Final packing, bags weighed, passports and boarding passes on the phone. Airport at 14:30 for a 17:20 departure.
Etihad Airways, Boeing 787-9. Tullamarine Terminal 2. Seats 19A, 19B, 19C, row 19, all together.
Northwest across Australia and the Indian Ocean. Sleep whenever you can, Abu Dhabi lands at 01:10 local time.
Brief layover at Zayed International. The next flight, EY 61 to London, departs at 02:20. Just 70 minutes on the ground.
Day 1 of 26. The European Summer starts here, at Tullamarine, at 17:20, pointing northwest into the Indian Ocean.
Check-in for international Etihad closes 60 minutes before departure, aim to be at the desk by 14:45. Terminal 2 is the international terminal. Bags: 30kg per person checked, plus carry-on. Have passports and the Etihad booking reference (95KNI5) ready.
Once through, food and shops are airside. Grab a proper meal before boarding, it’ll be the middle of the night by the time Abu Dhabi comes around.
Boeing 787-9, row 19 (seats A, B, C). The Dreamliner runs quieter and more humid than older planes, which helps on a long haul. First meal service shortly after takeoff. After that, sleep.
The cabin will be dark and most people asleep. This is the window for real sleep, get as many hours as you can.
Land at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, Terminal A. You do not need to collect bags, they transfer automatically to the London flight. Follow signs for Connections. The transit area is open and modern. You have 70 minutes before EY 61 boards at 02:20. Get a drink of water, use the facilities, find the gate. Do not leave the transit zone.
Etihad EY 61, Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow. Airbus A380-800. Seats 44A, 44B, 44C. Departure 02:20 Abu Dhabi time, landing London 07:00 BST. The full London story continues on Day 2.
Melbourne to Abu Dhabi direct. 13 hours 50 minutes northwest across Australia and the Indian Ocean, landing in the early hours of the 18th. The long haul begins here.