Where The Big Jet Engines Roar …..

Now, if you are someone who is terrified of flying, (moi) what’s the last thing you want to know when you are about to spend 12 hours on a flight? 

As our Air New Zealand homebound jumbo jet started reversing away from the terminal at L.A. International Airport, the Captain’s voice came on the intercom and he did the usual “welcome on board blah blah speech”   - all good so far I am thinking.  Then he says  “Well folks, we will be heading out to the furthermost runway.  We need the long runway as the plane is heavy tonight”.  Mother of Mary.   Terror and tears.   Tears and nails digging into Lindsay’s hand as we taxied for 25 minutes out to the runway, and breath holding while I waited for that baby to get itself airborne.  Then there is the turning blue while I count out the first two minutes in flight because someone once told me that’s the most critical time.  After a rough night of turbulence (or was it all the “heavyness” shifting around downstairs?), half a bottle of French champagne and a sleeping tablet, we made it to Auckland.   I don’t recommend being me on any flight and I’ve never been so happy to see Auckland Airport’s runway, even though it was cold and raining.