Day 26 · Sunday 12 July 2026

Departure

Copenhagen morning

Checkout 07:30–08:00, taxi departs 08:00, ~30 min drive.

Outbound flight

EY178 dep 11:10

6h 15m to Abu Dhabi, lands 19:25 local.

Layover

Abu Dhabi 1h 15m

Tight connection — straight to gate.

Final flight

EY460 dep 20:40 AUH

13h 10m to Melbourne, lands 15:50 Mon 13 July.

The day

Hour by hour

The going-home day. Long but well-routed — direct CPH → Abu Dhabi → Melbourne on Etihad's 787. Boarding lands you in Melbourne mid-Sunday afternoon, perfect to push through and sleep that night. Twenty-six days of European summer come to an end.

Day 26 of 26
Copenhagen → Melbourne

12 July

Act One

Copenhagen final morning

06:30 · Wake & breakfast

First sitting at NH Collection

Hotel breakfast opens 06:30 — eat early. Big breakfast helps for the long-haul ahead. Coffee, pastries, the works.

08:00 · Pack & check out

Final pack, check out

Quick room sweep — phone chargers, passport, the kids' tablets, valuables. Check out, store bags briefly if needed. No rush — CPH is fast.

Act Two

CPH → AUH

08:00 · Taxi to airport

~30 minutes to CPH

Taxi from NH Collection — ~DKK 300–350 for the car, easiest option with all the luggage on the last day. Drops at departures door, Terminal 2. Order the night before.

08:30 · CPH check-in

Etihad Terminal 2

Online check-in done last night. Bag drop only. Check-in closes 09:10 — airside well before then. Plenty of time at the gate before 11:10 boarding.

11:10 · Boarding EY178

Boeing 787-9 to Abu Dhabi

6h 15m flight south-east. Crosses the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf. Lands AUH 19:25 local time. Seats 17H / 17J / 17K · Ref 95KNI5.

Act Three

Layover

19:25 · Land Abu Dhabi

1h 15m layover — TIGHT

Same airline, transit clearly signposted. Stay airside, follow connections. New AUH terminal is huge — allow time to walk to gate. Don't bother with shopping unless gate is right there.

20:40 · Boarding EY460

Boeing 787-9 to Melbourne

13h 10m flight south-east. Crosses the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, into Australian airspace. Sleep as much as possible. Seats 19A / 19B / 19C · Lands MEL 15:50, 13 Jul.

Act Four

Home

Tomorrow 15:50 · Land Melbourne

Monday 13 July

Customs, baggage claim, immigration. Allow 90 min before you're out. Then home, shower, and probably bed by 19:00.

Your flights home

Etihad EY178 → EY460

Copenhagen to Melbourne via Abu Dhabi. Two Etihad 787-9s, one tight connection. Total flying time 19h 25m, a long day, but you land home mid-Sunday afternoon.

Leg 1 of 2

Copenhagen → Abu Dhabi

EY178 · Boeing 787-9 · 6h 15m

Etihad · Direct leg Flight EY178 · Sun 12 July 2026 · Ref 95KNI5 ✓ Confirmed

Scarlett

17H

Row 17

Aisle, right section

Henry

17J

Row 17

Middle, right section

Amy

17K

Row 17

Window right

✈

Abu Dhabi layover

1h 15m

Stay airside · Follow Connections signs · Same airline so bags transfer automatically · Don’t linger at duty-free, walk straight to the gate

Leg 2 of 2

Abu Dhabi → Melbourne

EY460 · Boeing 787-9 · 13h 10m

Etihad · Direct leg Flight EY460 · Sun 12 July 2026 · Ref 95KNI5 ✓ Confirmed

Scarlett

19A

Row 19

Window left

Henry

19B

Row 19

Middle, together

Amy

19C

Row 19

Aisle left

Bag drop opens

~08:10 · Copenhagen Airport T2

Arrive airport by

08:15 · Online check-in done night before

Check-in closes

09:10 · 2h before EY178 departure

Hold baggage

Check Etihad allowance, Economy Lite

AUH connection

1h 15m, stay airside, bags transfer

Lands Melbourne

15:50 Mon 13 July · Allow 90 min customs

Travel day plan

06:30 Breakfast at NH Collection, eat well before the long haul.

07:30 Check out, grab bags. Taxi ordered night before.

08:00 Taxi to CPH, ~30 min. Drops at Terminal 2 departures.

08:15 CPH bag drop (Etihad), then security. Airside by 09:00.

11:10 Board EY178. Settle in, it’s a long day, headphones, books, films.

19:25 Land AUH, walk directly to EY460 gate, no dawdling.

20:40 Board EY460 to Melbourne. Sleep as much as possible.

Sun 15:50 Land MEL. Customs, bags, home. Trip done.

Manage Etihad booking → Amy → Henry → Scarlett → CPH Airport map →

The journey home

Halfway around the world

Two flights, one stopover. Copenhagen → Abu Dhabi → Melbourne. Total flight time 19h 25m. Door-to-door 24+ hours from check-out to arrival home.

Copenhagen: Departure 11:10 local time Sunday · Abu Dhabi: Stopover 19:25-20:40 local · Melbourne: Arrival 15:50 local Monday · Total flight time: ~19h 25m + layover · Door-to-door: ~24+ hours

Logistics

What to actually know

Long-haul travel days reward preparation. Key things to know before leaving the hotel.

Before leaving Copenhagen

Online check-in opens 24h before — done last night
Take any unused DKK to the airport for souvenirs
Hotel breakfast opens 06:30 — first sitting matters
Taxi from hotel — ~DKK 300–350, ask concierge the night before, depart ~08:00
Don't forget passport, phone chargers, headphones
Etihad ref 95KNI5 · EY178 (11:10) then EY460 (20:40)

Abu Dhabi connection

1h 15m layover is genuinely tight
Stay airside — don't try to leave
Follow Connections signs immediately on landing
AUH terminal is huge — allow walking time
Don't shop — get to your gate first

Long-haul tips

Bring eye mask, ear plugs, neck pillow
Refillable water bottle — fill at fountains
Snacks for the kids (Etihad food is fine but timed oddly)
Compression socks if anyone's prone to swelling
Sleep schedule: try to sleep on the second flight