon.

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  3. Ralph P. LockeNovember 26, 2022 at 3:31 AM

    Oh, then do be extra careful stepping off the curb!!!! Good luck about the bags.... And I hope you can catch up on some sleep. I've been impressed by the people from Singapore that I've met--very serious, high-level, thoughtful, hard-working. It's clearly a major business center, and with many highly educated inhabitants. I've also of course heard it described as a place where behavior is closely monitored and controlled by the police. I'd like to learn more!

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  4. Rwa442November 26, 2022 at 6:19 AM

    Victor, glad to hear your flight went well, except fo your luggage. Were the flight stewardesses dressed in colorful costumes as they had done many years ago? It is the whole singapore air experience! Changi airport is often rated as one of the most beautiful in the world, loads of blooming orchids throughout, but often when you arrive there you are too tired to take it in! Enjoy singapore! Oh, and don't chew gum there!!!

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